Korea -The Forgotten War Facts

1.Prior to World War Two Korea had been a united Japanese colony but after it was surrendered to the Allies soviet troops were north of the 38th parallel and American troops were south of it. Fighting broke out in Korea because North Korea invaded South Korea.

2.The UN sent a force of soldiers into Korea to stop the spread of communism. Contrary to popular belief this was not just US soldiers although most were there was soldiers from 16 different countries including hundreds of thousands of volunteers from south korea.

3.The Korean war wasn't just North Korea verse The UN army and South Korea china got involved because they felt threatened and pushed the UN's army back to south Korea.

4.Because China's army pushed the UN back to South Korea the two sides North Korea and South Korea again became deadlocked at the 38th parallel.

5.General MacArthur wanted to blockade China and bomb them but Truman refused. MacArthur went as far as writing to newspapers and magazines to gain public support but the president held out and fired him.

6.Truman suggested a truce talk in 1951 but it went on for two years and during the presidential campaign and Eisenhower promised to go to Korea and end the war if he was elected president. He was and he kept his promise.

7.Eisenhower also warned that he was ready to use nuclear weapons and attack China. This threat was probably enough for North Korea to give up.

8.In 1953 the war ended in a stalemate. The two koreas were left divided at the same 38th parallel.

9.Many americans were unsatisified and frustrated with the war because they felt the war accomplished nothing.

10. Because of the Korean War the United Nations established its self as a tested and good world peace keeper.