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Korea Story 1945-1955

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keywords: korean war, u.n. military forces, u.s. soldiers, 38th parallel, korean president syngman rhee, rok army, operation chromite, chinese military attack

Synopsis: Though guaranteed to be a free nation post-WWII Korea was still two split in two at the 38th parallel when in 1950 the Soviet-backed Communist forces of the North attack the American-backed Democratic forces of the South with five years of bitter combat and China entering the conflict that finally ends not in a permanent peace but an armistice that still stands today...(read more)

Date: 1945-1955
Duration: 00:20:29
Sound: Yes
Color: Monochrome
Type: Public Domain
Language: English
Location: Korea

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Korea Story: 1945-1955

At the end of WWII (WW2), the heads of Great Britain, the United States, and the Soviet Union guaranteed Korea was to be a free nation. The country was divided at the 38th parallel after the Japanese surrender, with Russia accepting Japanese prisoners north of the 38th parallel and the United States to the South. Though elections were scheduled, the Soviet Union refused to cooperate with the United Nations plans to hold general and free elections in the two Koreas, and as a result, a Communist state was permanently established under Soviet auspices in the north and a pro-Western state was set up in the south.

On May 10, 1948 free elections were held in the part of Korea south of the 38th parallel, home of two-thirds of the country's population, and the Republic of Korea was established. Syngman Rhee became the first president of South Korea. As a free country South Korea began to prosper drawing thousands of the Koreans fleeing the Communist regime established in the north. In June 1950 North Korean Communist forces launched an attack against the Republic of South Korea. The ROK Army was unable to stem the attack and was pushed back. Shows South Korean refugees fleeing the Communist forces.

Lead by American soldiers stationed in Japan, 16 nations answered the U.N. call sending men to assist the the ROK Army in fighting the invading North Korean Communist Army. 32 other nations furnished material and supplies. In September 1950 U.S. Marines landed at Inchon and moved to cut the North Korean Army supply lines. The Pusan Perimeter's defenders went on the offensive in September. The now isolated North Korean army retreated north to escape the entrapment. U.N. Forces captured Seoul in the second battle of Seoul. Shows surrender of thousands of North Korean Army soldiers. January 1951 Communist China entered the Korean War against the Republic of Korea and U.N. Forces. A new chapter in this war began. Refugees were now fleeing the Chinese Communist Army pushing into South Korea.

Truce talks opened on July 10, 1951 at Kaesong. Shows large POW camp housing thousands of North Korean prisoners. The land and air war continued as truce talks stall. On March 27, 1953 an armistice ending the war was signed at Panmujom. Terms of armistice explained and Korean Demilitarized Zone established. American Lt. Gen. William K. Harrison Jr. signs for United Nations, North Korean Lieut. Gen, Nam II sign for the Communists. Shows Korean refugees returning, rebuilding their homes and Korean industry as a free nation.

01:00:41;12

Clement Attlee (who became British Prime Minster July 26, 1945), President Harry Truman, and Soviet Leader Joseph Stalin

01:01:55;14

Free elections in the Korea south of 38th parallel May 10, 1948

01:02:15;10

Syngman Rhee, first President of Republic of Korea

01:02:44;14

Koreans from the People's Republic in the north flee to the new, more prosperous Republic of Korea in the south

01:03:09;09

Harvesting rice and separating rice from husks

01:03:28;00

Night scenes, flashes of artillery fire and sounds of artillery firing

01:03:42;12

South Korean volunteers join ROK Army

01:04:19;01

Korean civilian refugees fleeing the advancing North Korean Communist Army

01:04:46;11

United Nations (U.N.) Security Council

01:05:01;01

U.N. Forces arrive in Korea forming a United Nations Army

01:06:57;10

The 5th Marine Regiment was the spearhead for “Operation Chromite”, the U.S. amphibious landing at Inchon Korea

00:08:18;02

Korean children eating noodles and rice

01:08:25;05

Tanks moving into Seoul Korea, sights and sounds of heavy street fighting

01:09:09;00

Thousands of North Korean soldiers surrender become pows prisoner of war

01:09:25;14

Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) or Red Army enter Korean War

01:09:43;10

American tank fires gun,U.S. infantry in winter uniforms retreats

01:10:10;04

Korean civilian refugees flee ahead of advancing Red army

01:10:40;08

Sights and sound of war as the U.N. pushes the Chinese Communist Forces back, wounded American solders

01:11:32;04

Scenes of truce talks at Kaesong 1951

01:12:17;08

North Korean prisoners of war (pows)

01:13:08;08

Artillery firing, tank firing, American planes attack ground targets

01:13:31;08

Scenes of Panmunjom or “truce Village”

01:16:47;06

American Lt. General William K. Harrison Jr. signs cease-fire armistice for the United Nations, North Korean Lt. General Nam II signs for the Communists