| Image | Event |
|---|---|
| June - September 1950 - when war began in June 1950 → North Korean forces → advanced rapidly. - they captured Seoul → capital of South Korea → were soon in command of most of South Korea. - South Korean held on to a small area → around port of Busan → which allowed UN forces to reinforce them + hold back North Korean advance. | |
| September-Mid October 1950 - Sept → UN forces landed at Incheon → near Seoul. - same time → UN forces in Busan → drove North Koreans back. - MacArthur → quickly achieved original UN objective → of removing North korean troops → from south korea. - they did not stop there → as McArthur → had wanted to take advantage of the retreating army to eradicate communism UN → approved plan → to advance into North Korea. - However → Truman → wary of involvement of Soviets and Chinese forces + cautioned MacArthur to limit operations north of the 38th parallel. despite China’s warning → that it would intervene to defend its border + launch full scale war → if Americans crossed 38th parallel + advanced towards the Yalu River → which was the border between China and North Korea → MacArthur continued to advance into North Korea. However Mao did not want a unified Korea on his border → which was non communist + had an ally to US. → he also felt his personal prestige and China’s prestige were at stake | |
| Mid October 1950-April 1951 - Mid Oct 1950 → Chinese forces began crossing into North Korea → secretly. - MacArthur → defied direct orders from Truman and UN + continued advancing towards Yalu (Amnok) River → potentially expanding scale of war. - he was also ready to use atomic bomb against China and North Korea - Late in Oct 1950 → 200000 Chinese troops (part of people’s volunteer army) → joined North Koreans. - they were highly motivated + equipped with → Soviet Tanks + aircraft. - from Dec 1950 - Jan 1951 → UN forces → pushed back → into South Korea. - april 1951 → MacArthur dismissed by Truman + replaced with General Matthew Ridgway As war was ongoing → Americans also employed → psychological warfare → to convince the North Koreans → to stop fighting for the communists | |
| July 1951 - UN troops then recovered + resumed their attacks towards north. Armistice talks began at Panmunjom June 1951-July 1953 - Fighting reached stalemate + armistice talks stalled due to disagreements over terms April-July 1953 - armistice talks resumed at Panmunjom and armistice was signed later |