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USSR detonates its first atomic bomb
Americans underestimate technological expertise of Russia, American atomic monopoly was over. -
Fall of China to Communism
PRC was formed and Mao invited USSR to estavlish diplomatic relations with new China. -
Dean Acheson implied that under the defensive perimeter strategy Aerican forces would not be used in Korea.
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Stalin cautiously agreed to Kim's invasion plans.
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Stalin warned Kim that Russia would not intervene directly in the conflict.
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Kim Il Sung orders 90000 North Korean soldiers to smash through South Korea's border defence
Soldiers who were battle hardened by their experience in the Chinese civil war and spear headed by 150 T-34 tanks -
US sponsored a resolution in the UN Security Council calling for military action against North Korea
Resolution was passed only because USSR was boycotting meetings of Security Council in response to American refusal to accept a newly communist China as a permanent member of the council. -
Truman ordered American troops stationed in Japan into Korea.
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China joins the war.
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US troops fight their war out.
Suffered 110000 casualties in 2 days. -
Priority for the US on battlefied was to drive communist forces behind the 38th parallel
MacArthur was unhappy about fighting a limited war, made commitment to total victory public. -
Truman relieved MacArthur of his command on the grounds that the military must obey the orders of the civilian commander-in-chief.
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Peace talks began
But dragged on for 2 years as Stalin was influencing negotations from afar and urging Mao and Kim to extract concessions from US in return for end of war. -
Death of Stalin and comprimise on the matter of repatriation
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Armistice, 38th parallel confirmed as a boundary between North Korea and South Korea