The Korean War Is Lack Of Spotlight, Although More Deadly Than WWII And The Invasion Of Vietnam

Tanks in the Korean War (Source: Commons Wikimedia)

JAKARTA - Under Japanese rule, before and during World War II, Korea was divided into two parts after Japan surrendered. The Soviet Union occupied the north and the United States (US) occupied the south until 1948.

Two new ideologically opposing states were founded in 1948: the Republic of Korea (South Korea) and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea). The separation of the two Koreas also led to a war or what is called the Korean War. The war took place in 1950-1953.

The Korean War began June 25, 1950, when about 75,000 soldiers from the North Korean People's Army flowed across the 38th parallel, the boundary between the Soviet-backed People's Democratic Republic of Korea to the north and the pro-Western Republic of Korea for the South. This invasion was the first military action of the Cold War.

Launching History, Thursday, July 2, in July 1950, US troops entered the war on behalf of South Korea (South Korea). As far as US officials are concerned, it is a war against the forces of international communism. After a series of attacks took place in the 38th parallel, the fighting broke down and casualties increased. However, the war gave them nothing. Meanwhile, US officials are working under anxiety to form some sort of truce with North Korea.

Ceasefire agreement (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

America then had other concerns that the Korean War would become a wider war with Russia and China, or even as some warned: World War III. This was something the then president of the US, Harry S. Truman and his advisers, clearly did not want.

They believed that such a war would lead to Soviet aggression in Europe, the spread of atomic weapons and the senseless millions of deaths. However, for General MacArthur, anything less than this broader war represented "serenity," a knock that was unacceptable under communists.

As President Truman looked for ways to prevent war with China, MacArthur did everything he could to keep provoking war. Finally, in March 1951, he sent a letter to Joseph Martin, a Republican leader who gave General MacArthur support to declare all-out war on China.

In July 1951, President Truman and his new military commanders started peace talks in Panmunjom, North Korea. However, fighting continued along the 38th parallel as negotiations broke down. The two sides agreed to accept a ceasefire maintaining the 38th parallel, but they could not agree on whether prisoners of war should be "repatriated" by force.

Finally, after more than two years of negotiations, the two sides signed a ceasefire on July 27, 1953.The treaty allowed prisoners of war to remain where they liked, drawing new borders near the 38th parallel giving South Korea an additional 1,500 square miles of territory. and created a two-mile wide 'demilitarized zone' that still exists today.

Deadly war

The Korean War was relatively short but very bloody. Nearly five million people died. More than half are civilians. It is known that the level of civilian casualties in the Korean War was higher than that of World War II and the Vietnam War. Meanwhile, nearly 40 thousand Americans died in the war in Korea and more than 100 thousand were injured.

However, the Korean War was said to be a 'forgotten war'. This was due to the lack of attention it received compared to more well-known conflicts such as World Wars I and II and the Vietnam War. The end of the Korean War with a ceasefire was not approved by the Korean leaders at that time because it did not end the war and actually made Korea completely separated into two countries.

In 2018, during a one-day summit, South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un met formally. The two sides agreed to conclude a peace agreement soon, but until now the two countries have yet to find a point that brings them to full peace. Some time ago, North Korea had threatened to send military attacks due to defectors who often sent food along with USBs containing South Korean information and drama. However, Kim Jong-un gave up on this.