The Korean War (1950-1953)

• The Korean War began on June 25, 1950, when North Korean forces, supported by the Soviet Union and China, invaded South Korea.
• Korea had been divided at the 38th parallel after World War II, with the North under a communist government and the South under a democratic government.
• The United Nations, led by the United States, quickly intervened to support South Korea, while China and the Soviet Union backed North Korea.

• The war saw major battles such as the Battle of Inchon, where UN forces launched a successful amphibious invasion, turning the tide in favour of the South.
• Chinese forces entered the war in October 1950, pushing UN forces back and prolonging the conflict.
• Fighting was intense and brutal, with significant civilian casualties and widespread destruction across the Korean Peninsula.

• The war became a stalemate, with both sides fighting back and forth around the 38th parallel for most of the conflict.
• Peace talks began in 1951 but took two years to reach an armistice agreement, largely due to disagreements over prisoner exchanges and border demarcation.
• An armistice was signed on July 27, 1953, effectively ending the fighting but not officially ending the war, as a peace treaty was never signed.

• The Korean War had a lasting impact, solidifying the division of Korea into North and South, leading to the heavily fortified Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) that still exists today.