Koreanwarnotes

Korean War NOTES (1950–1953) REMEMBER THIS: IN 1910, JAPAN TOOK OVER KOREA AND RULED IT UNTIL 1945. THEN IN 1945, KOREA WAS DIVIDED AT THE 38TH PARALLEL. THE 38TH PARALLEL WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE A PERMANENT BOUNDARY. THE TWO HALVES WERE SUPPOSED TO BE RE-UNITED. SOUTH KOREA LEADER: SYNGMAN RHEE HE HAD SPENT YEARS IN THE U.S. CAPITAL: SEOUL 2/3 OF KOREA’S PEOPLE AND MOST OF ITS FARMLAND IS HERE U.S. TROOPS WITHDREW ALL OF ITS TROOPS, EXCEPT 500, IN 1949 NORTH KOREA: LEADER: KIM IL SUNG HE HAD BEEN A GUERILLA FIGHTER AGAINST THE JAPANESE CAPITAL: PYONGYANG CONTAINS MOST OF KOREA’S MINERAL WEALTH AND A GREAT DEAL OF ITS INDUSTRY THE ATTACK: NORTH KOREA SUDDENLY ATTACKS SOUTH KOREA ON JUNE 25, 1950. PRES. TRUMAN ORDERS IN NAVAL & AIR SUPPORT FOR SOUTH KOREA. • JUNE 27TH, U.N. REACTS, IT CALLS UPON MEMBERS TO HELP SOUTH KOREA. • THIS PASSED B/C SOVIET UNION WAS BOYCOTTING THE UN AT THE TIME. • GENERAL DOUGLAS MACARTHUR • THE UN ARMY CONSISTED MOSTLY OF AMERICAN AND SOUTH KOREAN SOLDIERS. BUT, THERE WERE SOLDIERS THERE FROM 15 OTHER ANTI-COMMUNIST NATIONS. • GENERAL DOUGLAS MACARTHUR WAS IN CHARGE OF THE UN ARMY. WHY IS MACARTHUR FIRED? • HE IS DISMISSED BY PRES. TRUMAN FOR INSUBORDINATION. • TRUMAN SAID THAT HE REPEATEDLY DISREGARDED INSTRUCTION TO REFRAIN FROM MAKING FOREIGN POLICY STATEMENTS THAT CRITICIZED THE U.S. GOVERNMENT POLICIES. • GEN MACARTHUR WANTED TO DROP 30-50 ATOMIC BOMBS ON CHINA!! HE KEPT TELLING PEOPLE THIS AND IT GOT HIM FIRED! PLUS, HE TRIED TO GO OVER THE PRESIDENT’S HEAD & TALKED TO REPORTERS ABOUT THIS!!

TIMELINE 1950  North Korean Communist forces invade South Korea (June 25). UN calls for cease­fire and asks  UN members to assist South Korea (June 27). Truman orders U.S. forces into Korea (June 27).  North Koreans capture Seoul (June 28). Gen. Douglas MacArthur designated commander of  unified UN forces (July 8). Pusan Beachhead—UN forces counterattack and capture Seoul  (Aug.–Sept.), capture Pyongyang, North Korean capital (Oct.). Chinese Communists enter war  (Oct. 26), force UN retreat toward 38th parallel (Dec.).

1951 

1953 

Gen. Matthew B. Ridgway replaces MacArthur after he threatens Chinese with massive retaliation  (April 11). Armistice negotiations (July) continue with interruptions until June 1953.

Armistice signed (July 27). Chinese troops withdraw from North Korea (Oct. 26, 1958), but over  200 violations of armistice noted to 1959.