The Legend of Tan-Gun | Pre-20th Century | 20th Century | Korean War | Korea's Future Korean War Calendar

Korean War During the early morning hours of June 25, 1950, the North Korean Army crossed the border and invaded South Korea in an unprovoked attack. Their goal was the militaristic re-unification of the Korean peninsula, divided after World War II along the 38th parallel. The poorly trained and ill-equiped South Korean Army was quickly overrun. The North Korean Army easily captured the South's capital city of Seoul. Hundreds of thousands of refugee civilians and retreating soldiers flooded the roads heading south, with the advancing Communists close on their heels. The U.S. hurredly sent a small continent of forces while while preparing a larger force. They could do little to slow the onslaught from the North and were constantly pushed southward towards Pusan. Many North Koreans disguised themselves as refugees and ambushed the soldiers fighting for the South. This led to several unfortunate incidents where South Korean and U.S. (and later U.N.) troops were ordered to fire upon civilians. By August, North Korea had advanced down most of the peninsula, with the Korean and U.N. forces making a stand along the "Pusan Perimeter." Douglas MacAurthur made his famous Inch'on landing on September 15th, and the U.N. forces quickly went on the offensive. Go to 20th Century