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Date Posted: 19:36:33 04/11/13 Thu
Author: d
Subject: world history1

Korean War: The Coldest and Forgotten War
by Gabriel Ortigoza (Notes) on Thursday, April 11, 2013 at 3:39pm
By Gabriel Ortigoza

Korea used to be an independent kingdom but was occupied by Japan beginning 1905 following the Russo-Japanese War and was formally annexed by Japan in 1910.

Following World War II, Korea was divided with the northern half under Soviet Communist control and the southern half was supported by the United States and Western Powers.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) or the communist North Korea is located above the 37th parallel with Pyongyang as its capital city; on the other hand, the Republic of Korea (ROK) or the progressive democratic South Korea occupy the southern part of the parallel with Seoul as its capital city.

The withdrawal of U.S. troops from South Korea in January 1950 made the South stand on its own which the opportunistic North had waited.

On June 25 1950, 18,000 DPRK troops crossed the 37th Parallel heading south and captured the capital city of Seoul within 72 hours.

The United Nations immediately responded by sending troops from member countries which are signatories to the U.N. charter, Philippines is included; the U.N. troops was headed by General Douglas MacArthur.

North Korean troops continued its invasion and violent attacks towards Pusan, a city located at the southeastern part of South Korea and was considered to be the last defense headquarters of the U.N. troops.

On September 15, 1950, Gen. MacArthur and his troops made a surprise and daring amphibious landing in Inchon cutting the North Korean supply lines.

The North Korean troops were forced to retreat back to the 37th Parallel to regroup and to get its military supplies.

On October 14th, the U.N. troops led by MacArthur attacked and followed the retreating and confused North Korean forces beyond the boarder capturing the capital city Pyongyang.

On November 1st, China came into the scene and helped North Korea by sending 18,000 Chinese troops and pushed the U.N. forces back to the boarder and attacked further south and recaptured Seoul.

On November 24th, Gen. MacArthur made a counter attack by sending his troops to the northern part of North Korea but because of Chinese superior in numbers who were advancing south, the U.N. forces retreated.

General Matthew Ridgeway led his troops and made a counter attack against the aggressive communist forces which caused the Chinese to retreat to the boarder.

On April 11, 1951, U.S. President Harry Truman relieved Gen. Douglas MacArthur for criticizing his policy on war and replaced him with Gen. Matthew Ridgeway.

On April 22nd, the U.N. troops made its attack against the huge number of communist troops until they regained the capital city of Seoul.

The Chinese renewed the aggression by sending 450,000 troops to fight against the U.N. forces situated in the boarder and in the capital city.

On June 15, 1951, the United Nations forces under the command of U.S. General Van Fleet were able to counter the attack which caused heavy casualties on the Chinese troops and made the communist to retreat.

At the end of June a stalemate developed and stabilized the situation in the boarder but then the war continued and protracted until 1953 when the issue of Prisoners-Of-War (POW) was resolved which made both parties exchanged POWs.

On July 27, 1953 an armistice was concluded that suspended the war between the communist DPRK and the democratic ROK.

There were 950,000 Chinese and 600,000 North Koreans died and wounded, including a son of Mao Tse Tung as one of the KIAs (Killed-In-Action); there were 185,000 South Koreans, 125,000 U.S., and 12,000 U.N. troops died and wounded in the Korean War.

Sixty years after the war, South Korea is the 10th economy of the world while North Korea is far behind at 103rd; the U.S. is ranked 14th.

Today, the starving North Koreans led by their 27-year old president Kim Jong-Un is threatening the world by firing its missiles towards South Korea, Guam, Hawaii and even towards Austin in Texas anytime from now.

China is the only country that can stop North Korea from its planned offensive against South Korea and the United States but the earlier maintains its deafening silence.

The U.S. Navy in the Pacific positioned its battleship near North Korea and says it can intercept any missile fired by North Korea. South Korea deploys its anti-missile system. Japan’s military says it can also intercept North Korea’s missile when fired (gabbyortig@yahoo.com).

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