Korean War Time-Line




August 15, 1948

Syngman Rhee is named president of the Republic of Korea, in the south.
He is backed by the United States.


September 9, 1948

The Communist name Kim II-sung the president of the People's Democratic 
Republic of Korea in the north.


December 12, 1948

The United Nations declared that South Korea is lawful.
A  commission is appointed,  to unify north and south Korea.


September 2, 1949

The United Nations warns of  Civil War after all efforts to reunify
north and south fail.


June 25, 1950

A poorly prepared South Korea is over run by a surprise attack by
North Korea.  Tanks and infantry units led by Marshal Choe Young-gun,
push toward Seol South Korea, there is  little resistance to the attack.

The United Nations is called into emergency session. They tell North Korea
to withdraw their troops. Other nations are asked to help.


June 30, 1950

After Seol, fell U.S. President Harry S. Truman, ordered the use of US combat forces.
Other UN countries send troops also.


July 8, 1950

The United Nations appoint General Douglas MacArthur to lead forces in South Korea.


August,1950

United States and Allied forces establish a beachhead on the southeastern coast of the Korean Peninsula.
This includes the port city of Pusan.


September 15-25, 1950

The Communist are routed when the United States launches a surprise
amphibious attack on Inchon behind enemy lines.


September 26, 1950

Seol is retaken.


October 9, 1950

General MacArthur orders troops across the 38th parallel.


October 15, 1950

General MacArthur tells President Truman that the Chinese Communists
won't enter the war on the side of North Korea.


October 20, 1950

The North Korean capitol Pyongyang is taken.


November 1, 1950

UN and US troops face Chinese troops north of Yalu, in North Korea
The U.S. Eighth Army pulls back to Yalu.


November 25, 1950

The U.S. Eighth Army is almost surrounded by 300,000 Chinese troops,
as it withdraws to the 38th parallel.


January 15, 1951

500,000 communist troops 400,000 Chinese, 100,000 North Korean, push the
U.S. Eighth Army 200,000 troops back south of Seol. Seol is recaptured by 
the Communist.


January - February 1951

The Communist are pushed back by UN troops.


March 14, 1951

Seol is retaken by UN troops, during Operation Ripper which 
pushes Communist troops back to the 38th parallel.


March 24, 1951

General MacArthur offers to talk about ending fighting.


March 29, 1951

Communist refuse to talk. 


April 3, 1951

UN troops counter attack across the 38th parallel.


April 11, 1951

After publicly criticizing the policy of limiting war to the Korean Peninsula,
General MacArthur is removed from command by President Truman.
General MacArthur is replaced by General Matthew B. Ridgway.


April 22-May 20, 1951

The Communist lose Spring Offensive after suffering 160,000 casualties.


May 31, 1951

Chinese troops are driven north of the 38th parallel, but the UN troops are
halted when the Soviet Union treatens to enter the conflict.


July - August 1951

Cease-fire negotiations are held in Kaesong, North Korea.
Communist use delaying tactics to cause Cease-fire negotiations to fail.
 

August 1951

UN troops continue to push the Communist north.


September 23, 1951

"Heartbreak Ridge" is captured by US forces. 


October 1951

Peace talks begin in Panmunjon.
A major hurtle occurs when 50,000 Communist Prisoners of War refuse to be repatrianated.


April 28, 1952

General Ridgway is succeeded in the post of U.N. Far Eastern commander by General Mark Clark.


October 1952

Peace talks fail, and fighting resumes.


March 5, 1953

Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin dies.


March 28, 1953

Chinese reopen peace.


April 1953

Chinese agree to a limited POW exchange.


June 1953

South Korean President Syngman Rhee refuses to accept a divided Korea.
70,000 Chinese troops are lost after a renewed attack on South Korea.


July 27, 1953

Peace talks are renewed.
An armistice is signed, and boundries between North Korea, and South Korea are
established along the latest lines of battle.