Korean War Books

About Korean War

The Korean War (1950–1953) was a Cold War-era conflict between North Korea, backed by the Soviet Union and China, and South Korea, supported by the United Nations—primarily the United States. The war began when North Korea invaded the South on June 25, 1950, aiming to unify the peninsula under communist rule. Within weeks, North Korean forces had pushed deep into South Korea, capturing Seoul. A dramatic counteroffensive by UN forces, led by General Douglas MacArthur, pushed the North Koreans back and nearly unified the peninsula under South Korean control. However, Chinese intervention in late 1950 drove UN forces back across the 38th parallel, leading to a protracted and bloody stalemate. The war saw massive casualties, widespread destruction, and brutal conditions, particularly during bitter winters. It also marked the first armed conflict of the Cold War and the first major use of jet aircraft in combat. An armistice was signed in 1953, establishing the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) but no formal peace treaty. The war ended in a tense stalemate that persists to this day, with North and South Korea technically still at war. The Korean War solidified the division of the Korean Peninsula, shaped U.S. and NATO defense policy, and set a precedent for future proxy wars between the Soviet and Western blocs. It remains a pivotal moment in East Asian and global Cold War history.