Tensions in Korea escalate into full-blown war – Deseret News

A look back at local, national and world events through the Deseret News archives.

With the outbreak of the Korean War, in which communist North Korean forces invaded democratic South Korea on June 25, 1950, the world was plunged into another serious conflict.

The Deseret News reported on the burgeoning war. U.S. officials initially described it as a “police action,” but for more than a year it felt like another full-blown conflict. In South Korea it is known as the 625 War, in North Korea as the Fatherland Liberation War.

And unfortunately, most Americans remember it more as the “M*A*S*H” war.

The history:

The unexpected surprise attack pushed South Korean forces and the few American soldiers in the country to the southeastern corner of the peninsula, holding a line around the city of Busan. With a United Nations-approved mandate to defend South Korea against North aggression, the United States and its allies began sending troops to hold the perimeter of Busan.

In September, US General Douglas MacArthur, commanding the UN forces from Tokyo, launched a surprise amphibious assault behind North Korean lines with the intention of encircling North Korean forces in the south and cutting off their retreat. MacArthur moved too slowly and failed to encircle the North Koreans, but the landing at Inchon forced the North Koreans into a panicked flight from the south.

On November 25–26, 1950, the Chinese army entered the Korean War in earnest with a fierce attack on American and UN forces in North Korea. The 300,000-strong Chinese offensive took the UN forces by surprise, largely because MacArthur believed China would not openly enter the war, and greatly escalated the conflict.

The conflict displaced millions of people and resulted in 3 million deaths, more civilians than World War II or the Vietnam War. Alleged war crimes include the killing of suspected communists by Seoul and the torture and starvation of prisoners of war by the North Koreans. Almost all of Korea’s major cities were destroyed. No peace treaty was ever signed, making it a frozen conflict.

Tensions in the region remain high to this day. Anniversaries of the events come and go, and it is worth understanding the dynamics of the time and considering how to avoid future conflicts.

More stories from many perspectives from the Deseret News archives:

“70 years after the start of the Korean War, we must not forget its heroic veterans”

“Remembering the Korean War”

“The ‘Forgotten War’ in Korea is finally being remembered”

“Korean War veteran says prospect of peace gives him hope”

“This week in history: China enters the Korean War”

“Armistice in the Korean War and the World Today”

“North Korea celebrates war anniversary”

“60 years after the Korean War, families are still separated”

Many who did not experience these wars (World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War) may have gained a stilted view of the war from the novel (“MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors”), the film (“M*A*S*H”), and the popular television series (“M*A*S*H”).

MASH, of course, is short for Mobile Army Surgical Hospital. The television series aired from 1972 to 1983 and then moved to syndication, where it remains a staple. Often tragic, mostly humorous, some of its themes and portrayals have become dated and offensive.

Here are some archived stories on this topic:

“`M*A*S*H’ stars appear as unit is deactivated in Korea”

“‘MASH’ filmmaker says he hates series”

“No cameras, but ‘M*A*S*H’ from the 144th in action”

“Reunification revives a miracle from 1954”