Korean+War

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=**Korean Conflict**=

Introduction
toc The Korean Conflict started on June 25th, 1950, and ended on July 27th, 1953. It was called a conflict rather than a war, because Congress never declared war officially. WWII ended in 1945. Even though Japan was still strongly under the control of the United States, there were few allied forces in South Korea. North Korea wanted South Korea to be under its control. By the end of the war, the United Nations forces had occupied the entire Korean peninsula and China had entered the conflict. The result of the war was that no one won; it was like a stalemate.

The following countries participated in the war under the flag of the United Nations: The United States of America, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Columbia, Ethiopia, France, Greece, India, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. On the opposing side were North Korea, Peoples Republic of China, and the United Soviet Socialists Republic.

Division of Korea
During World War II, Japan controlled the entire Korean peninsula. They drafted many Koreans and stripped the country of its food and natural resources. At the close of the war, most Koreans were suffering under great hardships. Without consulting the Korean people, The United States and the Soviet Union reached a compromise, and divided the country in half at the 38th parallel. The Soviet Union would control the northern area and the United States would control the southern area.

When the Americans arrived to control their portion of the country, many former Japanese officials were put back into their former positions. The Koreans were justifiably upset, because they had suffered greatly under Japanese control. The U.S. also did not recognize existing political organizations that the Koreans had in place. These policies were a disaster. Unfortunately, those who were deciding the future for the Korean people did not listen to their desires. Strikes, demonstrations, and riots resulted. Killings of officials also occurred. The South Koreans were furious with the United States. They wanted them to leave their country. Meanwhile, in the North, the communists were gaining tighter control of the region. Kim Il Sung became the leader and allowed no opposition. The USSR gave him supplies and weapons to seal his control. Northern Korea was renamed the People's Democratic Republic of Korea.The U.S. did not want Korea to become a communist nation and so called for elections. They eventually led to civil war.

Invasion Of Korea
As the relations between North and South Korea became increasingly strained, the North invaded the South. The United Nations responded rapidly by condemning North Korea. The United Nations called upon the member nations to help South Korea. President Harry Truman authorized the United States to provide assistance using American land, sea, and air forces. President Truman appointed General Douglas MacArthur as the supreme commander of the United Nations forces. Fifteen of the U.N.'s member Nations fought beside the United States troops.

At first, the North Korean troops advanced rapidly. They drove the South Korean and American troops in a matter of weeks to the southeast tip of Korea. Following a counteroffensive that started on September 15th, the North Koreans retreated back into North Korea. MacArthur was told to pursue them past the 38th parallel. He captured the capital city of the North, Pyongyang. The northern Korean army was pushed back almost to the border of China and Korea. At this point. the Chinese communist nation, the People's Republic of China, entered on the side of the North Koreans. They quickly forced the United Nation's troops back into South Korea and even captured the capital city of Seoul. After more months of fighting, the conflict returned to the 38th parallel, the division established between North and South Korea, and pretty much remained in that area for the remaining years of the conflict.

Douglas MacArthur was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, on January 26, 1880. He was the youngest of three boys. His father was a Lieutenant General in the military and was the recipient of the Medal of Honor. MacArthur attended West Point with an outstanding record. He graduated first in his class in 1903.

He rose swiftly through the ranks. MacArthur was aide-to-camp to President Theodore Roosevelt. He returned form World War 1 with many military decorations. Following the first World War, he became a brigadier general and superintendent of West Point. MacArthur then spent time in the Philippines until he was appointed chief of staff of the United States Army in 1930. He remained in this post through 1935. He went back to the Philippines in 1935, sent by President Roosevelt to develop a defensive strategy. MacArthur retired form the US Army in 1937, and remained in the Philippines to work for the Philippine government. In July 1941, MacArthur was recalled to active duty as a liuetenant general and commander of United States forces in the Far East. MacArthur's forces in the Philippines were badly defeated by the Japanese in 1941. MacArthur had to withdraw to Australia and took command of all Pacific Operations. With the end of World War II, MacArthur basically ruled Japan for six years. He was unexpectantly kind and tried to remold the society. He also attempted to created democratic institutions and emancipate women.

In July 1950, MacArthur was appointed the commander of the United Nations forces in Korea. MacArthur did not think the Chinese would enter the fracas, and when they did, he was humiliated. He publicly announced that he wanted to carry the war into China. Truman fired MacArthur in April 1951.

Aftermath
On July 27, 1953, a cease-fire was established. The front line was in the proximity of the 38th parallel. This area was called the demilitarized zone (DMZ). The North Koreans were on one side of the DMZ and the South Koreans were on the other side. The peace talks were held at Kaesong, the old capital of Korea. North Korea and the United States signed the Armistice Agreement.

The DMZ continues to divide Korea into two nations. There is still no formal peace treaty between North Korea and the United States, though in 2007, South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and North Korean leader Kim Jong-II called for talks to formally end the war between North and South Korea..

Resources
Douglas MacArthur.  Korean War, Wikipedia Encyclopedia.  The Korean War, http://www.korean-war.com