Snapshots from Military History: Start of Korean War, 1950

The Korean War, commonly referred to as "the Forgotten War" or the "Unknown War," started on June 25th, 1950, when the Soviet and Chinese-backed North Korean Army invaded South Korea, which was supported by Western forces (the UN and the US). This conflict intensified the existing Cold War tensions (from WWII) between the Soviet Union and the United States, as the two superpowers competed for superiority in political ideologies and military prowess.

After World War II, the Korean Peninsula was divided into two parts along the 38th parallel; however, the North Koreans sought to unify the peninsula under a single rule: a Communist one. The war ended in a stalemate on July 27th, 1953, and a demilitarized zone (DMZ) was established along the 38th parallel, which still serves as a "buffer" between the two countries today.

Over 36,000 American personnel and over 400,000 South Korean personnel lost their lives during this three-year war. In addition, approximately 2-3 million civilians died.

Credit: TIME Magazine