Korea 1950. The Cold War becomes a hot war as the Communist North invades the Capitalist South.



Just five years earlier, the Second World War came to an end. After the war, the United States and the Soviet Union had agreed to divide Korea along the 38th parallel.



The Americans were in control of the South, the Soviets in control of the North.



The Democrats People's Republic of Korea was proclaimed in 1949. Kim il-Sun, who had been elected president, desired to unify Korea under communism.



Traveling to the Soviet Union, Kim il-Sun requested Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin permission to invade the South. At first, he denied him. But after the Soviets tested their first nuclear bombs, Stalin, with much more confidence, agreed to the invasion.



On June 25, 1950, the Communist North invaded South Korea.



South Korea pleaded the United States for help. The U.S. had agreed to defend them. Reserves were called up and troops were mobilized.



But they were not fully prepared. They lacked the weapons and accessories they needed. Much of what they had was left over from World War II. Nevertheless, they headed out.



On September 15, the first troops went ashore and charged towards the enemy.



On October 19, Pyongyang fell to the Americans. It was the only time a Communist capital fell to the West. Later that month, Chinese troops poured into North Korea. Now the Americans were fighting two enemies.



As the war went on, it eventually became a stalemate. President Harry Truman considered using the atomic bomb, but there was severe objection to it.



General Douglas MacArthur considered targeting and invading mainland China. Truman rejected the idea and relieved him from command.



In 1951, there were talks of an armistice, but they went nowhere. It proved impossible to end the war.



It wasn't until 1953 when talks of peace were agreed upon. At that time, Dwight D. Eisenhower had been sworn in as U.S. President.



There were changes in the East as well. In March, Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin died, and his predecessors wanted to end the war.



On July 27, 1953, a ceasefire had finally been agreed upon.



The Armistice to end the war had been signed, but very little had been accomplished.



Over 37,000 American troops had been killed or wounded. Three million Koreans and nearly half a million Chinese also lost their lives.



Even though there was no victory, communism had been contained and America had brought freedom to South Korea.



Despite being rather short, the Korean War left a major impact on the world.



To this day, the country remains divided.

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