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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
Japan’s Kwantung Army occupies Chinese Manchuria and sets up the puppet state of “Manchuko.” America wants to return Manchuria to the Chinese (one reason behind Pacific fighting in World War II).
1937
Japan declares war on China.
February 1945
Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin meet at Yalta.
April 1945
Roosevelt dies, succeeded by Truman
July 1945
Truman represents the US at Potsdam Conference, where he “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 is 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 US House of Representatives.
April 4, 1949
NATO Pact signed
September 1949
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 are 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 two 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 retaken Seoul.
October 9, 1950
US Army crosses 38th Parallel near Kaesong.
October 15, 1950
Wake Island meeting between Truman and MacArthur
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 beaten by PRC (People’s Republic Of China) forces at Pukchin.
November 1, 1950
First US versus 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: Democrats lose 28 seats in the House, but retain majority; Republicans win Senate majority by picking up 5 seats.
November 27, 1950
US Marines, Infantry surrounded by Chinese Communist forces at Chosin Reservoir.
November 30, 1950
In press conference, Truman says 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 has 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 begins.
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 peace 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 NATO command so he can run for President.
June 1952
Washington authorizes bombing of 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 by large margin.
November 29, 1952
Eisenhower secretly goes to Korea on a 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
Peace talks resume at Panmunjom.
June 8, 1953:
“Terms of Reference,” Regulating POW repatriation signed.
July 19, 1953
Peace 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.
