The Korean War

June 25, 1950

The Korean War starts when roughly 100,000 North Korean troops cross the 38th parallel.

Fig. 1. A map of Korea showing South Korean forces in dark blue, South Korean occupations in blue, South Korean gains in light blue, North Korean forces in maroon, North Korean occupations in burgundy, and North Korean gains in pink; screenshot from EmperorTigerstar, "The Korean War: Every Day," YouTube, 0:04.

June 27, 1950

The United Nations Security Council adopts Resolution 83, authorizing UN member states to provide military assistance to South Korea.

Fig. 2. A map of Korea showing South Korean and UN forces in dark blue, South Korean and UN occupations in blue, South Korean and UN gains in light blue, North Korean forces in maroon, North Korean occupations in burgundy, and North Korean gains in pink; screenshot from EmperorTigerstar, "The Korean War: Every Day," YouTube, 0:04.

June 28, 1950

North Korean forces capture Seoul, the South Korean capital.

Fig. 3. A map of Korea showing South Korean and UN forces in dark blue, South Korean and UN occupations in blue, South Korean and UN gains in light blue, North Korean forces in maroon, North Korean occupations in burgundy, and North Korean gains in pink; screenshot from EmperorTigerstar, "The Korean War: Every Day," YouTube, 0:04.

September 12, 1950

North Korean troops reach their farthest point of advancement around the critical southeastern port city of Busan, called the Busan Perimeter.

Fig. 4. A map of Korea showing South Korean and UN forces in dark blue, South Korean and UN occupations in blue, South Korean and UN gains in light blue, North Korean forces in maroon, North Korean occupations in burgundy, and North Korean gains in pink; screenshot from EmperorTigerstar, "The Korean War: Every Day," YouTube, 0:19.

September 15, 1950

Led by General Douglas MacArthur, the Inchon Landing near Seoul was a successful invasion around 150 miles behind enemy lines.

Fig. 5. A map of Korea showing South Korean and UN forces in dark blue, South Korean and UN occupations in blue, South Korean and UN gains in light blue, North Korean forces in maroon, North Korean occupations in burgundy, and North Korean gains in pink; screenshot from EmperorTigerstar, "The Korean War: Every Day," YouTube, 0:20.

September 25, 1950

South Korean and UN forces liberate Seoul.

Fig. 6. A map of Korea showing South Korean and UN forces in dark blue, South Korean and UN occupations in blue, South Korean and UN gains in light blue, North Korean forces in maroon, North Korean occupations in burgundy, and North Korean gains in pink; screenshot from EmperorTigerstar, "The Korean War: Every Day," YouTube, 0:22.

October 19, 1950

South Korean and UN forces capture Pyongyang, the North Korean capital.

Fig. 7. A map of Korea showing South Korean and UN forces in dark blue, South Korean and UN occupations in blue, South Korean and UN gains in light blue, North Korean forces in maroon, North Korean occupations in burgundy, and North Korean gains in pink; screenshot from EmperorTigerstar, "The Korean War: Every Day," YouTube, 0:27.

October 25, 1950

China enters the Korean War and inflicts serious losses on the UN forces, halting their advancement towards the Yalu River, the border between China and North Korea.

Fig. 8. A map of Korea showing South Korean and UN forces in dark blue, South Korean and UN occupations in blue, South Korean and UN gains in light blue, North Korean and Chinese forces in maroon, North Korean and Chinese occupations in burgundy, and North Korean and Chinese gains in pink; screenshot from EmperorTigerstar, "The Korean War: Every Day," YouTube, 0:28.

December 5, 1950

North Korean and Chinese forces liberate Pyongyang.

Fig. 9. A map of Korea showing South Korean and UN forces in dark blue, South Korean and UN occupations in blue, South Korean and UN gains in light blue, North Korean and Chinese forces in maroon, North Korean and Chinese occupations in burgundy, and North Korean and Chinese gains in pink; screenshot from EmperorTigerstar, "The Korean War: Every Day," YouTube, 0:36.

December 6, 1950

United Nations forces break out of the Chosin Reservoir and retreat to the port city of Hungnam.

Fig. 10. A map of Korea showing South Korean and UN forces in dark blue, South Korean and UN occupations in blue, South Korean and UN gains in light blue, North Korean and Chinese forces in maroon, North Korean and Chinese occupations in burgundy, and North Korean and Chinese gains in pink; screenshot from EmperorTigerstar, "The Korean War: Every Day," YouTube, 0:36.

January 4, 1951

North Korean and Chinese troops recapture Seoul.

Fig. 11. A map of Korea showing South Korean and UN forces in dark blue, South Korean and UN occupations in blue, South Korean and UN gains in light blue, North Korean and Chinese forces in maroon, North Korean and Chinese occupations in burgundy, and North Korean and Chinese gains in pink; screenshot from EmperorTigerstar, "The Korean War: Every Day," YouTube, 0:42.

March 14, 1951

South Korean and UN forces once again liberate Seoul.

Fig. 12. A map of Korea showing South Korean and UN forces in dark blue, South Korean and UN occupations in blue, South Korean and UN gains in light blue, North Korean and Chinese forces in maroon, North Korean and Chinese occupations in burgundy, and North Korean and Chinese gains in pink; screenshot from EmperorTigerstar, "The Korean War: Every Day," YouTube, 0:56.

April 11, 1951

U.S. President Harry S. Truman relieves General Douglas MacArthur of command for insubordination.

Fig. 13. A map of Korea showing South Korean and UN forces in dark blue, South Korean and UN occupations in blue, South Korean and UN gains in light blue, North Korean and Chinese forces in maroon, North Korean and Chinese occupations in burgundy, and North Korean and Chinese gains in pink; screenshot from EmperorTigerstar, "The Korean War: Every Day," YouTube, 1:02.

July 10, 1951

Truce talks between the UN and the communists begin at Kaesong, North Korea. However, the fighting continues for two more years. Peace talks move to Panmunjon in October.

Fig. 14. A map of Korea showing South Korean and UN forces in dark blue, South Korean and UN occupations in blue, South Korean and UN gains in light blue, North Korean and Chinese forces in maroon, North Korean and Chinese occupations in burgundy, and North Korean and Chinese gains in pink; screenshot from EmperorTigerstar, "The Korean War: Every Day," YouTube, 1:15.

July 27, 1953

The UN, North Korea, and China sign an armistice. The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) is created that roughly follows the border.

Fig. 15. A map of Korea showing South Korea in dark blue and North Korea in maroon; screenshot from EmperorTigerstar, "The Korean War: Every Day," YouTube, 1:20.

Bibliography

Ray, Michael. "Korean War Timeline." Encyclopedia Britannica. June 13, 2025. https://www.britannica.com/list/korean-war-timeline.