1.May 1945, Korea is divided and separated into two different countries
A few months before the end of WWII, Korea is separated into the communist North Korea, after being heavily influenced by the soviet Russia, bringing their political ideology of communism and one party ruling the whole state. They had invested their money in building this area and took care of the upper area and South Korea, which was controlled by the U.S. A. and was taught into a democratic idealistic and America had also invested their money in there. These two Koreas were divided along the 38th parallel, (38 degrees north of the equator).
2.25 June 1950: A massive invasion has occurred, with North forces, storming into the South Borders, with brute force
In the pre-dawn hours of 25 June 1950 the Korean People’s Army (KPA) launched a massive offensive across the 38th Parallel into South Korea. They drove the Republic of South Korea’s (ROK) forces down the peninsula, capturing the capital, Seoul, within a week. South Korean and hastily deployed United States Army units fought delaying actions as they were forced further down the Korean peninsula, which allowed defensive positions to be set up around the port city of Pusan. Australia commits North Korean tanks, reach the outskirts of Seoul and captures many key cities of South Korea on the invasion from the North
3.5 July 1950: The United States is defeated at many key cities in South Korea American troops try to fight North Korea and try to defend many key cities in North Korea, with heavy artillery but fail to stop the tanks, reaching the capital, due to heavy and quick offensive from the North. The Americans expected an easy victory, but are surprised to find out that they are no match for the North Korean army and therefore are forced to retreat even further and the North Koreans, once again capture many key cities. North Korean
4.July 1950: The UN asks for its members, to assist in the war and by the end of the month, he had authorised US ground forces to be deployed to the peninsula.
The United Nations Security Council asked its members to assist in repelling the North Korean invasion. The Security Council was further aided by Russia boycotting the UN over the lack of recognition by the Security Council of the Communist Chinese government: with the Russian delegate absent and unable to veto any resolution, the UN was able to act decisively and commit forces from willing nations to the aid of South Korea. In all, 21 nations committed troops, ships, aircraft, and medical units to the defence of South Korea. Australia became the second nation, behind the United States, to commit personnel from all three armed services to the war.
5.4 August 1950: The UN forces and South Koreans establish a strong defensive line, forcing communist troops into a retreat.
The US, cleverly plants troops onto the Incheon shores, which completely surprises the North Korean’s; due to the sheer size of the army and thousands of soldiers arrive along the coastline. This route is also a vital supply for The communist invasion, which forces them into a desperate retreat and a launch from the USA, to take advantage of their condition of their retreat, driving them out of key cities, previously over run by North Korean forces and after ten days later they re-capture Seoul, which is a great victory for the UN side.
6.20 October 1950: North Korea’s capital has been reached, by American troops and Allied troops from the UN
Important American military strategy has led to the capture of many key North Korean cities, surpassing the 38th parallel and retaliating into North Korea. The troops have gained many victories of not only recovering cities captured by in South Korea by cities in North Korea, leaving them to retreat, in order to recuperate and leave to avoid more casualties. The troops finally reach the capital of North Korea, Pyongyang and many soldiers believe that war will be over soon.
7.October 1950: The Korean War has China, a superpower join the war.
China had joined the Korean War, on the side of the North Korea, (having close relations to the Soviets) to help the North and defend it from many key cities and areas, so that it cannot be taken over by countries of capitalist views, which they as a communist party were completely against. Their army called the people’s volunteer army, wins important victories and helps push the UN troops back to the previous 38th parallel border to which the North and South were divided at. Though the Chinese forces had no plans to stop there, they push back the forces completely, even further and take major South Korean ports and cities again, which gives the communist forces the upper hand in the war.
8.1951: The UN launch their offensive again
100, 000 UN, advanced into South Korea, in the hopes of making the Chinese troops, retreat and make them go back to mainland China. However the troops had set up roadblocks, which made it extremely difficult for the UN forces to advance, which alerted the Chinese troops, who saw an opportunity to retaliate and on 4 January, 1951, Seoul had fallen to the enemy and UN forces were driven further South.
The United Nations again advanced, taking over the area just over the 38th parallel of, which was - the border between north and south before the war. It was in this phase of the war that 94 Australians of 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment were killed, wounded or captured at theBattle of Kapyong, a village and valley. It was close to the South side of the 38th Parallel, to which the Chinese forces, were trying to invade and push North, but the Australian, New Zealand and Canadian troops had successfully inflicted heavy casualties, on the Chinese side, with 39 Australians killed, and 500 Chinese troops, which proved to be a heavy blow for the Chinese. The UN troops are forced into retreat.
9. July, 1951: Peace talks call for a ceasefire between both sides.
The UN discusses peace talks on behalf of the South Korean side towards discussing a peace treaty between both sides, to stop the war and end the conflict. The UN wanted to discuss land issues, so that both sides could have an equal amount of land, which would they could both agree to. Though during the following months, the communist side was too hostile and tension and unrest was growing between both sides, which resumed fighting and ended the peace treaty talks. The UN could not afford more losses, but had to continue due to the Communist forces will for not giving up. Over the two years the war continued on and this saw a lot of fluctuations between the border and how much area, both sides had captured, which lead to the division and territory moving up and down the latitude.
10. 27 July 1953, The North and South Korea agree to a truce to their war.
Both Koreas finally sign an agreement to stop fighting after a three-year controversial war, which involved many countries, due to the UN’s pledging help from its members, in order to tackle the North Korean threat into the South. This was not a peace treaty and so technically these countries are still at war, as this armistice, which still brings around a lot of tension with both countries even today. Both countries signed the armistance, leaving their borders close to where they had started (along the 38th parallel) and have helped build neutral zone, around their disputed borders, which is called the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), which is a small strip of the border, that does not belong to either the north or the south and has been established to separate both countries. The North separated into their own Country called The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, even though it being on heavily communist rule and dictatorship, whilst the south formed the country, People’s Republic Korea, which through US investing became a highly successful nation with a strong economy.
Korea, today is still divided into the North and the South