The Korean War Quiz

Korea remained under Japanese rule until Japan surrendered to the Allies at the end of WWII.

The U.S. occupied the southern portion of Korea from 1945 to 1948, while the Soviets occupied the northern portion of the nation.

In 1948, both the northern and southern portions of Korea held their own independent elections, resulting in two conflicting governments.

The Korean War began on June 25, 1950 when 135,000 troops from the North invaded the South.

Prior to the Korean War, the 38th parallel marked the boundary between North and South. This line still serves as the boundary to this day.

When the war began, the South was ruled by an anti-communist dictator named Syngman Rhee.

Prior to the war, North Korea was led by Communist dictator Kim II Sung.

Harry Truman warned that the Korean War was a war against communism itself, and to lose the war would mean that the communists would soon takeover the globe.

Truman was so against war with China that he fired Gen. Douglas MacArthur, who had campaigned hard in favor of declaring war on China.

The first peace talks in the Korean conflict took place in July 1951. The talks ended when no one could agree what to do with POWs.

More than 90 percent of all troops supplied to help the South came from the U.S., though more than a dozen other countries sent supplies and equipment.

Chinese troops fought on the side of the North, while the Soviets sent supplies and equipment to aid the communists.

The North easily defeated the South early in the war thanks to significant advantages in military training, equipment and weaponry.

Truman ordered ground troops to Korea in June 1950, just days after the war began.

On July 5, 1950, U.S. troops fought the Battle of Osan, which was the first battle involving U.S. forces since the end of WWII.

The U.S. Air Force was formed just three years before the Korean War began, making this the first major conflict for the organization.

While the U.S. considered using nuclear weapons, neither side unleashed these bombs. Both sides did use jet fighters however, resulting in the first all-jet dogfights of any war in history.

Soviet MiG-15s were superior in every way to the U.S.-made F-86 Sabres. They not only flew higher and faster but also had greater firepower than the U.S. jets.

Future star Johnny Cash used his radio experience to intercept Morse code while stationed in West Germany during the war.

Both future Apollo 11 astronauts piloted planes in Korea, with Aldrin completing 66 missions and Armstrong completing 78.

On July 26, 1950, U.S. soldiers massacred as many as 400 civilians at No Gun Ri.

The Korean War Memorial consists of 19 steel statues, each measuring around seven feet tall, as well as a peaceful Pool of Remembrance.

North Koreans refer to the conflict as the Fatherland Liberation War.

South Koreans refer to the Korean War as 625 — based on the June 25th start date of the conflict.

More than 100,000 Americans were injured and 40,000 killed during the Korean War.

Around 2.5 million civilians — 10 percent of Korea's population — died during the war.

An armistice was signed on July 27, 1953, effectively ending active fighting in the country.

There has never been a peace treaty signed to end the war, so officially it is still ongoing to this day.

Since the end of the war, Korea has operated as two independent nations divided along the 38th parallel.

"MASH," which stands for "Mobile Army Support Hospital," took place during the Korean War.