THE KOREAN WAR
The Korean War, which began on June 25, 1950, was a pivotal event in 20th-century history, as it shaped the geopolitical landscape of East Asia and impacted global affairs. It also resulted in a massive loss of life, with estimates suggesting around 2.5 million people (including civilians and military personnel) perished.
WHEN DID THE WAR END?
Despite the cessation of active hostilities, the war has never formally ended – the reason it is also called the “Forgotten War” sometimes.
It concluded with an armistice agreement on July 27, 1953, rather than a peace treaty, leaving North and South Korea technically still at war.
WHAT LED TO THE DIVIDE OF THE KOREAN PENINSULA?
The war was a result of Cold War tensions and the rivalry for supremacy between the communist Soviet Union and the liberal capitalist United States. The two superpowers emerged after the second world war (1939 to 1945) and attempted to extend their influence over the Korean peninsula as it had just gained independence from colonial rule.
KOREA BEFORE THE COLD WAR:
Several dynasties ruled Korea before that with some uniting the entire region, such as the Silla dynasty in the 7th century. Korea then came under Japanese colonial rule from 1910 to 1945 and it ended with Japan’s surrender in WW2. However, Korea’s liberation was quickly followed by division.
THE AFTERMATH OF WORLD WAR 2
To manage the Japanese surrender, the Allied forces (comprising the US, the USSR, the UK & France) agreed to a temporary division of Korea into two occupation zones:
- The Soviet Union-controlled one in the north and
- The US one in the south.
US authorities decided the 38th parallel would be the dividing line.
Today, a buffer zone called the demilitarised zone (DMZ) runs along the 38th parallel
to avoid border skirmishes. Army members of both countries guard it on either side.
WHAT HAPPENED AFTER DRAWING THE 38TH PARALLEL?
In the North, the Soviet Union helped establish a communist regime led by Kim
Il-sung, a former guerrilla fighter and Soviet-trained leader.
In the South, the United States supported the creation of a capitalist state under Syngman Rhee, an anti-communist leader who had spent many years in exile in the United States.
By 1948, two separate governments were officially established:
- The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) and
- The Republic of Korea (South Korea)
Eeach claiming legitimacy over the entire peninsula.
THE OUTBREAK
On June 25, 1950, North Korean forces, backed by the Soviet Union and China, launched a surprise invasion of South Korea by crossing the 38th parallel. The invasion began in the early morning and caught the South Korean Army and its American allies off guard.
The North Korean forces quickly advanced, overwhelming the South Korean defences and capturing key areas — including the capital Seoul.
This alarmed the international community and prompted the United Nations to Intervene.
THE UN INTERVENTION & THE AFTERMATH
The UN Security Council passed a resolution condemning the invasion and calling for a withdrawal of North Korean forces from South Korea.
In another UNSC resolution on June 27, it was declared that North Korean actions constituted a breach of peace. UN members were recommended to assist South Korea against the attack and “restore peace on the Korean Peninsula”.
In response, a coalition of UN forces primarily led by the United States intervened. This marked the beginning of a bloody and protracted conflict that would last for three years and result in millions of casualties.
THE LEGACY CONTINUES
- It has had far-reaching implications for regional security, contributing to the militarisation of the Korean Peninsula and ongoing tensions between the two Koreas and between North Korea and the West.
- It also solidified the alliance between the United States and South Korea. The US established a lasting military presence in South Korea by stationing American troops and remains committed to defending it against any external aggression.
- China’s entry into the war demonstrated its commitment to supporting communist regimes and a willingness to confront US-led forces in the region. China and North Korea largely maintain a close strategic partnership, with China being a key economic and diplomatic ally of North Korea.
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