The Korean War

"THE KOREAN WAR"

From the first day North Koreans attacked South Korea on June 25, 1950 to the day of the armistice the events of the Korean war revealed the mass destruction, pain, and suffering Koreans had to endure. By the end of the war more than three million Koreans died while millions of refugees remained homeless and distressed. About one million Chinese died in this battle and American casualties numbered 54,246 people.

On this day, June 25, 1950, President Truman relayed orders to General of the Army Douglas Mac Arthur at Mac Arthur's Far East Command headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, to supply ROK forces with ammunition and equipment, to evacuate American dependents from Korea, and survey conditions on the peninsula to determine how best to assist the republic further. The president also ordered the U.S. Seventh Fleet from its current location in Philippine and Ryukyu waters to Japan.

The Korean War was the last major war where propeller fighters such as the United Nations air forces' P-51 Mustang, were used, and it was the war in which jet fighters came to dominate the skies. These initially were US Air Force F-80's, and US Navy or US Marine Corps McDonnell F2H Banshees, which overwhelmed North Korea's propeller-driven Yakovlev Yak-9's and Lavochkin La-9s. Other United Nation air combat capability came from propeller planes like the Supermarine Seafire, Fairey Firefly, and Hawker Sea Fury, based on aircraft carriers deployed by the British Royal

Navy and Royal Australian Navy.

Throughout the conflict, the United States maintained a policy of heavy bombing especially using flammable weapons, against all North Korean settlements. Although images of the civilian victims of the weapon were to be ingrained upon the memory of the world in Vietnam. During the second half of 1950 alone, close to a million gallons of the weapon was used to destroy dozens of settlements in North Korea.

The Korean War can be divided into three phases: the first phase began on June 25, 1950 and ended on the day United Nations forces thrusted into North Korea's territory. Another phase of the Korean War was basically the Southern unit's attack and retreat from the North Korea. Lastly, the third phase of the war consisted of the "see-saw" fighting on the 38th parallel, stalemate, and negotiation talks.

On June 26th in a broad interpretation President Truman approved for General MacArthur to use air and naval strength against North Korean targets below the 38th parallel. The President also redirected the bulk of the Seventh fleet to Taiwan, where by standing between the Chinese Communists on the mainland and the Nationalists on the island it could discourage either one from attacking the other and thus prevent a widening of conflict.

On the 29th of June the North Korean Army, pressed southward and captured Seoul. By August, Korean People's Army forces were on their drive toward the Pusan perimeter, which consisted of the northern area of Pohang, which is the southern area of Chinju-Masan region. The United Nation forces were on the defensive side until September 15 when the American forces, under the command of General MacArthur successfully landed on Inchon. The landing allowed the United Nation forces to break through the Pusan perimeter to retake Seoul, and to cross the 38th parallel by September 30. By the end of the first phase of the Korean war 111,000 South Koreans died and 57,000 were missing.

Throughout the second phase of the Korean war, Korean People's Army forces were in retreat. In two days, the Southern forces were approximately 25 miles of the parallel. Within a week, they captured Wonson, located on the eastern side of North Korea. Afterward, they marched toward the Yalu River with almost no fight from the Northern units.

In early October the unexpected decision of China's entry into the war turned the tide of the war. The Northern units, consisting of Sino-Korean troops, sent the United Nations forces retreating again. By December 6, the Communist forces retook Pyongyang. By the end the December they recrossed but Northern forces were not as successful as their first attack because by the end of January 1951, the United Nations forces were back on the Han river and by March 14, they were able to retake Seoul from North Koreas hands. During this time the condition in Korea was one of desperation.

Koreans frantically fled their homes in search for refugee camps, safety, shelter, and food.

Throughout mid 1951 and 1953, negotiation for peace treaty stalled and reopened.

A major issue that stalled negotiations was whether POWs should be repatriated on voluntary basis