At the close of World War II, the victorious Allied Powers did not know what to do with the Korean Peninsula. Korea had been a Japanese colony since the late nineteenth century, so westerners thought the country incapable of self-rule.
The Korean people, however, were eager to re-establish an independent nation of Korea.
Russia moved in to North Korea to "maintain order," while the United States took control of South Korea. Soon, the North Korean leader, Kim Il-sung, decided to seize South Korea as well, and establish a united communist nation.
In June of 1950, North Korea launched an attack across the 38th Parallel, touching off the Korean War.
- Women and children in Seoul scavenge through the wreckage looking for fuel wood Scavenging women and children search for fuel among the destruction, Seoul, South Korea. Nov, 1950.
- Korean toddler cries during UN invasion of IncheonKorean child crying during Invasion of Incheon, September 16, 1950.
- Bomb damage to North Korean train stationBombed-out North Korean train station, November 9, 1950.
- An injured chaplain prays over the bodies of dead U.S. Marines at KotoriKotori, Korea. Marine chaplain prays over dead comrades, December 3, 1950.
- Huddle of frostbite casualties waits for medivac at Chosin ReservoirKorean War frostbite casualties wait for medivac, Chosin Reservoir, December, 1950.
- U.S. military patrol in bitterly cold Korean winter weatherAre we having fun yet? U.S. military patrol in freezing cold Korea winter. December, 1950.
- Napalm drop on a village in North KoreaVillage in North Korea is hit with napalm, January, 1951.
- A UN bomber makes a run over North KoreaBombs fall over North Korea, February of 1951.
- Bombing of church in Wonsan that was used as a North Korean ammunition dumpWonsan church/ammo dump bombed by UN, March, 1951.
- Young Kim Pak Soon learns about baseball from U.S. soldier James W. BlackBaseball lesson: James Black shows Kim Pak Soon how to use a baseball glove, March, 1951.
- North Korean and Chinese POWs at a UN prisoner-of-war camp in Busan, South KoreaCommunist POWs at a UN prisoner-of-war camp in Busan, South Korea. April, 1951.
- President Truman in the Oval Office with three Korean War Medal of Honor winnersThree Korea vets receive Medals of Honor from President Truman in the Oval Office, May 10, 1951.
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