What happened in the korean war

N War

The Korean War lasted from 1950-1953. What happened in Korea pushed the boundaries of the ColdWartowards ‘Warm War‘. Though America and Russia did not officially clash, client states did in thatCommunist China fought and was armed and encouraged by Russia.

The peninsula was divided after World War Two into a Russian-backed north (The People’s Democratic Republic) and the American-backed south (the Republic of Korea). Each claimed the right to the other half in an effort to unify both. The division was the result of the occupation of Korea by the communists after the end of the war with the country eventually being divided at the 38th parallel.

In June 1950, the North Koreans launched a surprise attack against the south and the capital Seoul fell in just three days.

The United Nations Security Council (which was being boycotted by Russia at this time) asked for UN states to send troops to the region under a UN flag. The huge bulk of the troops sent were American (15 nations sent troops) and command of them was given to Gen. Douglas MacArthur.

By the end of August 1950 only Pusan in the south-east corner of South Korea had not fallen to the North.

In September, MacArthur took the huge risk of launching an amphibious landing at Inchon 200 miles behind enemy lines and from here he launched an attack against the North Koreans at Pusan.

The North Koreans had no choice but to retreat as they faced being cut in two.

MacArthur chose to ignore his orders and advanced north towards the Chinese border at the Yalu River. This provoked the Chinese to launch a massive attack against the UN forces and South Korea.