Korean War
Topic: Paths to Modernisation: Japan, China, Korea · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 7 "Paths to Modernisation"
Meaning
The Korean War was fought from June 1950 until an armistice (a ceasefire agreement) in July 1953. Communist North Korea, backed by China, fought South Korea, backed by UN forces led by the USA. It was a Cold War proxy war. That means the big rival powers fought through smaller allies instead of fighting each other directly. The war left Korea divided and the South poor and dependent on US aid.
Example
The war began in June 1950 across the 38th parallel. This was the line that had divided Korea since 1945, with Soviet forces in the north and US forces in the south. When the armistice was signed in July 1953, Korea was still split roughly along that same line.
Don't confuse with
- Russo-Japanese War (1904–05): Japan fought Russia partly for control over Korea, and Japan won. The Korean War was a Cold War conflict between the two Koreas and their allies.
Related concepts
- Taiwan
- Cross-Strait relations
- Joseon dynasty
- Japanese annexation of Korea
- 38th parallel
- Park Chung-hee
- Export-oriented industrialisation
- Import substitution industrialisation
- Saemaul Movement
- Gwangju Democratisation Movement