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June to September 1950, Communists Invade South Korea
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| cnn.com |
In the pre-dawn hours of June 25, 1950, North Korea sent an invasion force across the 38th parallel into
South Korea. The Northern forces rapidly advanced southward against the ill-equipped defenders, taking the Southern capital
Seoul three days after the invasion began. The United Nations condemned North Korea's attack. The Soviet Union, Pyongyang's
mentor, was boycotting the U.N. Security Council at the time -- and was thus unable to veto the council's condemnation, which
set up a U.N. force to help defend South Korea.(cnn.com)
President Truman then called on the United Nations to put together a force to protect the South. The
U.N. passed this action, mainly because the Soviets were boycotting the U.N. and were not there to veto the action, and
granted Truman the power to appoint a general to lead the U.N. forces, he would name General Douglas MacArthur to lead the
U.N. troops.
The United States led the U.N. force in the so-called "police action" against North Korea. But four U.S.
divisions, rushed to the Korean peninsula to stop the Northern attack, could do little against a superior force. The U.N.
forces were soon forced back to a perimeter around the southern port city of Pusan by early August.(cnn.com)
Analysis: Invasion
2. What is the reason for United States intervention in Korea?
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