5 Brief Points of the Korean War

Yesterday was June 25^th, and for those that are unfamiliar with Korean history, yesterday marks the 64^th anniversary of the start of the Korean War. To those that haven’t learned much about the Korean War, I’ve outlined a few concise facts of which you should be aware.

 

1. The 38^th Parallel
   After the Japanese surrendered in World War II, Korea was finally free from Japanese imperial rule. Soon after, the Soviets scrambled to take over the entire peninsula, but due to U.S. intervention, the Soviet Union failed to overtake the entirety of Korea. Instead, the two powerhouses decided to draw a border at the 38^th parallel. Thus, Korea was split into two different states. The northern side was widely influenced by the Soviet Union while its southern counterpart had the U.S. to back them.
   


2. The Two Koreas
   Though the UN tried to bring the two Koreas together to form one single state, negotiations failed. The Soviets wanted Korea to pursue a communist state, but the Americans pushed for a democratic nation for the two Koreas. As you can probably imagine, neither came to a compromise. Hence, South Korea established a government under its first president Rhee Syngman in 1948. Kim Il Sung of the North, implemented a communist government. In 1949.
   
   [caption id="attachment_1990" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Pictured from left to right: Rhee Syngman, Kim Il Sung[/caption]


3. The War
   On June 25^th, 1950, Kim Il Sung led the North Korean military across the 38^th parallel and into South Korean territory. The invasion came as a surprise to the South. The South Korean military couldn’t withstand North Korea’s military forces. Before the U.S. intervened, the South was pushed all the way down to the Busan Province. The counter offense pushed the North back to the point where they were practically knocking on China’s door. The Chinese also stepped in at that point, and the ensuing battles on the peninsula raged for over a year. For the next two years, China, the two Koreas, the Soviet Union, and the U.S. negotiated over the terms of a truce on the peninsula. After much negotiating, North and South Korea armistice was signed on July 27^th, 1953.
   
   [caption id="attachment_1992" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Many affected by the war lost their homes and family[/caption]


4. Aftermath of the war
   Once again, the two warring parties agreed to draw the line at the 38^th parallel, which is most often referred to as the de-militarized zone (DMZ). The war cost nearly 2.5 million people their lives, and about 10 percent of those casualties were civilians.
   The war devastated the lands and 45 percent of its industrial factories throughout the peninsula. Korean society was in turmoil – orphans and widows littered the streets with no place to go. Recovering from the war took much time and South Korea has become one of the biggest economies in the world.
   
   [caption id="attachment_1989" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The DMZ[/caption]


5. The Future of the Koreas
   The peninsula is still technically at war because there was no peace treaty.
   North Korea has become a reclusive, isolated, and dangerous state, whereas the South has prospered. There are debates about whether the two Koreas should reunify to become one nation. In 2000, South Korean president Kim Dae Jeong made international headlines when he went to North Korea and met with Kim Jung Il. His Sunshine Policy has made it possible for more communications between the two countries. However, whether or not the two states will become one remains to be seen, but looking at the recent state of events between the Koreas, you may not want to hold your breath.
   
   [caption id="attachment_1991" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Perhaps one day the two Koreas may reunify[/caption]

This article is dedicated to all those that have sacrificed, lost, or have been affected in any other way by the Korean War. Special thanks to Scott Song for his outstanding help and advice on the article.