✦ History

Korean War

June 25, 1950 – July 27, 1953 · Seoul

Result Inconclusive

The war began on 25 June 1950 when North Korea invaded South Korea, following the post-1945 division of the peninsula at the 38th parallel. South Korea was backed by a United Nations force led by the United States, while North Korea was supported by China and the Soviet Union. After three years of fighting, the war ended in a stalemate with the armistice of 27 July 1953.

On the map Overview Contemporaries

North Korea and allies

South Korea and UN forces

Other

North Korea
People's Republic of China People's Volunteer Army, from October 1950
Soviet Union Arms, advisers and air units
South Korea
United States Led the United Nations Command
United Kingdom
Canada
Australia
Turkey
France
United Nations
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Belgium
Colombia
Ethiopia
Greece
Luxembourg
New Zealand
Thailand
Philippines
South Africa
Netherlands
Mao Zedong Chairman, People's Republic of China Joseph Stalin General Secretary of Communist Party, Soviet Union Kim Il-sung Supreme Commander, Korean People's Army Zhou Enlai Premier Peng Dehuai Commander of the People's Volunteer Army
Dwight D. Eisenhower President, United States Harry S. Truman President, United States Winston Churchill Prime Minister, United Kingdom, from October 1951 Clement Attlee Prime Minister, United Kingdom, until October 1951 Douglas MacArthur Commander, United Nations Command, Led the Inchon landing; relieved in April 1951 George C. Marshall Secretary of Defense Omar Bradley Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Syngman Rhee President of South Korea
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Matthew Ridgway Commander, United Nations Command Walton Walker Commander, Eighth Army, Defended the Pusan Perimeter; died in December 1950 Mark W. Clark Commander, United Nations Command, Signed the 1953 armistice

Strength and losses

North Korea Killed c. 316,579 · Deaths 294,151–316,579 · Missing 91,206

People's Republic of China Killed c. 422,612 · Deaths 183,108–197,653 · Missing 25,621

Soviet Union Deaths 299

South Korea Killed c. 113,248 · Deaths 137,899 · Captured 8,343 · Missing 24,495

United States Strength 1,789,000 · Killed 33,739 · Deaths 36,574 · Wounded 103,284 · Captured 7,245

Belgium Killed c. 97

Canada Killed c. 309

Colombia Killed c. 140

United Kingdom Killed c. 710

Netherlands Killed c. 111

Greece Killed c. 169

France Killed c. 288

Turkey Killed c. 717

Philippines Killed c. 92

Thailand Killed c. 114

Ethiopia Killed c. 120

Australia Killed c. 291

Killed
c. 910,084

Units

24th Group Army 63rd Group Army 64th Group Army Korean People's Army Kim Chaek General Kim Il-sung Kim Jong-il Generalissimo Kim Jong-nam Colonel Kim Jong-un Wonsu Pak Song-chol Lieutenant General Choe Yong-gon 1948–present Kang Kon Lieutenant General · 1948–present Lee Kwon-mu 1948–present People's Volunteer Army Peng Dehuai 191st Motorized Infantry Brigade 196th Light Combined Arms Brigade 52nd Mountain Motorized Infantry Brigade
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64th Fighter Aviation Corps I Corps (North Korea) II Corps (North Korea) 5th Division (North Korea) IV Corps (North Korea) V Corps (North Korea) VI Corps (North Korea) 105th Armored Division (North Korea) 112th Mechanized Infantry Division 113th Mechanized Infantry Division 116th Mechanized Infantry Division 11th Garrison Division of Shenyang Military Region 129th Division (People's Republic of China) 137th Division (People's Republic of China) 148th Division (People's Republic of China) 197th Division (People's Republic of China) 198th Division (1st Formation) (People's Republic of China) 1st Division (North Korea) 204th Division (People's Republic of China) 3rd Division (North Korea) 4th Division (North Korea) 6th Division (North Korea) 118th Mechanized Infantry Brigade (People's Republic of China) 18th Guards Assault Aviation Regiment Korean People's Navy Korean People's Army Air Force
Australian Army Alexander Spence Major Basil Morris Major General David Blake Major General David Hurley General Gordon Bennett Lieutenant General Harry Chauvel General John Monash General Leslie Morshead Lieutenant General Ninian Stephen Lieutenant Oliver David Jackson Brigadier Peter Cosgrove General Thomas Blamey Field Marshal W.C.D. Veale Brigadier Harry Smith Lieutenant Colonel · 1952–1976 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment Canadian Army 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade 2nd Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Royal Canadian Regiment
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Eighth United States Army Robert L. Eichelberger Walton Walker II Corps (South Korea) 5th Infantry Division (South Korea) Also under III Corps (South Korea) 8th Maneuver Division III Corps (South Korea) 2nd Quick Response Division (South Korea) IX Corps (United States) 25th Infantry Division (United States) Also under I Corps (United States) 35th Infantry Regiment (United States) 5th Infantry Regiment (United States) 27th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom) Also under I Corps (United States) 29th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom) 902 Infantry Brigade Turkish Brigade 1st Commonwealth Division 24th Infantry Division (United States) Ethiopian Army Korean Augmentation to the United States Army National Army of Colombia Philippine Army Puerto Rico National Guard Republic of Korea Army Choi Sang-mok Private Chun Doo-hwan General Paik Sun-yup Soldier · ?–1953 Park Chung-hee Two-star Rank Roh Moo-hyun Roh Tae-woo General Chung Il-kwon General · 1950–1953 I Corps (South Korea) 3rd Infantry Division (South Korea) Also under II Corps (South Korea) Capital Mechanized Infantry Division Also under IX Corps (United States) 17th Infantry Brigade (South Korea) Republic of Korea Marine Corps Royal Marines Charles Mitchell Charles Townshend George Jellicoe, 2nd Earl Jellicoe James Dutton Jeremy Moore Major-general John Maitland John Pitcairn Julian Thompson Keith Mills Maurice Hankey, 1st Baron Hankey Prince Philip Robert Sturges Thomas Davey United Kingdom Commando Force Royal Thai Army Kriangsak Chamanan General Plaek Phibunsongkhram Field Marshal Prayut Chanocha General Prem Tinsulanonda General Sarit Thanarat Generalfeldmarschall Suchinda Kraprayoon General Thanom Kittikachorn Field Marshal Turkish Land Forces Cemal Gürsel Fevzi Çakmak Hakan Fidan Non-commissioned Officer Hulusi Akar Four-star Rank Kenan Evren General Mustafa Kemal Atatürk General Yaşar Güler Four-star Rank Zekai Aksakallı Lieutenant General Çevik Bir Four-star Rank Ümit Dündar Four-star Rank İsmail Metin Temel Four-star Rank İsmet İnönü Birinci Ferik United States Army Corps of Engineers United States Army Special Forces Belgian Volunteer Corps for Korea I Army Corps (Greece) I Corps (United States) 1st Infantry Division (South Korea) II Army Corps (Greece) Transportation Corps X Corps (United States) 1st Marine Division Alexander Vandegrift Oliver P. Smith 11th Marine Regiment 1st Marine Regiment 5th Marine Regiment 7th Marine Regiment 11th Airborne Division 11th Maneuver Division 12th Infantry Division (South Korea) 15th Infantry Division (South Korea) 40th Infantry Division (United States) 45th Infantry Division (United States) 7th Infantry Division (United States) 9th Infantry Division (South Korea) US 2nd Division 1st Ranger Infantry Company (United States) 23rd Infantry Regiment (United States) Regiment van Heutsz 2nd Engineer Battalion (United States) French Battalion US 3rd Division Lucian Truscott 1st Provisional Marine Brigade 14th Infantry Regiment (United States) 164th Regiment (United States) 187th Infantry Regiment (United States) 19th Infantry Regiment (United States) 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment 3rd Ranger Infantry Company (United States) 5th Cavalry Regiment 75th Ranger Regiment 7th Infantry Regiment (United States) 8th Cavalry Regiment Greek Expeditionary Force (Korea) Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery 1st Reconnaissance Battalion 1st Tank Battalion 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines 3rd Battalion, 11th Marines 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines 4th Tank Battalion (United States) Colombian Battalion Kagnew Battalion Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company Colombian Navy French Navy Alexandre Ferdinand Parseval-Deschenes Vice Admiral Amédée Courbet Admiral Armand Joseph Bruat Admiral Bertrand-François Mahé de La Bourdonnais Charles Eugène Gabriel de La Croix Marshal of France Charles Rigault de Genouilly Admiral Charles-Alexandre Léon Durand Linois Vice Admiral François Darlan Admiral François-Paul Brueys d'Aigalliers Admiral Georges Thierry d'Argenlieu Admiral Honoré Joseph Antoine Ganteaume Vice Admiral Jean Decoux Vice Admiral Jean-Baptiste Perrée Contre-amiral Jean-Marie Charles Abrial Vice Admiral Jean-Pierre Esteva Admiral Louis Adolphe Bonard Vice Admiral Marcel-Bruno Gensoul Admiral Sébastien Lespès Vice Admiral Édouard Guillaud Admiral Philippine Navy Republic of Korea Navy Royal Australian Navy Royal Canadian Navy Royal Navy Adam Duncan, 1st Viscount Duncan Admiral Alexander Cochrane Admiral Alexander Ramsay (Royal Navy officer) Admiral Andrew Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope Admiral Andrew Mitchell Admiral Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor Vice Admiral Archibald Cochrane Captain Arthur Salter, 1st Baron Salter Arthur Wakefield Bertram Home Ramsay Admiral Brian Young Cecil Burney Admiral of the Fleet Charles Cornewall Vice Admiral Charles III Charles Mitchell Charles Napier Vice-Admiral of the Blue Chris Wreford-Brown Captain Christopher Cradock Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood Vice Admiral David Mountbatten, 3rd Marquess of Milford Haven Lieutenant Dudley Pound Admiral of the Fleet Edmund Moubray Lyons Captain Edward Boscawen Admiral Edward Cooke Post-captain Edward Hawke, 1st Baron Hawke Admiral of the Fleet Edward Hobart Seymour Admiral of the Fleet Edward Neville Syfret Admiral Edward Vernon Admiral of the White George Anson, 1st Baron Anson Admiral George Brydges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney Admiral George Byng, 1st Viscount Torrington Admiral George Collier Vice Admiral George Downie Captain George Elphinstone Admiral George Johnstone George Lambert Admiral George Montagu Admiral George Mountbatten, 2nd Marquess of Milford Haven Captain George Pocock Admiral George Rooke Admiral of the Fleet George V George VI Harold Burrough Admiral Harry Rawson Admiral Henry Harvey Vice Admiral Henry Leach Admiral of the Fleet Henry Mowat Home Riggs Popham Rear Admiral Horatio Nelson Vice Admiral Hyde Parker Admiral James Callaghan Lieutenant James Dutton James Gambier, 1st Baron Gambier Admiral of the Fleet James Lucas Yeo Post-captain James Saumarez, 1st Baron de Saumarez Admiral James Somerville Admiral James Wallace Admiral John Fieldhouse, Baron Fieldhouse Admiral of the Fleet John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent Admiral John Leach Captain John Pitcairn John de Robeck Admiral Josiah Wedgwood, 1st Baron Wedgwood Josias Rowley Admiral Julian Thompson Keith Mills Lancelot Holland Admiral Lloyd Mathews Lord Mountbatten Admiral of the Fleet Manley Dixon Admiral Mariot Arbuthnot Admiral Michael Clapp Commodore Nigel Lawson Patricia Knatchbull, 2nd Countess Mountbatten of Burma Sub-lieutenant Peter Warren Vice Admiral Philip Broke Rear Admiral Prince Andrew Romanoff Seaman Prince George, Duke of Kent Prince Louis of Battenberg Admiral of the Fleet Prince Michael of Kent Prince Nicholas of Romania Admiral Prince Rupert of the Rhine General Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark Ralph Kerr Captain Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe Admiral of the Fleet Richard Lestock Admiral Richard Pearson Richard Saunders Dundas Captain Robert Blake Admiral Robert Burnett Admiral Robert Heriot Barclay Commander Robert St Vincent Sherbrooke Rear Admiral Robert Sturges Roger Curtis Vice Admiral Roger Keyes, 1st Baron Keyes Admiral of the Fleet Rosslyn Wemyss, 1st Baron Wester Wemyss Admiral of the Fleet Samuel Barrington Admiral Samuel Hood, 1st Viscount Hood Admiral Samuel Inglefield Rear Admiral Sandy Woodward Admiral Sir Charles Thompson, 1st Baronet Vice Admiral Sir Francis Samuel Drake, 1st Baronet Rear Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, 5th Baronet Vice Admiral Sir John Duckworth, 1st Baronet Admiral Sir Peter Parker, 1st Baronet Admiral of the Fleet Sir Reginald Tyrwhitt, 1st Baronet Admiral of the Fleet Sir Richard Strachan, 6th Baronet Admiral Sir Robert Kingsmill, 1st Baronet Admiral Sir Samuel Cornish, 1st Baronet Vice Admiral Sir William Howe Mulcaster Corvette Captain Thomas Davey Thomas Graves, 1st Baron Graves Admiral Thomas Mathews Admiral Timothy Laurence Vice Admiral W. A. G. Young William Boyle, 12th Earl of Cork Admiral of the Fleet William Brown William Hobson Commander William IV Admiral of the Fleet William Waldegrave, 1st Baron Radstock Admiral William Wedgwood Benn, 1st Viscount Stansgate William, Prince of Wales John Byron Vice Admiral · 1731–present Edward Pellew, 1st Viscount Exmouth Vice Admiral · 1771–present Sidney Smith Admiral of the Red · 1777–present Thomas Cochrane Admiral of the Red · 1780–present Sir George Cockburn, 10th Baronet Admiral of the Fleet · 1781–present Salusbury Pryce Humphreys Rear-Admiral of the White · 1790–present Sir William Hoste, 1st Baronet Captain · 1793–present James Richard Dacres Rear-Admiral of the Red · 1796–present James Dundas Rear-Admiral of the White · 1799–present Daniel Pring Captain · 1800–present Edmund Lyons, 1st Baron Lyons Vice Admiral · 1801–present Henry Worsley Hill Commander · 1810–present Adolphus Slade Vice Admiral · 1815–present Robert FitzRoy Vice Admiral · 1819–present Augustus Leopold Kuper Admiral · 1823–present Prince Philip 1939–present Royal Netherlands Navy Royal New Zealand Navy Royal Thai Navy United States Pacific Fleet Chester W. Nimitz Raymond A. Spruance Fifth Air Force Royal Air Force Anthony Barber Anthony Greenwood Arthur Coningham Air Marshal Cecil Parkinson Cuthbert Sebastian Cyril Newall, 1st Baron Newall Ezer Weizman General George Douglas-Hamilton, 10th Earl of Selkirk George Thomson, Baron Thomson of Monifieth George VI Glafcos Clerides Guy Gibson Wing Commander Harold Lever, Baron Lever of Manchester Hassanal Bolkiah Army General Hugh Dowding Hussein I of Jordan Army General Ian Smith Flight Lieutenant Keith Park Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood Merlyn Rees Neville Chamberlain Nicholas Medforth-Mills Officer Cadet Peter II of Yugoslavia Prince Edward, Duke of Kent Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester Princess Alexandra of Kent Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester Reginald Maudling Rex Hunt Robert Brooke-Popham Samuel Hoare, 1st Viscount Templewood Shlomo Shamir Major General Stuart Peach, Baron Peach Air Chief Marshal T. E. Lawrence Trafford Leigh-Mallory William Wedgwood Benn, 1st Viscount Stansgate William, Prince of Wales Prince George, Duke of Kent 1937–present Norman Tebbit Pilot Officer · 1950–1956 Royal Australian Air Force Royal Canadian Air Force Royal New Zealand Air Force Royal Thai Air Force South African Air Force Twentieth Air Force United States Air Force Alexus Grynkewich General Buzz Aldrin Colonel Charles P. Cabell Charles Q. Brown Jr. General Chuck Horner General Claire Lee Chennault General Dan Caine Lieutenant General David C. Jones General Ellison Onizuka Lieutenant Colonel George Kenney General George Scratchley Brown General Hoyt Vandenberg Jeffrey L. Harrigian General Jimmy Doolittle General Joseph Ralston General Lauris Norstad General Michael E. Ryan General Nathan F. Twining General Paul Tibbets Philip M. Breedlove General Ralph Jodice II Three-star Rank Richard Myers General Rick Perry Captain Robert Gates First Lieutenant Sonny Perdue Captain 136th Operations Group
71st Group Army 79th Group Army 81st Group Army 82nd Group Army 83rd Group Army Indian Army Ardeshir Tarapore Lieutenant Colonel Arun Shridhar Vaidya General Brij Mohan Kaul General Harbaksh Singh General Khem Karan Singh General Kuldip Singh Brar Lieutenant General Kuldip Singh Chandpuri General Mogod Basappa Ravindranath Colonel Rajinder Singh Sparrow Major General Ramakrishnan Vishwanathan Lieutenant Colonel Ranjit Singh Dyal Lieutenant General Sam Manekshaw Sher Jung Thapa Lieutenant Colonel Zorawar Chand Bakhshi General 21st Infantry Regiment (United States) 24th Infantry Regiment
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27th Infantry Regiment (United States) 34th Infantry Regiment (United States) 3rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment 7th Cavalry Regiment 9th Infantry Regiment (United States) 67th Fighter Squadron Fleet Air Arm People's Liberation Army Air Force Airborne Corps Turkish Air Force Carrier Air Wing Eleven

Battles 48

Key events

1950 34 events
1951 7 events
1952 3 events
1953 4 events

Before and after

Ended by
Korean Armistice Agreement July 27, 1953
Led to
1954 Geneva Conference April 26 – July 20, 1954

Related events 1 degree away • 2 degrees away

1942
1946
1950
1954
1958
1962
1966
1970
1974
1978
1982
1986
1990
 
Pacific War
 
Chinese Communist Revolution
 
Soviet–Japanese War
 
Cold War
 
Korean War
 
Korean Armistice Agreement
 
1954 Geneva Conference

Also involved 58

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