Timeline 1894-1895:
Sino-Japanese War February 1904:
Russo-Japanese War begins September 1905:
Treaty of Portsmouth (ends Russo-Japanese War) 1905:
Japan makes Korea a protectorate 1910:
Japan makes Korea a formal colony. 1917:
Russian Revolution. Japanese take some of Russia's Eastern Siberian territory. 1931-1932:
Mostly of their own volition, Japan's Kwantung Army occupies Chinese Manchuria and sets up a puppet
state of "Manchuko". America wants to return Manchuria to the
Chinese; this is one reason behind Pacific fighting in World War II. 1937:
Japan declares war on China. February 1945:
Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin meet at Yalta. July 1945:
Roosevelt dies, succeeded by Truman, who represents the US at Potsdam. Truman
"gets tough" on communism; Stalin grabs territory. August 10, 1945:
After atomic bombs are dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Japanese offer
surrender in World War II. Russian troops enter Korea. August 28, 1945:
After reaching the 38th Parallel of Korea, Russian troops stop. October 20, 1945:
Syngman Rhee makes first public
appearance in South Korea after years of exile. Summer 1947:
Marshall Plan announced. September 1947:
Congress/JCS (Joint Chiefs of Staff) want
to get out of Korea. September 1947:
Cominform (Communist Information Bureau) founded in Soviet Union. November 14, 1947:
UN passes American resolution calling for free elections in Korea. May 10, 1948:
Korean Election Day. June 24, 1948:
Berlin Blockade September 9, 1948:
In North Korea, Democratic People's
Republic of Korea (PRK) proclaimed. January 12, 1949:
Dean Acheson speech to National
Press Club Says South Korea not a vital part of US defense perimeter in Asia. January 19, 1949:
Korean Aid Bill fails to pass the House of Representatives. April 4, 1949: NATO Pact signed September 1949: "Joe One"; Soviets test their first A-bomb--the arms race begins. October 2, 1949: Mao Zedong proclaims PRC (People's Republic of China). January 14, 1950: Ho Chi Minh proclaims DRV (Democratic Republic of Vietnam). April 25, 1950: Truman approves NSC-68 May 30, 1950: In South Korea, Republic Of Korea elections. Many conservatives ousted by moderates. June 25, 1950:
North Korea crosses the 38th Parallel, invading South Korea. June 25, 1950:
First Blair House meeting. June 26, 1950:
North Korea's tanks reach the outskirts of Seoul. June 27, 1950:
Truman commits US Naval and Air support to South Korea. June 27, 1950:
American Delegate asks UN to furnish assistance to ROK (Republic of Korea) to restore
international peace. June 29, 1950:
General MacArthur flies to South Korean
headquarters at Suwon. June 30, 1950:
Truman and advisers agree to give MacArthur 2 divisions. July 2, 1950:
NKPA (North Korean People's Army)
takes Suwon. July 22, 1950:
Communist Chinese attack Nationalist Chinese islands, Quemoy and Little Quemoy. July 29, 1950:
MacArthur visits Formosa, home of the Nationalist
Chinese defeated by Mao. August 17, 1950: US announces in UN its goal of a unified, anti-Communist Korea. August 27, 1950:
US planes accidentally attack Manchurian airfields. September 11, 1950:
Truman approves NSC-81/1. September 15, 1950:
With US/UN/ROK forces pushed back nearly to the end of the Korean peninsula,
MacArthur launches the Inchon Invasion. September 27, 1950:
Walker's Eighth Army makes contact with X Corps. MacArthur gives OK for US
forces to cross the 38th Parallel. September 29, 1950: Syngman Rhee's government ceremonially restored in reconquered Seoul. October 9, 1950:
US Army crosses 38TH Parallel near Kaesong. October 15, 1950:
Wake Island Meeting October 19, 1950:
US forces occupy Pyongyang October 24, 1950:
MacArthur orders his troops into Korea's northernmost provinces. October 25, 1950:
South Korean ROK forces annihilated by PRC (People's Republic of China) forces
at Pukchin. November 1, 1950:
First US vs. Communist Chinese fighting at Unsan November 3, 1950:
UN resolution passed, censuring North Korea for "breach of peace" November 7, 1950:
Congressional Elections in US, seen as a referendum on Truman's policy. November 27, 1950:
US Marines/Infantry surrounded by Chinese Communist forces at Chosin Reservoir. November 30, 1950:
In press conference, Truman admits US may be considering using A-Bomb. December 15, 1950:
Truman declares a state of national emergency. January 4, 1951:
Ridgway evacuates Seoul, withdraws
from Inchon January 25, 1951:
Operation Thunderbolt. US/UN/ROK forces go back on the offensive. February 1, 1951:
UN censures People's Republic of China for "aggression" February 1951:
Operation Killer begun. March 7, 1951:
Ridgway launches Operation Ripper. March 15, 1951:
US/UN/ROK forces retake Seoul. March 24, 1951:
MacArthur unilaterally issues an ultimatum to the People's Republic of China. April 4, 1951:
Congress endorses NATO, sends Eisenhower to head unified NATO command. April 5, 1951:
Operation Rugged. April 5, 1951:
Truman dismisses MacArthur from command. May 3, 1951
to June 25, 1951: Senate Foreign Relations Committee investigates MacArthur's
dismissal. April 14, 1951:
Gen. James Van Fleet assumes tactical
command of Eighth Army. April 22, 1951:
All-out Communist offensive fails to retake Seoul. May 15, 1951:
Another Communist offensive, again fails to take territory. May 18, 1951:
Ridgway launches counteroffensive. May 18, 1951:
UN nations start military goods boycott of the People Republic of China. May 30, 1951:
Operation Piledriver, an offensive against the Iron Triangle, begins. June 30, 1951:
Ridgway broadcasts first American overture for peace talks. July 8, 1951:
Peace talks begin at Kaesong. August 19, 1951:
Communists accuse UN forces of violating the Kaesong area, suspend the talks. October 25, 1951:
Peace talks resume at Panmunjom. March 29, 1952:
Truman announces he will not run for reelection. April 11, 1952:
Truman relieves Eisenhower of command so he can run for President. June 1952:
Washington authorizes bombing Korean power plants on the Yalu River. July 11, 1952:
US air attack on Pyongyang. August 5, 1952:
Rhee wins another clearly rigged election. November 4, 1952:
Eisenhower wins Presidential election in landslide. November 29, 1952:
Eisenhower secretly goes to Korea on fact-finding mission February 11, 1953:
Eisenhower replaces the frustrated Van Fleet with Lt. Gen. Maxwell Taylor. April 16, 1953:
Communists attack "Pork Chop Hill" April 26, 1953: Talks resume at Panmunjom. June 8, 1953:
"Terms of Reference," regulating POW repatriation, signed. July 19, 1953:
Delegates reach agreement at Panmunjom. July 27, 1953:
Peace Treaty signed at Panmunjom. 38th parallel reset as boundary between
communist North and anti-communist South. Cold War tensions continue unabated.
Gen. Mark W. Clark says he has "the unenviable distinction of being the first US Army commander to sign an armistice without victory." |