At the end of
WW2, Korea was occupied by Russia and the United States. Each governing roughly half
of the peninsula (divided by the 38th Parallel.) Cooperation between the two zones proved
impossible and in 1948 the division was formalized by the establishment of two
regimes...North Korea and South Korea. By mid 1949, all American and Russian troops
were withdrawn. Relations between North and South Korea remained strained.
On June 25, 1950, the North Korean Army launched a surprise attack on South Korea.
The United Nations Security Council (from which Russia was voluntarily absent) declared
North Korea an aggressor and directed that counter measures be taken.Suprise and superior forces carried the North Koreans swiftly down
the peninsula until August when the South Koreans and the newly arrived UN forces (almost
entirely US troops from nearby Japan) stopped the drive.
Holding a perimeter defense 50 miles from the port of
Pusan. A counter attacking drive, featured by a sea born invasion (Sept 15) of
Inchon, far behind the North Korean lines, carried the UN forces to the Manchurian border
by early November. However, Chinese forces now entered the field for North Korea,
and the UN forces were driven back far below the 38th parallel. The UN retreat
continued into 1951 but again the northern forces were stopped. By early 1951, a UN
counterattack had been mounted. Seoul was once more retaken by UN forces. Truce
talks began in July, 1951. ...end
