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Japanese soldiers marching in Korea
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Korea was officially annexed by Japan in the Japan-Korea Treaty of 1910. Before this Korea was protected by Japan in the Japan-Korea Treaty of 1905. When World War II ended Japan lost control of Korea.
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After Japan surrendered in August 1945, Korea was split up into two countries, South Korea and North Korea. Soviets moved into the north and the United States set up bases in the south. The goal was to one day reunite the two Koreas.
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A formal surrender ceremony by Japan took place on September 2. This marks the ending of World War II. It is known as V-J Day. Japan lost controll of Korea after this, and that led to the seperation of Korea.
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Both North and South Korea had set up governments that they thought should be the main government of Korea. On June 25, 1950, North Korea with the support of the Soviet Union and China invaded South Korea. This was the start of the Korean War. The United Nations forces soon came to the defense of South Korea.
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Troops after debarking from a ship in Korea
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U.N troops were on the brink of defeat and were pushed back to the “Pusan Perimeter”. They made a last stand against North Korean forces. With the port on their side, the U.N. forces were able to defeat the North Korean forces after six weeks of fighting.
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A surprise amphibious landing was made by U.S. Marines forces at the strategic port of Inchon. Even though the location was considered risky, General Douglas MacArthur insisted on the bold move. This landing changed the course of the war, because U.N. forces were able to break into North Korean supply lines soon after.
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An invasion into North Korea was authorized by President Truman. The United Nations forces crossed the 38th parallel. MacArthur’s troops moved into North Korea to the Yalu River. The Chinese army threaten to send troops if the U.N. forces didn't stop.
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China sent troops to help North Korea fight South Korea. The Chinese forced the U.N. troops to retreat past the 38th Parallel. Because China started fighting in the war, Truman started to consider using a nuclear bomb.
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Prisoners of War captured by U.S. Marines
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General MacArthur and the UN forces were nearing the border with the People’s Republic of China. In October 1950 Chinese troops came to assist their North Korean ally. By November 26, the Chinese were launching destructive counterattacks along a 25-mile front. By December, U.N forces had been pushed out of North Korea.
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President Eisenhower goes to Korea looking for a way to end the Korean War. Eisenhower made a promise that if he was elected he would go to Korea. He soon adopted a get-tough policy towards the communists in Korea.
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The Korean Armistice Agreement ended the Korean War. Prisoners of War were given a choice of where to live. Also, the Korean Demilitarized Zone was created. It was a new boarder between South Korea and North Korea
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A cease-fire resulted by the armistice being signed.
The armistice was a formal agreement designed to stop fighting between North and South Korea. This cease-fire caused the end of the war.
