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[[Image:Lopez scaling seawall.jpg|right|thumb|300px|United States marines landing at [[Inchon]], 15 September 1950.]]

[[Image:Lopez scaling seawall.jpg|right|thumb|300px|United States marines landing at [[Inchon]], 15 September 1950.]]

The '''Korean War''' was a major conflict on the Korean peninsula lasting from 1950 to 1953, between the communist forces of [[North Korea]], supported by the [[Soviet Union]] and [[China]], and the anti-Communist forces of [[South Korea]], supported by a multinational [[United Nations]] force in which the US was largely represented. Because no Declaration of War was ever ratified by Congress the conflict was officially referred to as a police action.

The '''Korean War''' was a major conflict on the Korean peninsula lasting from 1950 to 1953, between the communist forces of [[North Korea]], supported by the [[Soviet Union]] and [[China]], and the anti-Communist forces of [[South Korea]], supported by a multinational [[United Nations]] force in which the US was largely represented. Because the was no declaration of war, the conflict was referred to as a police action.

==Timeline==

==Timeline==

With the situation in the south finally stabilized, in September, 70,000 UN troops under [[Douglas MacArthur|General MacArthur]], with massive support, landed at [[Inchon]], near [[Seoul]], surprising the exhausted North Koreans. The landings were an extremely risky operation; if any significant resistance had been encountered, the landing craft would probably have been stranded by the extreme [[tide]]s of the landing zone, leaving the forces landed vulnerable to complete annihilation. However, they were lucky and only two days after the capture of Seoul from the 20,000 North Korean defenders was announced, it was actually achieved.

With the situation in the south finally stabilized, in September, 70,000 UN troops under [[Douglas MacArthur|General MacArthur]], with massive support, landed at [[Inchon]], near [[Seoul]], surprising the exhausted North Koreans. The landings were an extremely risky operation; if any significant resistance had been encountered, the landing craft would probably have been stranded by the extreme [[tide]]s of the landing zone, leaving the forces landed vulnerable to complete annihilation. However, they were lucky and only two days after the capture of Seoul from the 20,000 North Korean defenders was announced, it was actually achieved.

=== China joins the war ===

=== China invades ===

Mao Zedong made up his mind to invade Korea in early May 1949 during a trip to Moscow. This was soon after his army had taken Nanjing, then the capital of China. The Chinese Civil War was winding down, leaving Mao in command of a huge victorious army. He was hoping to convince Stalin to continue provide him with weapons and money by fighting America in Korea. Mao focused on the KMT in southern China until October 1949. His next target was the the French in northern Vietnam. It wasn't until late August 1950 that Mao began to move his forces north toward Korea to prepare his offensive.<ref name="Chang">Chang, Jung; Halliday, Jon. Mao: ''The Unknown Story.'' Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. "Why Mao and Stalin Started the Korean War." Chang had access to the Russian archive, which is ignored by most writers on this subject.</ref>

Chinese leader Mao Zedong made up his mind to invade Korea in early May 1949 during a trip to Moscow. This was soon after his communist army had taken Nanjing, then the capital of China. The Chinese Civil War was winding down, leaving Mao in command of a huge victorious army. He was wanted to fight Americans in Korea so that Stalin would continue to provide him with weapons and money. Mao focused on the KMT in southern China until October 1949. His next target was the the French in northern Vietnam. It wasn't until late August 1950 that he began to move his forces north toward Korea.<ref name="Chang">Chang, Jung; Halliday, Jon. Mao: ''The Unknown Story.'' Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. "Why Mao and Stalin Started the Korean War." Chang had access to the Russian archive, which is ignored by most writers on this subject.</ref>

Kim and Stalin were reluctant to accept Chinese aid at this time. North Korean army dissolved after the Inchon landing on September 15, 1950 and Stalin authorized a Chinese offensive on October 1. This triggered an emergency meeting of the Communist leadership at Zhongnanhai in Beijing. The meeting went on for several days and concluded on October 6. The offensive was approved by "one and a half men," as Mao put it. The "half" was Zhou Enlai. The other party leaders, including Lin Biao, were opposed. The decision was always Mao's to make as he had exercised dictatorial authority since 1943.<ref name="Chang"/>

Kim and Stalin were reluctant to accept Chinese aid at this time. U.S. forces landed at Inchon near Seoul on September 15, 1950 and the Joint Chiefs of Staff authorized operations north of 38th parallel on September 29. Stalin approved Chinese intervention on October 1. There was an emergency meeting of the Chinese leadership at Zhongnanhai in Beijing from October 2-6. Military intervention was approved by "one and a half men," as Mao put it. The "half" was Zhou Enlai. The other party leaders, including Lin Biao were opposed. The decision was always Mao's to make as he had exercised dictatorial authority since 1943. Lin Biao had been Mao's first choice for commander. When he refused, General Peng Dehuai was appointed instead.<ref name="Chang"/>

American forces crossed the 38th parallel on October 7, intent upon destroying the North Korean forces. They captured the North Korean capital [[Pyongyang]] in mid-October. China sent hundreds of thousands of well-motivated, veteran troops south from Manchuria, supported by Russian built [[MiG-15]] fighters that were superior to any UN aircraft then in-country. By November the UN offensive had been halted, and by December it was mostly retreat. In January the Chinese forces captured Seoul.

American forces crossed the 38th parallel on October 7, intent upon destroying North Korean forces. They captured the capital [[Pyongyang]] in mid-October. The first Chinese counterattack was at Unsan on October 25. China broke off this offensive on November 6. By the time UN forces had reached the Yalu on November 21, China had sent hundreds of thousands of troops south from Manchuria, supported by Russian built [[MiG-15]] fighters that were superior to any UN aircraft then in-country. The UN offensive was halted and by December UN forces were in retreat. In January the Chinese forces captured Seoul.

=== Stalemate ===

=== Stalemate ===