Korean War, Essay Example

It was estimated that over 6.8 million US service personnel were involved in the Korean War. 1.8 million served during combat conditions and it is estimated that36,940 people were killed in Action. This excluded some 8,000 POW’s of which half were later returned. The war commenced in North Korea when the North Korean Army moved over the 38^th Parallel and invaded South Korea on June 25^th 1950. “Kim Il-Sung, the communist dictator of North Korea, became convinced that the people in the south would welcome being ruled by his government. Three days later, communist forces captured the South Korean capital, Seoul.” (Spartacus.net, 2010)

This act of hostility was met with an immediate response by US President Harry Truman who committed US Soldiers to the defence of South Korea. Truman went ahead without the support of congress using his Executive powers.

The UN Security Council also called other nations to support the USA and 15 other nations responded in order to assist South Korea. The UN placed these troops under a UN banner with the aim of repelling the Chinese and the spread of communism into South Korea. The UN appointed US General Douglas MacArthur as supreme commander of the allied forces. In the months that followed the Chinese invasion was fought back to the 38^th parallel by March 1957 a sort of stalemate had been reached. For the next two years both sides waged a bitter battle of offensive and counter offensive.  Eventually ending with a deadlocked situation. An armistice was eventually achieved on July 27^th 1953 and this established the start of a long cold war between North and South Korea.  (Korean War Info, 2008)

Even today hostilities still take place between the two and we recently witnessed the torpedoing of a South Korean warship that signalled the start of new acts of aggression from the North Koreans. The North has also been involved with nuclear weapons testing and the launch of both medium and long range rocket programs. The current situation remains as the armistice between the two countries but the war has never been officially declared as over.  The nearby country of Japan also remains seriously concerned about the aims of North Korea and potential hostile remarks about that country. Japan has intensified the build of its security measures.  The USA continues to have joint naval exercises with South Korea and the North considers this tantamount to a declaration of war against that country. Sanctions against Korea prevail from the international community. In 2009 a naval skirmish took place between North and South warships “North Korea — an isolated dictatorship that earlier this year detonated a nuclear device, fired a flurry of missiles and repeatedly threatened the South with “all-out war”. (Harden, 2009)

Works Cited

Harden, B. (2009, 11 12). North Korea says naval skirmish was ‘planned provocation’ by South. Retrieved 11 9, 2010, from Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/12/AR2009111203773.html

Korean War Info. (2008). Korean War. Retrieved 11 9, 2010, from Korean War Info: http://www.korean-war.info/

Spartacus.net. (2010). Korean War. Retrieved 11 9, 2010, from Spartacus.net: http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAkorea.htm