​

The Japanese had controlled the former Empire of Korea as a protectorate from 1910 until the surrender of the Japanese in August, of 1945. During World War II, Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt met with Chinese Nationalist leader, Chiang Kai-shek, in Cairo where an agreement was reached that following the defeat of Japan, the Japanese would be forced to relinquish all nations it had overtaken by force and occupied including Korea. At a subsequent conference of the Allied leaders in Tehran, Russia’s Josef Stalin promised support of the U.S. and its allies in the Pacific War. Immediately following the atomic bomb dropping on Hiroshima, the USSR formally declared war on Japan.

 

With the surrender of the Japanese, Korea was left with no provisional government. Factions exiled during the 35 year control by the Japanese included Marxists living in China and pro-Western exiles in America. The Russian and U.S. governments agreed to a division of Korea with a communist-backed government controlling the lands north of the 38th parallel and an  American-back government in the South. While the American forces believed this might be a temporary division with a move to a re-unification of Korea – that was not to be the case.

 

Following the political upheaval rising after the end of World War II, ongoing conflicts pitted North Korea and its communist allies of China and the Soviet Union against the interests of the United States and its support for South Korea. America’s primary and stated aim during the Cold War era was to contain the spread of communism. 

 

In June of 1950, the North Koreans, backed by the USSR, sent thousands of troops south across the 38th parallel which divided the Korean peninsula. Within weeks, the USA responded and a proxy battle between two super powers had heated up the Cold War in Southeast Asia.

 

Over the course of three years, attacks continued without any sign of decisive victory in sight. Fears rose in Washington that the endgame could be an all out war with both Russia and China. In July of 1953, after more than five million soldiers and civilians had lost their lives, a cease fire was declared abide today, the two Koreas remain divided.

​

​

​

​