The Korean War
After the second world war concluded, Korea was split along the 38th parallel. This was due to the fact that North Korea followed the lead of the Soviet Union in adopting Communism, while South Korea turned to capitalism and democracy. On top of their governmental differences, they were economically opposites as well. North Korea was an industrial nation, and South Korea was mostly an agricultural society. To end this dispute and unify Korea, the North Koreans launched a series of attacks on the 38th parallel. With the Soviet Union backing them by sending them funds and weapons, these attacks were successful. The United Nations deemed North Korea as the aggressor, and thus sent a coalition army made up of mostly United States soldiers to defend South America.
The North Korean army made it as far the Pusan Perimeter, the very southeast corner of the country, and the South Koreans had their backs against the wall, where they defended themselves as well as they could, but they needed help if they were to survive. For the time being, though, they were stuck trying to survive in the one of the first major battles: The Defense of the Pusan Perimeter. Finally, that help came from General Douglas MacArthur and an overwhelmingly large UN army. They landed in the Pusan Perimeter and pushed the North Korean army back. They continued advancing all the way up through South Korea until they reached the 38th parallel once again. This was the battle of Inchon and its immediate aftermath, another major battle. Once there, President Truman told General MacArthur not to advance, and to simply reinstate the 38th parallel. MacArthur ignored Truman's orders and continued past it, advancing all the way up to the Chinese border.
The Chinese border was the farthest that the UN army reached. This was due to the fact that a threatened China decided to defend their fellow communist nation in the battle of Chosin Reservoir. The Chinese army brought an unbelievably large army of 300,000 men in a massive victory for the Chinese. The UN army was forced to retreat and they were forced all the way back to the 38th parallel once again. This then led to multiple attempts to overtake the other, and the control of the 38th parallel see-sawed back and forth until eventually, an armistice was signed in July of 1953. This armistice re-secured the 38th parallel as the border between North and South Korea and ended the fighting.
The North Korean army made it as far the Pusan Perimeter, the very southeast corner of the country, and the South Koreans had their backs against the wall, where they defended themselves as well as they could, but they needed help if they were to survive. For the time being, though, they were stuck trying to survive in the one of the first major battles: The Defense of the Pusan Perimeter. Finally, that help came from General Douglas MacArthur and an overwhelmingly large UN army. They landed in the Pusan Perimeter and pushed the North Korean army back. They continued advancing all the way up through South Korea until they reached the 38th parallel once again. This was the battle of Inchon and its immediate aftermath, another major battle. Once there, President Truman told General MacArthur not to advance, and to simply reinstate the 38th parallel. MacArthur ignored Truman's orders and continued past it, advancing all the way up to the Chinese border.
The Chinese border was the farthest that the UN army reached. This was due to the fact that a threatened China decided to defend their fellow communist nation in the battle of Chosin Reservoir. The Chinese army brought an unbelievably large army of 300,000 men in a massive victory for the Chinese. The UN army was forced to retreat and they were forced all the way back to the 38th parallel once again. This then led to multiple attempts to overtake the other, and the control of the 38th parallel see-sawed back and forth until eventually, an armistice was signed in July of 1953. This armistice re-secured the 38th parallel as the border between North and South Korea and ended the fighting.
Today, North Korea is still a communist dictatorship, while South Korea is a democratic republic. There is still great tension between the two, and the 38th parallel is still being heavily guarded by each side.
Links For Further Reading
http://www.korean-war.com
http://www.nps.gov/kowa/index.htm
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/kowar/kowar.htm
http://www.nps.gov/kowa/index.htm
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/kowar/kowar.htm
Test Your Knowledge
http://www.funtrivia.com/quizzes/history/war_history/korean_war.html
http://military.discovery.com/randr/quizzes/koreanwar/koreanwar.html
http://www.quia.com/quiz/244131.html
http://military.discovery.com/randr/quizzes/koreanwar/koreanwar.html
http://www.quia.com/quiz/244131.html