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Korea is divided into North and South Korea. Following Japanese surrender, Soviets maintained military presence in the North with American troops in the South. Temporary border at 38th parallel established
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Whether North Koreans acted with Stalin's approval is still debated.
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The Korean War from start to finish.
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With the Soviet Union gone from the Security Council, the U.S. was able to win agreement from United Nations to support South Korea. MacArthur is appointed to command United Nations operations.
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In surprise landing behind enemy lines, US forces push North Korean army back north of the 38th parallel.
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Koreas capital, Pyongyang, falls in the hands of the United Nationa.
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With increased opposition, United Nations offensive stalls and then collapses. Chinese troops push United Nations forces back across 38th parallel and capture Southern capital of Seoul.
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Following several warnings about insubordination, Truman angers public (69% support MacArthur) by firing the US commander.
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Talks drag on until 1953 and war is settled with the establishment of a DMZ (demilitarized zone) on each side of the 38th parallel.
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Eisenhower pledges to go to Korea to end the war. VP candidate Nixon contends Democrats had caved in to communists in Korea and that Democrat presidential candidate Stevenson should be called "Adlai the Appeaser".
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Formal peace treaty never signed. Over 1,000,000 Koreans and 54,000 Americans killed in conflict plus thousands who die as prisoners of war.
