The Korean War occurred between 1950 and 1953
At the end of WWII Korea was freed from the control of China
At the conclusion of World War II North Korea was occupied by China, South Korea was occupied by the United States
In 1948 Korea was divided in half along the 38th parallel.
Kim il Sung ruled North Korea and Syngman Rhee the South.
US and Soviet troops had both withdrawn from Korea by 1949.
On 25th of June 1950 the South invaded the North.
The North’s invasion of the South was very successful - they captured most of the country apart from the perimeter ring around Pusan.
President Truman was shocked by this action and decided on a course of rolling back communism in Korea.
President Truman was worried about the domino effect
South Korea sought support from the United States. It was put to the United Nations Security Council, but the Soviet union rejected it using their veto.
The United Nations Security Council ordered the North to withdraw from the south. Kim IL Sung rejected this.
The United Nations gave approval to form an international army of 16 nations under the overall command of General Douglas MacArthur.
In September 1950 The US successfully countered the invasion with an amphibious landing at Inchon and the capital of the south Seoul was recaptured.
Without the backing of President Truman, General Douglas MacArthur crossed the 38th parallel to take the war to North Korea
US troops pushed the Koreans back to the Korean - Chinese border on the Yalu river. China intervened sending 250,000 troops across the border to support the North Koreans.
United Nations troops put up brave resistance but were pushed back to the 38th parallel suffering only light casualties.
The North Koreans and Chinese troops recaptured Seoul. President Truman considered using the atomic bomb.
In June 1951 Truman went back to a policy of containment, he sent more US troops to Korea they recaptured Seoul and pushed the Korean- Chinese troops back to the 38th parallel.
During the war US fighter pilots fought with Soviet fighter pilots disguised in Chinese aircraft and Chinese uniforms.
After two years of deadlock an armistice was finally agreed by President Truman in July 1953.
The Korean War could be considered as a success for US containment policy.
