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Division of the Korean Peninsula
The end of WWII leaves the Korean peninsula in the hands of the Americans and the Soviets, so it was their decision to decide what to do with it. Two young aides at the State Department divided the peninsula in half along th 38th parallel. The Russians occupied the area north of the line, while the United States occupied the area south. -
New States
By the end of the 1940's, two new states had formed on the peninsula. In the south were the anti-communists and in the north was a communist dictatorship. -
Start of the War
Approximately 75,000 soldiers of the North Korean People's Army invaded across the boundary between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the north and the westernized Korea of the south. -
American Troops Join In
By this time, American troops had entered the war on behalf of South Korea. From America's standpoint, this was a war against the forces of international communism solely. -
Truman and MacArthur Restrategize
President Truman and General Douglas MacArthur, head of the Asian theater, decided on a new goal. Initialy this new strategy was a success, but as American troops crossed the boundary heading north, the Chinese had to worry about protecting themselves from "armed aggression against Chinese territory." -
Mao's Threat
Mao Zedong, leader of the Chinese, sent troops to North Korea and warmed the United States to stay away from the Yalu boundary unless it wanted a funn on war. -
MacArthur's Letter
Douglas MacArthur sent a letter to Joseph Martin, a House Republican leader who also supports declaring a full on war on China. He trusted the Martin would leak this letter among the press. -
The Last Straw
For Truman, his letter to Joseph Martin was MacArthur's final mulligan; the general was fired for insubordination. -
Talk of Peace Begins
President Truman along with his military commanders start peace talks in Panmunjom, meanwhile the fighting continued along the 38th parallel. -
Armistice Signing
Through talks, the adversaries could not agree on whether prisoneres of war should be "repatriated." After over two years of painstaking negotiations, the two powers signed an armistice that allowed POWs to live where they pleased.