Background: The War

From 1950 to1953 the communist forces of North Korea and volunteers from The People's Republic of China, supported by some troops from the Soviet Union fought the army of South Korea supported by the military of the USA and United Nations forces.

In June 1950, a Northern invasion of the South aimed to unify the peninsular under a communist government. Encouraged by backing from Stalin's USSR the invasion was at first successful, but a rapid reaction by the United States to prevent communist success and expansionism escalated the conflict.

US General Douglas MacArthur masterminded an amphibious landing at Inchon and repelled the advance, pushing far into the North. At this point The People's Republic of China intervened and volunteer forces pushed the UN force southwards.

There was now a real danger of deterioration into a world war, and the USA's President sacked MacArthur, and restated his war aims as being the need to protect South Korea, not sweep the communist North away.

From 1951 to the peace settlement in 1953 the frontline pushed backwards and forwards with little progress but much loss of life. From the summer of 1951 to July 1953 there were peace talks, eventually securing an armistice on 27 July 1953.