The 75th Anniversary of the Korean War

This June 25th marks the 75th anniversary of the start of the Korean Conflict on the peninsula. One of the most asked questions is, “Why is it called a conflict or a police action, rather than a war?” This year’s 75th Anniversary of the Korean War offers an important opportunity to reflect on its historical impact and ongoing legacy on the Korean peninsula.

The answer to that is complicated for a variety of reasons. For all intents and purposes, it will be called a war in this article. The reason why it is not officially called a war by U.S. forces is that it was not declared a war by an act of the U.S. Congress.

So, how did this all come about? Who fought in the war? Why is it controversial to this day? 

To understand the situation on the peninsula now, and why there are now two Korean countries, one has to go back to 1945. Korea at that time had been a colony of Japan, and following the end of World War II on August 15, 1945, Korea declared itself independent. However, being that they had been a colony, Allied forces had been asked to step in and occupy the area. Two US colonels, Dean Rusk (later Secretary of State under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson) and Charles Bonesteel (later commanding general of the 7th Infantry Division) drew the arbitrary line of the 38th parallel across the peninsula. North of the line, Soviet troops would secure the area, while US troops secured the area south of the line.  At that time, most of the industry was located north of the line, while much of the south was agricultural in nature. This dividing line would be in place for the next five years. 

North of the line, Soviet troops would secure the area, while U.S. troops secured the area south of the line. At that time, most of the industry was located north of the line, while much of the south was agricultural in nature. This dividing line would be in place for the next five years. 

The two men who eventually came to power in their respective areas wanted elections that would favor their own side. In the North, the Russian-educated Communist leader Kim Il-Sung was in power. He felt that the peninsula should be under communist control, and he eventually established the only dynastic government in a communist system. There are all sorts of issues with this, but it occurred. 

In the South was a U.S.-trained doctor who eventually became the titular leader. Singman RHEE was his name, and he felt that an anti-communist system was best for Korea. For several years, there was a considerable amount of tension as both sides tried to influence local elections, often with violence and forms of coercion.

By 1949, the Cold War between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. was heating up with two significant events. First was the detonation of the first Soviet atomic bomb in August. Prior to this, only the U.S. had these weapons. The fact that the Soviets had the atomic bomb worried U.S. officials. Six weeks later, on October 1, Chinese leader Mao Zedong declared the People's Republic of China. Now the world’s most populated country, and the largest country in size, were both communist, and both shared a border with Korea. By May of 1950, Kim was permitted by Soviet leadership to invade. The North Koreans were equipped by the Soviets, and their attack was launched on June 25, when many ROK troops were on leave.

The initial attack was a complete surprise, and soon civilians and military alike were fleeing south. The South Korean government appealed to the United Nations Security Council, which has the power to commit United Nations (U.N.) troops to a conflict zone. As it happened, the Soviet Union was boycotting the U.N. at the time, and their representative, who could have vetoed the measure, was not there to vote. The U.N. announced that troops would be committed to the Korean peninsula to push the North Koreans back.

Eventually, 16 countries would commit troops and materiel to the fight, and five more would send medical or humanitarian aid. 

The conflict itself was chaotic for approximately six months, when fighting swept most of the peninsula. In the end, 38,000 US personnel were killed, close to 1 million combatants killed, 2-3 million civilians killed or displaced, and entire families split by the eventual truce called in July 1953. 

As it was not a formal ceasefire, this has meant that the two sides are still technically at war, hence the reason U.S. troops are on the ROK. It is also a reason why the DMZ still is one of the most heavily guarded borders in the world. Over the next few months, we will take a few moments to note the major events of the month and point out the locations that people may visit, so that we remember the sacrifices of those who paid the ultimate price. As for a general overview of the war, one may want to visit the Korean War Memorial in downtown Seoul. One part of the building focuses on the war in its phases.