Korean War

After the end of World War II, Korea was divided into north and south divisions, the north being socialist and part of the Soviet circle of influence and the south being a right-wing dictatorship backed by America. However, the military strength in the north far outweighed the meager resources of the military in the south and when North Koreans launched an invasion into South Korea on June 25, 1950, the United Nations sanctioned the declaration of war against North Korea by South Korea and the United States. The United Nations was, of course, dominated by the United States at this point in its history and the American army basically represented the U.N. army. By crossing over the 38th parallel, the U.S. and U.N. saw the action as an unprovoked armed attack lead by Chinese and communist forces. In his book The Origins of the Korean War, author Peter Lowe reveals that "Stalin encouraged the attack on South Korea, but also confirms that the original initiative came from North Korea" (Lowe 9). In order to repel the armed attack which the U.N. resolution mandated, the U.S. and U.N. forces would end up using more force than perhaps the North Koreans had when they invaded South Korea, "Truman said: �A return to the rule of force in international affairs would have far-reaching effects. The United States will continue to uphold the rule of law.' The United States' response to �the rule of force' was to reduce Korea, North and Sou

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rnish aid to the Republic of Korea and President Truman gave America's full support to the effort. However, it was actually the sanction given to the U.S. by the U.N. that allowed them to basically begin a war against North Korea and communist forces, "On June 25, 1950 at 4 a.m., 70,000 North Korean troops with Russian T-34 tanks crossed the thirty-eighth parallel. President Truman's appeal led the United Nations to take �police action' against the �unwarranted' attack. Hence, under the �name of the United Nations', the United States was able to send troops and forces" (Events of 1). The actual movement north, close to the Yalu river border, provoked the Communist Chinese to enter the fray. The Chinese had already warned the U.N. forces to not come near the Yalu and they invaded Tibet in 1951 after forcing U.N. forces to move south of the Yalu border at the end of 1950. After this point in the conflict, the U.N. and South Korean forces and the Chinese and North Korean forces remained in a stalemate of maintaining their respective positions along the 38th parallel. The Korean War was waged between the Chinese and North Korean forces assisted by advisers and logistic support from the Soviet Union against the United Nations

Category: History - K