causes of the korean war essay

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Korean War, a ‘Forgotten’ Conflict That Shaped the Modern World

By Liam Stack

• Jan. 1, 2018

The Korean War has been called “the Forgotten War” in the United States, where coverage of the 1950s conflict was censored and its memory decades later is often overshadowed by World War II and the Vietnam War.

But the three-year conflict in Korea, which pitted communist and capitalist forces against each other, set the stage for decades of tension among North Korea, South Korea and the United States.

It also helped set the tone for Soviet-American rivalry during the Cold War, profoundly shaping the world we live in today, historians said.

As tensions between North Korea and the United States continue to mount amid missile tests and taunts, here is a brief guide to the Korean War and the impacts that linger more than 60 years after its end.

How did the Korean War start?

The Korean War began when North Korean troops pushed into South Korea on June 25, 1950, and it lasted until 1953. But experts said the military conflict could not be properly understood without considering its historical context.

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Memory Bank Multiple Perspectives on the Korean War

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Multiple Perspectives on the Korean War

But as with all historical interpretation, there are other perspectives to consider. The Soviet Union, for its part, denied Truman’s accusation that it was directly responsible. The Soviets believed that the war was “an internal matter that the Koreans would [settle] among themselves.” They argued that North Korea’s leader Kim Il Sung hatched the invasion plan on his own, then pressed the Soviet Union for aid. The Soviet Union reluctantly agreed to help as Stalin became more and more worried about widening American control in Asia. Stalin therefore approved Kim Il Sung’s plan for invasion, but only after being pressured by Chairman Mao Zedong, leader of the new communist People’s Republic of China.

A historian’s job is to account for as many different perspectives as possible. But sometimes language gets in the way. In order to fully understand the Korean War, historians have had to study documents, conversations, speeches and other communications in multiple languages, including Korean, Chinese, English, Japanese and Russian.

In 1995, the famous Chinese historian Shen Zhihua set out to solve a major problem posed by the war. Many people in the west had argued for decades, as Truman did, that North Korea invaded South Korea at the direction of the Soviet Union. Skeptical of that argument, Zhihua spent 1.4 million yuan ($220,000) of his own money to buy declassified documents from Russian historical archives. Then, he had the papers translated into Chinese so he could read them alongside Chinese government documents.

Zhihua found that Stalin had encouraged Mao Zedong to support North Korea’s invasion plan, vaguely promising Soviet air cover to protect North Korean troops. However, Stalin never believed that the United States and the UN would enter the war, and was reluctant to send the Soviet Air Force because he feared direct confrontation with the United States. When the United States landed at Incheon, Mao recognized that the United States and the UN could quickly overrun North Korea. At that point, he decided to support North Korea with or without Soviet aid, as he was determined to stop the Americans. Stalin eventually did send in the Soviet Air Force, but only after pressure from Mao. Zhihua argued that since China decided to take the lead, the Soviet Union played a weaker role in the war than most western historians believed.

The North Koreans had their own view. They argued that the war began not with their invasion of the south, but with earlier border attacks by South Korean leader Syngman Rhee’s forces, ordered by the United States. The DPRK maintains that the American government planned the war in order to shore up the collapsing Rhee government, to help the American economy and to spread its power throughout Asia and around the world.

Journalist Wilfred Burchett reported on those border incidents prior to the North Korean invasion:

“According to my own, still incomplete, investigation, the war started in fact in August-September 1949 and not in June 1950. Repeated attacks were made along key sections of the 38th parallel throughout the summer of 1949, by Rhee’s forces, aiming at securing jump-off positions for a full-scale invasion of the north. What happened later was that the North Korean forces simply decided that things had gone far enough and that the next assault by Rhee’s forces would be repulsed; that- having exhausted all possibilities of peaceful unification, those forces would be chased back and the south liberated.”

In addition to these perspectives, there are others that still need to be fully studied and understood in the west. Certainly the conflict was fueled and abetted by American, Soviet and European and Chinese designs. But, as historian John Merrill argues, Korean perspectives on the conflict need to be better understood. After all, before the war even began, 100,000 Koreans died in political fighting, guerilla warfare and border skirmishes between 1948 and 1950.

Put simply, Koreans across the peninsula had different ideas about what the future of their country would be like once free of foreign occupation. It is up to us to better understand those perspectives. Only then will we have a fuller understanding of the Korean War, its legacy and its influence on the modern world.

American veterans James Argires, Howard Ballard and Glenn Paige provide their own perspectives on the origins of the conflict.

[ Video: James Argires – Perspectives ]

[ Video: Howard Ballard – Perspectives ]

[ Video: Glenn Paige – Perspectives ]

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Why did the Korean War start?

After defeating Japan in World War II , Soviet forces occupied the Korean Peninsula north of the 38th parallel and U.S. forces occupied the south. Korea was intended to be reunited eventually, but the Soviets established a communist regime in their zone, while in 1947 the United Nations assumed control of the U.S. zone and sought to foster a democratic pan-Korean state. Amid partisan warfare in the south, the Republic of Korea was established in 1948. By 1950 the violence had convinced North Korean leader Kim Il-Sung that a war under Soviet auspices was necessary for reunification. 

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Lesson Plan: The Korean War

The Beginning of the Korean War

Description

On June 25, 1950, North Korea surprised South Korea by invading and advancing towards the capital city of Seoul. Soon after, President Truman sent U.S. troops to aid the South Korean military, and a U.N. Security Council resolution was pushed through to send additional troops and aid to bolster existing South Korean and U.S. forces. An armistice was signed in July 1953, ending the active fighting of the war and creating a demilitarized zone separating the two countries, although a peace treaty has never been signed. In this lesson, students will learn about the causes, significance, and legacy of the Korean War.

INTRODUCTION

As a class, view the following video clip and then discuss the questions below.

Video Clip: The Beginning of the Korean War (6:14)

Explain the circumstances in Korea between 1945 and 1950 that led to the Korean War.

Why did North Korea want to invade South Korea, beginning in 1948? What dissuaded them from invading at that time? What emboldened them to invade in 1950?

How did the Truman administration view the invasion? What steps did the administration take?

• Explain the decision of the United Nations Security Council. According to Mr. Brazinsky, what was the view and reaction of the U.S. Congress in relation to President Truman and our involvement in Korea?

Break students into groups and have each group view the following video clips. Students should take notes using the handout provided, and then share their findings with the rest of the class.

HANDOUT: Korean War Handout (Google Doc)

Video Clip: North Korea Invades South Korea (1:39)

The U.S. Army "Big Picture" episode shows footage of the North Korea invasion and the United Nations response.

Video Clip: President Truman Korean War Address (0:51)

President Truman addressed the nation on why the U.S. must intervene in the Korean War.

Video Clip: The Countries Involved in the Korean War (2:19)

Christopher Kolakowski described the role of the United Nations and the countries involved in the Korean War.

Video Clip: Korean War Military Action (3:52)

Professor Lisa Brady gives an overview of the military strategy and progress during the Korean War.

Video Clip: Gen. Douglas MacArthur's Role in the Korean War (2:32)

GWU History Professor Gregg Brazinsky discusses Gen. Douglas MacArthur's role in leading U.S. forces during the Korean War, and his interactions with President Truman and his administration.

Video Clip: China's Involvement in the Korean War (1:43)

GWU History Professor Gregg Brazinsky on China's involvement in the Korean War, including their concerns over America's involvement in the war.

Video Clip: The Armistice and Legacy of the Korean War (2:16)

Christopher Kolakowski described the armistice to end the fighting of the Korean War and its signficance today.

TAKE A STAND

After discussing the findings from the video clips with the entire class, have the students take part in a "Take a Stand" activity with the following question.

"The United States made the correct decision in entering the Korean War"

Have students line up on a continuum based on their opinion from “Strongly Agree” to “Strongly Disagree.” Ask several students from different points on the line to share their reasoning and defend their position.

After completing the "Take a Stand" activity, have students write an essay (or similar culminating activity) that includes the following information. Students should cite specific examples from the videos and class discussion.

The causes of the Korean War and the involvement of the United States and United Nations

Major military actions and the role of General MacArthur

The significance of the armistice then and today

• The impact of the Korean War in the context of the greater Cold War

Additional Resources

• ON THIS DAY: Korean War
• BELL RINGER: Korean War
• 38th Parallel
• Demilitarized Zone
• General Douglas Macarthur
• North Korea
• South Korea
• United Nations

Understanding the Causes of the Korean War

This essay about the outbreak of the Korean War on June 25, 1950, highlights its profound impact on East Asia’s geopolitical dynamics. Originating from the division of Korea post-World War II, the war reflected Cold War tensions between communism and capitalism. North Korea’s invasion, backed by the Soviet Union, led to UN intervention. Economic competition and strategic miscalculations further fueled the conflict, which became a broader regional and global confrontation with the entry of Chinese forces. The war’s origins and escalation underscore its significant influence on international relations and Cold War legacies.

How it works

The outbreak of the Korean War on June 25, 1950, marked a pivotal moment in modern history, profoundly altering the geopolitical dynamics of East Asia. Stemming from the division of Korea after World War II into ideologically opposed states, the conflict erupted amidst the backdrop of Cold War tensions between communism and capitalism.

The division of Korea along the 38th parallel mirrored global ideological rivalries, setting the stage for a proxy conflict. North Korea’s surprise invasion of South Korea, backed by the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin, aimed to unify the peninsula under communist rule and posed a direct threat to South Korea’s sovereignty.

In response, the United Nations, led by the United States, swiftly intervened to defend South Korea, marking a significant early engagement of the Cold War.

Economic factors also fueled the conflict. Both North and South Korea aimed to rebuild their economies and achieve rapid industrialization, but their divergent economic models—centralized planning in the North versus a market-oriented approach in the South—led to competition and heightened tensions. Control over resources and economic dominance further escalated conflicts, culminating in open warfare.

Strategic miscalculations on all sides exacerbated the situation. Initial assumptions that North Korea’s invasion could be swiftly contained proved incorrect, leading to a prolonged and devastating stalemate. The entry of Chinese Communist forces in late 1950 internationalized the conflict, transforming it into a broader regional and global confrontation.

In essence, the Korean War was a complex conflict driven by ideological, geopolitical, economic, and strategic factors. Its origins in Korea’s post-World War II division and the intensification of Cold War rivalries underscore its profound impact on the region and beyond. Understanding these factors provides valuable insights into the complexities of international relations and the enduring legacies of Cold War conflicts in East Asia and the wider world.

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The Causes of Korea War and How It Epitomized Cold War Essay

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Introduction

Causes of the korean war, how it epitomized cold war, works cited.

The Korean War was fought in Korean Peninsula between armies from North and those from South Korea. The war began in the wake of June 25, 1950 at 4:30 AM and fighting proceeded until July 27, 1953. It is estimated that two million Koreans perished, majority of who were northerners. There was blame from both sides as to who might have started the war. The north, having been led by communist Kim Il-Sung, got help mostly from People’s Republic of China, and the USSR.

The south, led by nationalist Syngman Rhee, got support from many countries in the United Nations, and especially the United States. The war ended with a truce and with devastating consequences. Even now in the 21 st Century, South Korea and North Korea are still officially and technically at war and United States still keeps troops in South Korea in case North Korea ever invades again. North and South Korea are separated by the 38th parallel.

As for any war, its root causes can always be classified as tangible and intangible. The Korean War had both of these elements. The only and main cause of the Korean War was the invasion of South Korea by North Korea in 1950. The annexation of the Korean peninsula in the early 1910 by Japan was also a possible cause because they might have developed some sections of Korea leaving other sections marginalized.

After World War II ended, American and British forces set up a pro-Western country in the southern part of the peninsula while the Soviet Union set up a Communist government in the north (Hunt 35). The war, then, as can be construed was an attempt to use force to unify the entire peninsula under Communist rule.

The Cold War was an important cause in the Korean War to be ignored when intangible causes are discussed. Relationship between the United States and the USSR had badly been damaged after the war. China joined Communism in October 1949. The President of the United States of America, Harry Truman, was very worried that other countries around China might also become Communist, such as Japan (Hunt 55).

Thus in trying to maintain reputation, Truman spent a lot of money to make the American Army much bigger and Americans wanted to see this new powerful Army in action. Joseph Stalin’s people also wanted to see Stalin get better results in his conquests for popularization of communism. Stalin had just lost the fight for the Berlin Wall and wanted another chance to prove that he could beat United States; the Korean War was his chance and opportunity.

The Korean War can be judged to have epitomized the cold war in very many aspects. The cold war was characterized by war of words and propaganda, economic sanctions and supremacy, the arms race and nuclear proliferation, space race and exploration. Even though the United States rejected MacArthur’s suggestion for use of nuclear weapons against Chinese troops, the North has been struggling to adopt the technology to possibly use it to disturb neighbors (Hunt 75).

The emergence of South Korea as an economic power perhaps indicates that capitalism is far more superior to communism which has left the North in a mismanaged economic wasteland. The solidification of the political policy of containment which made United States to invade Vietnam is also testimony.

Hunt, Michael. The World Transformed: 1945 to the Present . Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2004. Print.

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IvyPanda. (2018, October 17). The Causes of Korea War and How It Epitomized Cold War. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-causes-of-korea-war-and-how-it-epitomized-cold-war/

"The Causes of Korea War and How It Epitomized Cold War." IvyPanda , 17 Oct. 2018, ivypanda.com/essays/the-causes-of-korea-war-and-how-it-epitomized-cold-war/.

IvyPanda . (2018) 'The Causes of Korea War and How It Epitomized Cold War'. 17 October.

IvyPanda . 2018. "The Causes of Korea War and How It Epitomized Cold War." October 17, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-causes-of-korea-war-and-how-it-epitomized-cold-war/.

1. IvyPanda . "The Causes of Korea War and How It Epitomized Cold War." October 17, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-causes-of-korea-war-and-how-it-epitomized-cold-war/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "The Causes of Korea War and How It Epitomized Cold War." October 17, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-causes-of-korea-war-and-how-it-epitomized-cold-war/.

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What Caused the Korean War and Why Did the U.S. Get Involved?

By: Jessica Pearce Rotondi

Updated: June 26, 2023 | Original: May 7, 2021

On June 25, 1950, the Korean War (1950-1953) began when 75,000 members of the North Korean People’s Army crossed the 38th parallel and invaded South Korea. It would be the first military action of the Cold War .

In 1945, superpowers drew a line bisecting the Korean peninsula to separate the Soviet-supported Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (today’s North Korea) from the U.S.-supported Republic of Korea to the South. Essentially a civil conflict, the Korean War became a proxy war between superpowers clashing over communism and democracy. Between 2 million and 4 million people died, 70 percent of them civilians . No peace treaty was ever signed, although in December 2021, North and South Korea, the United States and China agreed to declare a formal end to the war.

What Caused the Korean War?

“The Korean War was a civil war,” says Charles Kim, Korea Foundation associate professor, Department of History, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Korea had been a unified kingdom for centuries before Japan annexed it following its victory in the Russo-Japanese War . The Japanese ruled over Korea with an iron fist from 1910 to 1945. To weaken their colony, they used assimilation tactics like forbidding the Korean language and de-emphasizing Korean history in favor of Japanese culture.

When Japan surrendered to the Allies following the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II, control of the Korean peninsula passed from Japan to the U.S. and the Soviet Union . The superpowers chose to divide Korea between themselves at the 38 th parallel , which roughly bisected the peninsula. “It didn’t correspond to political, cultural, or terrain boundaries,” Kim says. The Soviets set up a communist government to the North, and the United States helped establish a military government in the South.

“At the time, Korean politics ran the gamut from communism on the extreme left to right-wing nationalists, all vying for power,” Kim says. “There was a lot of contention between the Soviet and U.S. occupation forces, and with the polarization of Korean leadership, it was a volatile situation,” says Kim. “Each viewed the other as illegitimate. Both wanted to invade the other to unify Korea.”

Scattered border skirmishes from 1948-50 kept tensions simmering. In 1948, the United States called on the United Nations to sponsor a vote for Koreans to determine their future government. When the North refused to participate, the South formed its own government in Seoul under the anti-communist Syngman Rhee. In retaliation, Kim Il Sung, a former communist guerrilla, was named Premier of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Kim Il Sung went to Moscow in 1949 and again in 1950 to seek Soviet support for invading South Korea. “He was able to get Joseph Stalin to commit to providing support for the invasion of South Korea. He also got a verbal commitment from China ,” Kim says.

When North Korea invaded South Korea on June 25, 1950, “North Korea was banking on the U.S. not coming back,” says Kim. North Korean forces were strong; they had the aid of experienced veterans of the Chinese Civil War , which had just ended in August of 1949. North Koreans made swift progress southward. The world watched to see what would happen next.

Why Did the U.S. Get Involved in the Korean War?

“The U.S. initially didn’t want to get involved in any kind of invasion. They didn’t want to get tangled up with North Korea, much less China or the Soviet Union,” says Kim. Key events on the world stage caused the United States to change course.

On August 29, 1949, the Soviets detonated their first atomic bomb. Klaus Fuchs, a physicist who had helped the United States build its atomic bomb program, had leaked the blueprint of the “ Fat Man ” atomic bomb to the Soviets. The revelation stoked Cold War paranoia. Then, on October 1, 1949, communist revolutionary Mao Zedong announced the creation of the People’s Republic of China following the defeat of the U.S.-supported Chinese nationalists led by Chiang Kai-shek. “‘The loss of China’ was a phrase used by Republican critics of the Truman administration,” says Kim.

Thousands of Chinese troops were sent to aid the North Koreans. “Mao Zedong was adamant about helping out his North Korean allies. He wanted to improve China’s prestige in the communist world by what he saw as freeing South Koreans from U.S. imperialist rule,” Kim says.

President Truman Orders US Forces to South Korea

On April 14, 1950, Truman received a document called National Security Council Paper Number 68 ( NSC-68 ). Created by the Defense Department, the State Department, the CIA , and other agencies, it advised the president to grow the defense industry to counter what these agencies saw as the threat of global communism. The recommendations cemented Truman’s next move.

On June 27, 1950 , President Truman ordered U.S. forces to South Korea to repulse the North’s invasion. “Democrats needed to look tough on communism,” Kim says. “Truman used Korea to send a message that the U.S. will contain communism and come to the aid of their allies.”

The United States never formally declared war on North Korea. Instead, Truman referred to the addition of ground troops as a “police action.” U.S. General Douglas MacArthur ’s Inch’on landing on September 8, 1950, turned the tide of the war and enabled Southern forces to push Northward beyond the 38 th parallel.

On December 16, 1950, U.S. President Harry Truman declared a state of emergency , proclaiming that “communist imperialism” was a threat to democracy. 

Impact of the Korean War

The Korean War armistice , signed on July 27, 1953, drew a new border between North Korea and South Korea , granting South Korea some additional territory and demilitarizing the zone between the two nations. A formal peace treaty was never signed.

Over 2.5 million people died in the Korean War. Despite two prisoner-of-war exchanges , Operation Little Switch and Operation Big Switch, 7,800 Americans are still missing in action, while South Korea is still searching for over 124,000 servicemen .

“The absence of a final conclusion to the Korean War has kept it alive as a major influence on Asian affairs,” says Sheila Miyoshi Jager, professor of East Asian Studies at Oberlin and author of Brothers at War: The Unending Conflict in Korea . 

She argues the Korean War directly influenced President Lyndon B. Johnson’s policy in Vietnam : “Here was a successful sovereign nation, divided by the Cold War, being threatened by its communist neighbor backed by China and the Soviet Union. Korea was now seen as a war that had successfully stopped the Chinese communist expansion in Asia.”

Sandwiched between World War II and the Vietnam War, the Korean War was nicknamed “The Forgotten War.” But to Jager, it’s not over: “The Korean War continues to influence events in East Asia,” she says. Tensions between the United States and North Korea remain.

HISTORY Vault: Korea: The Forgotten War

Five years after WWII, America is once again plunged into bloody battle. Robert Stack hosts this penetrating documentary about the war in Korea.

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The Causes of the Korean War

• ❖ The Cold War .
• ❖ The US policy of containment.
• ❖ The division of Korea .
• ❖ Different governments in Korea.
• ❖ The development of communism in China .
• ❖ Interference from other countries.
• ❖ The Korean War was a proxy of the Cold War . The world's two leading superpowers - the USA and the USSR - were in an ideological conflict, competing for dominance. However, they could only fight through proxy wars due to the threat of nuclear warfare.
• ❖ When communist North Korea invaded South Korea, the USA was able to fight communist Russia without direct confrontation. The Korean War was an extension of the Cold War .
• ❖ The Cold War rivalry between the USSR and the USA was a critical cause of the Korean War , as North Korea would not invade South Korea without Stalin's permission. He gave it as it strengthened his position in the context of the Cold War.
• ❖ In 1947 the President of the USA, Harry S Truman, committed to helping any country under threat from a communist takeover. This was known as the Truman Doctrine and meant that, when North Korea invaded South Korea, America helped the south.
• ❖ Until 1950, most of the USA's efforts in fighting the spread of communism were focused on Europe. However, in 1949, the communists came to power in China despite America's efforts to support the anti-communist government.
• ❖ Truman and the US government believed communism would spread throughout Asia. The USA was worried the fall of China would lead to neighbouring countries following suit - South Korea and then Japan.
• ❖ Stalin's support of the invasion alone did not bring about the war. The USA was determined to prevent any more nations in Asia falling to communism.
• ❖ The division of Korea along the 38th parallel was supposed to be temporary. North and South Korea both wanted to unite, but had different ideas about the style of government. The North wanted a united communist nation, while the South wanted a united capitalist nation.
• ❖ The division of Korea , and the different styles of government, meant the USA and the USSR were both committed to supporting opposing sides. It was, therefore, an extension of the Cold War .
• ❖ North Korea was controlled by the communist Kim II-Sung , who had strong links to the USSR .
• ❖ Kim II-Sung was committed to uniting Korea as a communist nation.
• ❖ Kim II-Sung persuaded Stalin , leader of the USSR , and Mao Zedong , ruler of China , to back an invasion of South Korea. Stalin saw this as an opportunity to continue the Cold War through proxy.
• ❖ South Korea was controlled by anti-communist Syngman Rhee , who had boasted about planning an attack to take over the north and unite Korea as a capitalist nation. This was the excuse Kim II-Sung needed to invade.
• ❖ The USA intervened to support South Korea. President Truman sent warships and offered advisers and supplies. Without this, the South would not have been able to fight the war.
• ❖ Kim II-Sung had asked for Stalin's support to invade the south in 1949, but Stalin had refused. Kim II-Sung could not launch an invasion without aid from the USSR or China . Even though Stalin gave permission in 1950, he made it clear his troops would not fight in the conflict directly, and any reinforcements must come from China.
• ❖ In 1949 the communists won the civil war in China , against Chiang Kai-shek's non-communist government. China became a communist country.
• ❖ Because of its policy of containment , the US had supported Chiang Kai-shek's efforts, trying to prevent China from turning Communist. This strategy failed when Chiang Kai-shek lost the civil war.
• ❖ When China became communist , America was scared communism would spread through Asia, as it believed in the domino theory . The USA was committed to ensuring communism did not take hold in South Korea.

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A brief history of how the Korean War erupted in 1950, its impact on today’s geopolitics

Despite the cessation of hostilities, the korean war never formally ended. the armistice agreement of july 27, 1953, means north and south korea are technically still at war. this unresolved state of affairs continues to influence the region's geopolitics..

(Written by Saima Mehta)

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.

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.

This unresolved state of affairs continues to influence the region’s geopolitical dynamics. Here’s what happened.

What led to the divide in 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.

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.

To manage the Japanese surrender, the Allied forces (comprising the US, the USSR, the UK, France, and others) 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. Future US Secretary of State Dean Rusk and Colonel Charles “Tic” Bonesteel had to do the job. Rusk later wrote in his memoir As I Saw It:

“During a meeting on August 14, 1945, the same day as the Japanese surrender, [Bonesteel] and I retired to an adjacent room late at night and studied intently a map of the Korean peninsula. Working in haste and under great pressure, we had a formidable task: to pick a zone for the American occupation. Neither Tic nor I was a Korea expert, but it seemed to us that Seoul, the capital, should be in the American sector. We also knew that the U.S. Army opposed an extensive area of occupation. Using a National Geographic map, we looked just north of Seoul for a convenient dividing line but could not find a natural geographical line. We saw instead the thirty-eighth parallel and decided to recommend that … [Our commanders] accepted it without too much haggling, and surprisingly, so did the Soviets.”

Over time, the Cold War rivalry and the influence of the occupying powers made the division permanent. 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.

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), each claiming legitimacy over the entire peninsula.

What led to the outbreak of the Korean War?

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 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.

Legacy of the Korean War

The most significant legacy of the Korean War is the division of the Korean Peninsula because of the continued armistice. 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. It also provided economic support that has been a cornerstone of South Korea’s economic development.

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. China’s support for North Korea in the UN and its role in providing economic assistance despite international sanctions highlights the enduring nature of their relationship.

Russia has also emerged as a North Korean ally, trading weapons with the largely isolated ‘hermit’ kingdom.

The author is an intern with The Indian Express

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