Asia Pacific 1950: Outbreak of the Korean War
14 September 1950
14 Sep 1950
The Cold War in Asia
1894–1911 The Rise of Japan
1911–1927 Warlords and Revolutionaries
1927–1937 China's Nanjing Decade
1937–1941 Second Sino-Japanese War
1941–1943 WWII: The Greater East Asia War
1943–1945 WWII: Victory Over Japan
1945–1950 End of the Old Order
1950–1989 The Cold War in Asia
1989–pres Asian Economic Powers
Outbreak of the Korean War
14 Sep 1950 Outbreak of the Korean War
24 Nov 1950 UN Offensive in Korea
9 Sep 1951 China in Korea and Tibet
6 May 1954 First Indochina War
28 Mar 1959 China under Mao
16 Sep 1963 Formation of Malaysia
1 Apr 1968 Vietnam War
27 Jan 1973 Paris Peace Accords
2 Dec 1975 Communist Victory in Indochina
5 Mar 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War
The Soviets and Americans had withdrawn from Korea in 1948, leaving it divided between a communist North Korea and a capitalist South Korea. In June 1950, North Korea invaded the South - a move condemned by the recently formed United Nations. Taking advantage of a Soviet boycott over the lack of recognition of the People's Republic of China, the UN unanimously agreed to intervene on behalf of South Korea.