Korea had been under Japanese occupation for decades,
Korea had been under Japanese occupation for decades,

but, at the end of world war two the USA and Russia agreed to
but, at the end of world war two the USA and Russia agreed to

divide Korea along the 38th parallel and unite the nation after five years.
divide Korea along the 38th parallel and unite the nation after five years.

But many Koreans wanted independence immediately,
But many Koreans wanted independence immediately,

And in the south, the Americans had to deal with numerous strikes and protests.
And in the south, the Americans had to deal with numerous strikes and protests.

So they banned the Provisional People's Republic and held elections in 1948
So they banned the Provisional People's Republic and held elections in 1948

And, despite boycotts and terrorism,
And, despite boycotts and terrorism,

Syngman Rhee, a pro-American politician, was elected.
Syngman Rhee, a pro-American politician, was elected.

but he, as part of the Jeju uprising,
but he, as part of the Jeju uprising,

killed thousands and imprisoned many more.
killed thousands and imprisoned many more.

Yet many Communist guerrillas remained.
Yet many Communist guerrillas remained.

Meanwhile, in the north, the Soviets installed Kim Il-Sung
Meanwhile, in the north, the Soviets installed Kim Il-Sung

as leader before withdrawing in 1948.
as leader before withdrawing in 1948.

Kim had spent the war in China and was relatively unknown
Kim had spent the war in China and was relatively unknown

but quickly began to create a cult of personality.
but quickly began to create a cult of personality.

He also sent aid to the Chinese Communists who were fighting the nationalists
He also sent aid to the Chinese Communists who were fighting the nationalists

in the Chinese civil war.
in the Chinese civil war.

And, in return, when Mao took over China, he promised to support Kim in any war.
And, in return, when Mao took over China, he promised to support Kim in any war.

Then, in 1949, after the soviet union tested their first atomic bomb,
Then, in 1949, after the soviet union tested their first atomic bomb,

Kim and Mao received limited backing from Stalin.
Kim and Mao received limited backing from Stalin.

Stalin sent advisers and weapons to North Korea while Kim readied his armies.
Stalin sent advisers and weapons to North Korea while Kim readied his armies.

Then, on the 25th of June 1950, after numerous skirmishes along the border,
Then, on the 25th of June 1950, after numerous skirmishes along the border,

North Korea invaded the South.
North Korea invaded the South.

The south Koreans lacked the weaponry and numbers, so they could not stop their advance,
The south Koreans lacked the weaponry and numbers, so they could not stop their advance,

despite blowing up bridges with refugees on them.
despite blowing up bridges with refugees on them.

So, within a couple of days, Rhee had fled and Seoul was captured.
So, within a couple of days, Rhee had fled and Seoul was captured.

But the USSR was boycotting UN meetings at the time because communist China
But the USSR was boycotting UN meetings at the time because communist China

didn't have a permanent seat on the security council.
didn't have a permanent seat on the security council.

So the UN passed resolution 83.
So the UN passed resolution 83.

This granted South Korea military assistance
This granted South Korea military assistance

and the Americans, who feared not intervening would encourage communist nations
and the Americans, who feared not intervening would encourage communist nations

to use military force elsewhere,
to use military force elsewhere,

sent thousands of troops.
sent thousands of troops.

But they were under-equipped initially due to post-war spending cuts,
But they were under-equipped initially due to post-war spending cuts,

and driven back to Pusan.
and driven back to Pusan.

Meanwhile, the Americans angered the Chinese by sending ships to defend the Republic of China in Taiwan.
Meanwhile, the Americans angered the Chinese by sending ships to defend the Republic of China in Taiwan.

So the Chinese, now expecting to enter the war, got the Soviets to promise air support.
So the Chinese, now expecting to enter the war, got the Soviets to promise air support.

But, in Pusan, the Americans were receiving thousands of reinforcements
But, in Pusan, the Americans were receiving thousands of reinforcements

and started driving north from the Pusan perimeter in early September.
and started driving north from the Pusan perimeter in early September.

and on the 15th General MacArthur sent troops to capture Inchon via amphibious landing
and on the 15th General MacArthur sent troops to capture Inchon via amphibious landing

after heavy bombardment had all but destroyed the city.
after heavy bombardment had all but destroyed the city.

On the 25th, Seoul was retaken and UN troops arrived at the 38th parallel a couple days later
On the 25th, Seoul was retaken and UN troops arrived at the 38th parallel a couple days later

Although China threatened to intervene if they crossed the parallel, the UN gave MacArthur permission to do so
Although China threatened to intervene if they crossed the parallel, the UN gave MacArthur permission to do so

and he sent his troops north.
and he sent his troops north.

The North Koreans had taken heavy casualties during their retreat,
The North Koreans had taken heavy casualties during their retreat,

and they lost Pyongyang on October the 19th.
and they lost Pyongyang on October the 19th.

But hundreds of thousands of Chinese soldiers had made it to the border almost undetected,
But hundreds of thousands of Chinese soldiers had made it to the border almost undetected,

then invaded the north and drove the UN back to the Ch'ŏngch'ŏn river.
then invaded the north and drove the UN back to the Ch'ŏngch'ŏn river.

But they decided to wait in defensive positions for a UN counterattack.
But they decided to wait in defensive positions for a UN counterattack.

This attack came on the 25th of November and ended in failure,
This attack came on the 25th of November and ended in failure,

So the UN ordered a full retreat.
So the UN ordered a full retreat.

And it was during this retreat that the Turkish brigade famously helped to defend the US eighth army.
And it was during this retreat that the Turkish brigade famously helped to defend the US eighth army.

In Hungnam, ships helped evacuate soldiers before razing the city
In Hungnam, ships helped evacuate soldiers before razing the city

While the rest of the army made it back to the 38th parallel by mid December.
While the rest of the army made it back to the 38th parallel by mid December.

Another Chinese assault was launched the following January.
Another Chinese assault was launched the following January.

And, by attacking at night and using trumpets and gongs to disorient the UN troops,
And, by attacking at night and using trumpets and gongs to disorient the UN troops,

They successfully recaptured Seoul on the 4th.
They successfully recaptured Seoul on the 4th.

But they had few supplies and poor transportation,
But they had few supplies and poor transportation,

and the UN was able to reclaim land up to the Han river by early February.
and the UN was able to reclaim land up to the Han river by early February.

Plus, in mid February, despite being outnumbered by fifteen to one,
Plus, in mid February, despite being outnumbered by fifteen to one,

the UN troops fought back another Chinese counterattack.
the UN troops fought back another Chinese counterattack.

So the UN then countered with Operation Killer, intending to kill as many Chinese as they could,
So the UN then countered with Operation Killer, intending to kill as many Chinese as they could,

and then Operation Ripper recaptured Seoul in mid March.
and then Operation Ripper recaptured Seoul in mid March.

General MacArthur, who had previously threatened to use nukes, was sacked
General MacArthur, who had previously threatened to use nukes, was sacked

because he was blamed for escalating the war.
because he was blamed for escalating the war.

and Matthew Ridgway, who had revitalized the eighth army, took over as supreme commander.
and Matthew Ridgway, who had revitalized the eighth army, took over as supreme commander.

He began to drop troops behind the enemy lines in order to encircle them,
He began to drop troops behind the enemy lines in order to encircle them,

but had to quickly deal with another Chinese offensive.
but had to quickly deal with another Chinese offensive.

Although the Chinese were now equipped with more Soviet supplied trucks and planes,
Although the Chinese were now equipped with more Soviet supplied trucks and planes,

Their advance was halted at the battles of Imjin River and Kapyong in late April.
Their advance was halted at the battles of Imjin River and Kapyong in late April.

and the UN managed to capitalize on this by driving the Chinese back to the 38th parallel once again.
and the UN managed to capitalize on this by driving the Chinese back to the 38th parallel once again.

but this time they halted on the parallel and a stalemate ensued.
but this time they halted on the parallel and a stalemate ensued.

The fighting, however, continued over the next two years but it remained small.
The fighting, however, continued over the next two years but it remained small.

The UN lacked a desire to push north and China lacked the resources to push south.
The UN lacked a desire to push north and China lacked the resources to push south.

So, after two years of sporadic fighting, the Indians helped negotiate an armistice in July 1953.
So, after two years of sporadic fighting, the Indians helped negotiate an armistice in July 1953.

Prisoners were exchanged and a demilitarized zone was created near the 38th parallel.
Prisoners were exchanged and a demilitarized zone was created near the 38th parallel.

Despite over two million casualties,
Despite over two million casualties,

the only major territorial change was Kaesong became part of North Korea.
the only major territorial change was Kaesong became part of North Korea.

but no peace treaty was signed and the DMZ remained heavily guarded.
but no peace treaty was signed and the DMZ remained heavily guarded.

North Korea tried to restart the war in the 1970s after communist forces won in Vietnam,
North Korea tried to restart the war in the 1970s after communist forces won in Vietnam,

but they had no backing from China.
but they had no backing from China.

So Kim tried to fight via unconventional means, like digging tunnels to Seoul and attempted assassinations.
So Kim tried to fight via unconventional means, like digging tunnels to Seoul and attempted assassinations.

but this failed and, of course, Korea remains divided.
but this failed and, of course, Korea remains divided.