Before the War
Who controlled Korea before 1945?
Japan controlled Korea.
What line divided Korea into North and South?
The 38th parallel.
What happened on June 25, 1950?
North Korean forces crossed the 38th parallel and invaded South Korea.
What major UN military action in September 1950 changed the war’s direction?
The Inchon landing.
When was the Korean War armistice signed?
July 27, 1953.
What event in 1945 ended Japanese rule of Korea?
Japan’s unconditional surrender at the end of World War II.
Which two countries controlled Korea after World War II?
The United States in the South and the Soviet Union in the North.
What was North Korea’s main goal in launching the invasion?
To reunify Korea under communist rule.
Why did the Inchon landing surprise North Korean forces?
They did not expect a landing at such a difficult location.
What was the main purpose of the armistice negotiations?
To stop the fighting, exchange prisoners of war, and separate armies.
Why was Korea unstable after Japan surrendered?
Korea had no unified government and foreign powers occupied the country.
What role did General Order No. 1 play in Korea’s division?
It ordered Japan to surrender to different Allied forces, dividing Korea at the 38th parallel.
How did the United States respond to the invasion?
President Truman sent U.S. troops to support South Korea.
What city was recaptured after the Inchon landing?
Seoul
What physical boundary was created by the armistice?
The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
What groups competed for power in Korea after 1945?
Leftists, rightists, and fence-sitters.
Why did many Koreans oppose the trusteeship?
They wanted immediate independence, not foreign control.
Why did the invasion turn the conflict into an international war?
It led to U.S. and United Nations intervention as part of the Cold War.
What happened when UN forces advanced too far north after Inchon?
China entered the War
Why is the Korean War technically not over?
No peace treaty was signed
What did many Koreans want immediately after Japan’s rule ended?
Self-government and independence.
Why did the division of Korea last longer than planned?
Cold War tensions prevented cooperation between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.
Why was the 38th parallel important to the outbreak of war?
It marked the political and military division between North and South Korea.
How did Chinese intervention change the course of the war?
It forced UN forces into retreat and led to a long stalemate.
Why is the armistice described as a “living document”?
It can be updated through agreement and is still enforced today.