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(Written by Saima Mehta)
The Korean War, which began on June 25, 1950, was a pivotal event in 20th-century history, as it shaped the geopolitical landscape of East Asia and impacted global affairs. It also resulted in a massive loss of life, with estimates suggesting around 2.5 million people (including civilians and military personnel) perished.
Despite the cessation of active hostilities, the war has never formally ended – the reason it is also called the “Forgotten War” sometimes. It concluded with an armistice agreement on July 27, 1953, rather than a peace treaty, leaving North and South Korea technically still at war.
This unresolved state of affairs continues to influence the region’s geopolitical dynamics. Here’s what happened.
The war was a result of Cold War tensions and the rivalry for supremacy between the communist Soviet Union and the liberal capitalist United States. The two superpowers emerged after the Second World War (1939 to 1945) and attempted to extend their influence over the Korean peninsula as it had just gained independence from colonial rule.
Several dynasties ruled Korea before that with some uniting the entire region, such as the Silla dynasty in the 7th century. Korea then came under Japanese colonial rule from 1910 to 1945 and it ended with Japan’s surrender in WW2. However, Korea’s liberation was quickly followed by division.
To manage the Japanese surrender, the Allied forces (comprising the US, the USSR, the UK, France, and others) agreed to a temporary division of Korea into two occupation zones: the Soviet Union-controlled one in the north and the US one in the south.
US authorities decided the 38th parallel would be the dividing line. Future US Secretary of State Dean Rusk and Colonel Charles “Tic” Bonesteel had to do the job. Rusk later wrote in his memoir As I Saw It:
“During a meeting on August 14, 1945, the same day as the Japanese surrender, [Bonesteel] and I retired to an adjacent room late at night and studied intently a map of the Korean peninsula. Working in haste and under great pressure, we had a formidable task: to pick a zone for the American occupation. Neither Tic nor I was a Korea expert, but it seemed to us that Seoul, the capital, should be in the American sector. We also knew that the U.S. Army opposed an extensive area of occupation. Using a National Geographic map, we looked just north of Seoul for a convenient dividing line but could not find a natural geographical line. We saw instead the thirty-eighth parallel and decided to recommend that … [Our commanders] accepted it without too much haggling, and surprisingly, so did the Soviets.”
Over time, the Cold War rivalry and the influence of the occupying powers made the division permanent. Today, a buffer zone called the demilitarised zone (DMZ) runs along the 38th parallel to avoid border skirmishes. Army members of both countries guard it on either side.
In the North, the Soviet Union helped establish a communist regime led by Kim Il-sung, a former guerrilla fighter and Soviet-trained leader. In the South, the United States supported the creation of a capitalist state under Syngman Rhee, an anti-communist leader who had spent many years in exile in the United States.
By 1948, two separate governments were officially established: the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) and the Republic of Korea (South Korea), each claiming legitimacy over the entire peninsula.
On June 25, 1950, North Korean forces, backed by the Soviet Union and China, launched a surprise invasion of South Korea by crossing the 38th parallel. The invasion began in the early morning and caught the South Korean army and its American allies off guard.
The North Korean forces quickly advanced, overwhelming the South Korean defences and capturing key areas — including the capital Seoul. This alarmed the international community and prompted the United Nations to intervene. The UN Security Council passed a resolution condemning the invasion and calling for a withdrawal of North Korean forces from South Korea.
In another UNSC resolution on June 27, it was declared that North Korean actions constituted a breach of peace. UN members were recommended to assist South Korea against the attack and “restore peace on the Korean Peninsula”.
In response, a coalition of UN forces primarily led by the United States intervened. This marked the beginning of a bloody and protracted conflict that would last for three years and result in millions of casualties.
The most significant legacy of the Korean War is the division of the Korean Peninsula because of the continued armistice. It has had far-reaching implications for regional security, contributing to the militarisation of the Korean Peninsula and ongoing tensions between the two Koreas and between North Korea and the West.
It also solidified the alliance between the United States and South Korea. The US established a lasting military presence in South Korea by stationing American troops and remains committed to defending it against any external aggression. It also provided economic support that has been a cornerstone of South Korea’s economic development.
China’s entry into the war demonstrated its commitment to supporting communist regimes and a willingness to confront US-led forces in the region. China and North Korea largely maintain a close strategic partnership, with China being a key economic and diplomatic ally of North Korea. China’s support for North Korea in the UN and its role in providing economic assistance despite international sanctions highlights the enduring nature of their relationship.
Russia has also emerged as a North Korean ally, trading weapons with the largely isolated ‘hermit’ kingdom.
The author is an intern with The Indian Express
