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The '''Korean War''' was a conflict of the [[Cold War]] that lasted from June 1950 to July 1953. Korea was a Japanese colony until August 1945, when it was divided into American and Soviet spheres of influence at the 38th parallel. In the South, Syngman Rhee was elected president in elections supervised by the United Nations in May 1948. The Soviets installed a communist government in North Korea in September 1948.

The '''Korean War''' was a conflict of the [[Cold War]] that lasted from June 1950 to July 1953. Korea was a Japanese colony until August 1945, when it was divided into American and Soviet spheres of influence at the 38th parallel. In the South, Syngman Rhee was elected president in elections supervised by the United Nations in May 1948. The Soviets installed a communist government in North Korea in September 1948.

The war began in June 1950 when communist forces crossed the 38th parallel to enter South Korea. Anti-communist forces retreated to a perimeter around the southern city of Busan. The U.S. staged a landing behind communist lines at Inchon, near Seoul, on September 15, 1950. This tactic routed the North Koreans. In a controversial move, Truman ordered US forces to pursue the North Koreans across the 38th parallel on September 29.<ref>Going to the "gates of Vladivostok" was likely to provoke a Soviet response, according to George Kennan, the leading Soviet specialist of the time. (Chi Young Pak, ''Korea and the United Nations'') As an alternative, the French and British proposed a defensive line across the waist of Korea, located just north of Pyongyang.</ref>

The war began in June 1950 when communist forces crossed the 38th parallel to enter South Korea. Anti-communist forces retreated to a perimeter around the southern city of Busan. The U.S. staged a landing behind communist lines at Inchon, near Seoul, on September 15, 1950. This tactic routed the North Koreans. In a controversial move, Truman ordered US forces to pursue the North Koreans across the 38th parallel.<ref>Truman made the decision to invade North Korea on September 11, 1950 on the advise of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, just before the Inchon landing. The staff of the National Security Council advised against it. Going to the "gates of Vladivostok" was likely to provoke a Soviet response, according to George Kennan, the leading Soviet specialist of the time. (Chi Young Pak, ''Korea and the United Nations'') As an alternative, the French and British proposed a defensive line across the waist of Korea, located just north of Pyongyang.</ref>

Fearing imminent defeat, Stalin asked China to intervene on October 1. US troops crossed the 38th parallel on October 7. They briefly reached the Yalu River on November 21 before they were turned back by the Chinese. By June 1951, the military line stabilized at approximately the 38th parallel, the pre-war dividing line.

Fearing imminent defeat, Stalin asked China to intervene on October 1. US troops crossed the 38th parallel on October 7. They briefly reached the Yalu River on November 21 before they were turned back by the Chinese. By June 1951, the military line stabilized at approximately the 38th parallel, the pre-war dividing line.