The 1st military action of the Cold War took place on June 25, 1950 when 75,000 North Korean soldiers crossed the 38th parallel.
The 38th parallel is the boundary line that separates the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (South Korea) to the pro-Western Republic of Korean (North Korea).
War against Communism.
Ending 35 years of Japanese occupation, on August 15, 1945, Japan gave up its ownership of the Korean peninsula to the Allied Powers. The Allied Powers, which included the U.S. as well as USSR, decided that same month to divide Korea into two spheres- one communist, one democratic.
U.S. president at the time: Truman
anti-communist Korean dictator at the time: Rhee Syngman
communist Korean dictator at the time: Kim Il Sung
Communist China's dictator: Mao Zedong
Soviet Russia Kaiser: Stalin
Fearing that the Korean crisis was a communist campaign to spread its influence throughout the world, President Truman commanded General MacArthur to prepare his troops for war. During the Korean War (1950-1953), the anti-communist President, Rhee Syngman, had the support of North America while communist Korean dictator, Kim Il Sung, had that of the Soviets.
The rate of civilian casualties was higher than World War II’s and Vietnam’s.
Nearly 5 million people died and more than half of the men who passed were civilians.
Both sides were willing to accept a ceasefire that maintained the 38th parallel boundary. the adversaries signed an armistice on July 27, 1953. created a 2-mile-wide “demilitarized zone” that still exists today.
“If we let Korea down, the Soviets will keep right on going and swallow up one place after another.”
-President Harry S. Truman
The 38th parallel is the boundary line that separates the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (South Korea) to the pro-Western Republic of Korean (North Korea).
War against Communism.
Ending 35 years of Japanese occupation, on August 15, 1945, Japan gave up its ownership of the Korean peninsula to the Allied Powers. The Allied Powers, which included the U.S. as well as USSR, decided that same month to divide Korea into two spheres- one communist, one democratic.
U.S. president at the time: Truman
anti-communist Korean dictator at the time: Rhee Syngman
communist Korean dictator at the time: Kim Il Sung
Communist China's dictator: Mao Zedong
Soviet Russia Kaiser: Stalin
Fearing that the Korean crisis was a communist campaign to spread its influence throughout the world, President Truman commanded General MacArthur to prepare his troops for war. During the Korean War (1950-1953), the anti-communist President, Rhee Syngman, had the support of North America while communist Korean dictator, Kim Il Sung, had that of the Soviets.
The rate of civilian casualties was higher than World War II’s and Vietnam’s.
Nearly 5 million people died and more than half of the men who passed were civilians.
Both sides were willing to accept a ceasefire that maintained the 38th parallel boundary. the adversaries signed an armistice on July 27, 1953. created a 2-mile-wide “demilitarized zone” that still exists today.
“If we let Korea down, the Soviets will keep right on going and swallow up one place after another.”
-President Harry S. Truman