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1910:
Japan formally annexes Korea, making it a part of Japan's empire.
1910-1945:
Japanese colonialism in Korea, with Korean resistance.
April 1945:
At Yalta, the United States, United Kingdom, Soviet Union, and China
are given a shared "trusteeship" over Korea. Intended
as temporary administrative measure until democratic elections are
held.
September
1945:
Japan surrenders. U.S. proposes the establishment of the 38th parallel:
North of it, Japanese forces surrender to the Soviets; south of
it, they surrender to the Americans.
December
1945:
Foreign ministers of the Allied powers meet in Moscow. A five-year
trusteeship is proposed for Korea. Protests in the South. Opponents
include longtime nationalist leaders who founded the Korean "provisional"
government in Shanghai in 1919. Heading this group is Syngman Rhee,
who will become the first Republic of Korea (ROK) president.
1945-1947:
Commission deadlocks over next two years, with the U.S. and South
Korea on one side and the North, China and the Soviet Union on the
other.
September
1947:
U.S. submits the Korea question to the UN General Assembly; UN rules
that general elections should be held.
August 15,
1948:
The Soviet Union and North Korea ignore the UN resolution; UN elections
held in South. Syngman Rhee becomes ROK's first elected President
in history.
September
9, 1948:
Kim Il Sung, backed by the Soviets and China, establishes the Democratic
People's Republic of Korea in the North. Both governments in the
North and South claim to be the only legitimate government on the
peninsula.
1948-1950:
Ongoing clashes along 38th parallel, and Northern-fomented armed
uprisings in the South.
June 1949:
U.S. withdraws its last occupation forces, leaving behind a small
military advisory group of 500.
January
12, 1950:
Secretary of Sate Dean Acheson excludes South Korea from the U.S.'s
security sphere in Asia.
June 25,
1950:
On Sunday, June 25, before daylight, 135,000 North Korean troops
cross the 38th parallel and invade South Korea in an all-out surprise
attack. The United States requests an immediate meeting of the UN
Security Council. With the Soviets boycotting the Council, the Council
meets that afternoon and adopts a resolution demanding an immediate
end to hostilities and the withdrawal of North Korean forces to
above the 38th parallel.
June 25,
1950:
President Truman orders General of the Army Douglas MacArthur to
evacuate American dependents from Korea, supply ROK forces, and
survey how best to help South Korea.
June 26,
1950:
Truman authorizes MacArthur to use air and naval forces against
North Korean targets below the 38th parallel. Truman also directs
the Seventh Fleet to the straits between Taiwan and mainland China,
hoping to discourage a widening of hostilities.
June 27,
1950:
UN Security Council asks UN members to furnish military assistance
to the ROK. Truman authorizes U.S. air and naval forces to hit North
Korea above the 38th parallel, and authorizes ground troops to protect
Pusan, Korea's major port located on the southeastern tip of the
peninsula.
June 29,
1950:
MacArthur flies to Korea to assess the situation on the ground.
June 28,
1950:
North Korean troops capture Seoul, South Korea's capital and the
largest city on the peninsula.
June 28-29,
1950:
North Korean troops cross the Han river, immediately to the south
of Seoul.
June 30,
1950:
Truman authorizes MacArthur to use all forces available to him in
the defense of the Republic.
July 4,
1950:
Task Force Smith airlifted from Japan to Pusan, South Korea. MacArthur
intended the 540-man Task Force Smith as "an arrogant display
of force."
July 5,
1950:
Battle of Osan. The first battle of the war between the North Koreans
and American troops. Vastly outnumbered and ill-equipped, Task Force
Smith loses 185 soldiers, virtually all equipment -- and retreats.
July 7,
1950:
UN asks the U.S. to form a United Nations force, and to pick a commander
-- recognizing that the U.S. would be the major backer. Truman is
the chief executive agent of the Security Council, and MacArthur
becomes the commander.
July 13,
1950:
Lt. General Walton H. Walker assumes command of all ground forces
on the peninsula.
The 24th Division
is forced back on Taejon, sixty miles below Osan, where Task Force
Smith first confronted the North Korean troops. Taejon is a city
of 120,000; it is considered the gateway to the remainder of South
Korea and strategically crucial.
July 13-20,
1950:
Battle of Taejon. In difficult fighting, the 24th Division defends
Taejon for several days, buying time for the other U.S. forces to
establish themselves.
U.S. achieves
air and naval supremacy and establishes a naval blockade.
July 22-August
1, 1950:
American and ROK troops continue retreat until the Naktong river,
the last natural physical barrier for defending Pusan.
By July 26,
6,000 American casualties and 70,000 ROK.
August 4,
1950:
Lt. Gen. Walker orders a stand along a 140 mile line arching from
the Korean Strait to Sea of Japan. Called the Pusan Perimeter.
August 4
- September 15, 1950:
Defense of Pusan perimeter. Buildup of ground troops, including
U.S. Army 1st Cavalry Division; 2nd, 24th, and 25th Infantry Divisions;
and the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade.
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