Why have most people forgotten about the Korean War?

Japan occupied Korea from 1910 to 1945, as a result of political and military pressure.

The 35 years of brutal Japanese rule in Korea came to an end with Japan's defeat during the Second World War.

The short-term origins of the Korean War can be traced back to the end of World War II, when the Soviet Union and the United States occupied Korea.

From 1945, the nation was divided into zones of occupation by the victorious American and Soviet Union troops.

A number of Korean groups from far-right nationalists to communists claimed to represent an independent government, but none managed to come to terms with the Soviet and American occupiers.

The two superpowers were unable to agree on a plan for reunifying the country, and during 1948-49 they withdrew from Korea, leaving it divided into two separate states: North Korea and South Korea.

The two nations had a hostile relationship and agreed to a border along the 38th parallel.

The 38th parallel was chosen arbitrarily as the dividing line by U.S. military planners in 1945, who wanted a clear boundary to prevent Soviet forces from taking control of the entire Korean Peninsula after Japan's surrender.

The rivalry between North Korea and South Korea began with their differing views on socialism and capitalism.

North Korea felt it was leading the way for other communist countries in Asia, while South Korea saw itself as a capitalist state aligned with the West.

This difference in ideals generated conflict between the two nations, and each side began to arm itself with weapons given by its allies.

Syngman Rhee was elected as president of South Korea in May of 1948, under a government established by the U.S.-backed South Korean authorities.

Meanwhile, Kim Il-Sung was installed by the Soviets as the leader of the North Korean Provisional People's Committee in 1946.

As a result, Soviet forces withdrew from North Korea in December 1948, while U.S. forces left South Korea in June 1949.

Although, both nations left behind military advisors and resources for their respective allies.

However, Kim Il-Sung planned an invasion of South Korea to re-unify the peninsula.

On June 25, 1950, North Korean troops invaded South Korea. The outbreak of war came as a surprise to many people, as there had been no open conflict between the two Koreas since their separation.

However, tensions had been brewing for some time. 

The North Koreans advanced rapidly and outnumbering the South Koreans. 

The Soviet Union had supplied North Korea with T-34 tanks, artillery, and fighter planes, which gave Kim Il-Sung’s forces a significant advantage at the start of the war.

On the same day as the invasion, the United Nations Security Council met and condemned the invasion.

In adopted Resolution 82, they demanded that North Korea withdraw to the 38th parallel, and if they did not do so, recommended that UN member states assist South Korea in their defense.

When it was clear that the invasion was not called off, the United Nations Security Council in New York committed forces from willing nations to the aid of South Korea on 27th June.

The US was assigned command of these forces under the leadership of General Douglas MacArthur. 

Australia was one of the first countries to respond to South Korea's call for assistance, sending troops as part of an international force led by the United States.

Twenty additional nations also assisted, including New Zealand. By the end of the conflict, almost 18,000 Australian servicemen were involved.

The South Korean army would still play a central role in the war, with over 600,000 South Korean troops fighting alongside UN forces.

On June 27, US troops were rushed in from Japan, where they were serving as an occupation army.

They helped the South Koreans but were forced back to Pusan, the southern city of Korea, by North Korean forces on July 4th.

The Battle of Osan, which occurred on the 5th of July, was the first major conflict between American and North Korean troops.

It was also the first battle of the Korean War. However, the American troops were unprepared and were forced to withdraw.

Next, at the Battle of Pusan Perimeter, which occurred between August 4 – September 18, UN forces managed to stop the North Korean advance.

This was a turning point in the war, as it marked the first time that the UN had been able to successfully repel a communist invasion.

On September 15, 1950, American troops landed at Inchon, on the west coast of Korea.

The landing was a surprise attack that cut off North Korean supply lines. The American victory at Inchon was significant because it forced the North Koreans to retreat back north.

The UN forces were then quickly able to take back Seoul, the capital of South Korea. 

Between October and November, UN forces continued their offensive by pushing north into North Korea.

They captured Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, on October 19th.

As UN forces were securing their control over the North Korean capital of Pyongyang, China intervened in the war.

The Chinese had been providing support to North Korea throughout the conflict but had not been openly involved in fighting until this point. 

The Chinese government, which was also communist, had warned that if UN troops crossed into North Korea, they would intervene.

The capture of Pyongyang was seen as the UN's total disregard of China's threats.

Then, when UN forces approached the Yalu River, which was the geographical boundary between North Korea and China, it prompted a military response from North Korea's ally.

So, on October 19th, units of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army crossed the Yalu River into North Korea to support North Korean forces.

The entry of China into the war changed its nature completely. It was no longer a war between two countries; it was now a global conflict.

In late November 1950, the Chinese People's Volunteer Army launched a massive counteroffensive during the Battle of the Ch’ongch’on River, which forced the UN forces into a chaotic retreat.

The UN forces fled back south and North Korean troops regained control of Pyongyang.

From then on, China played a significant role in the war, sending hundreds of thousands of soldiers to fight against UN forces.

The UN troops were again driven back, beyond the 38th parallel and lost Seoul. A fresh UN campaign recaptured Seoul in March 1951, but it was stopped near the previous border. 

The fighting continued throughout 1951, but neither side was able to make significant gains. 

In July 1951, peace talks began in Kaesong, but they failed to produce an agreement.

Even though both sides were willing to sign a ceasefire, the negotiations stalled on the issue of prisoner-of-war exchange. 

The war continued, but with no territorial gains, it remained a stalemate, with both sides dug in along the 38th parallel.

With neither side able to gain a clear military advantage, armistice talks began in July 1951 and lasted for over two years, as disagreements over the repatriation of prisoners of war stalled progress.

Finally, on July 27, 1953, an armistice was signed. With the border between North and South Korea more or less reset to where it was in 1950, along the 38th parallel, the war came to an end.

This division still exists today, and the two Koreas officially remain in a state of conflict.

The armistice also led to the creation of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), which is a buffer zone between North and South Korea. 

The war lasted for three years and, even though it did not technically end with a peace treaty, it did result in a significant reduction in violence.

There have been no large-scale military conflicts since 1953, although there have been several smaller skirmishes. 

The Korean War had many consequences, both immediate and long-term. One of the most significant was the large number of casualties.

Approximately 1.2 million soldiers died during the Korean War, including 36,574 Americans, 415,000 South Koreans, 294,000 North Koreans, and over 180,000 Chinese troops.

However, millions more civilians were also killed, bringing the total death toll to around 3 or 4 million people.

The war also had a devastating effect on Korea’s economy and infrastructure. Much of the country was destroyed, and it took many years for Korea to recover.

In addition, the war cost the United States approximately $67 billion, equivalent to over $700 billion today.

The legacy of the Korean War is still felt today. The division of the country led to the development of two very different societies, and the two Koreas remain in a state of tension.

The DMZ is still in place and stretches for 250 kilometers (155 miles) and is 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) wide.

Since its creation, there have been periodic outbreaks of violence. The Korean War also set a precedent for future conflicts, as it was one of the first wars fought between superpowers in the post-World War II era.