1. What were the reasons the War started?
North Korea invaded South Korea on June 25th of 1950. North Koreans had funded and sponsored communist guerrillas in South Korea for year and thought that its military was too occupied with these to effectively fight an invasion. Stalin promised and gave lots of funding and military supplies to North Korea and even covert Soviet combat pilots. Mao Zedong promised to send hundreds of thousands of Chinese “volunteers” to participate in the war effort. Therefore North Korea felt it was the right time to invade and conquer South Korea.
2. What countries were involved?
The three major countries involved, in the context of the Cold War were China, The Soviet Union, and the USA. Officially, the two belligerent states were North and South Korea but this was also a war by proxy between the US and the Soviet Union with China to a certain extent. The US managed to gather a UN-mandated coalition of many countries, including the UK, France, Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Greece, New Zealand, etc. The Soviet Union and China had the support of most Eastern European countries, including Poland, Romania, East Germany, Hungary and India and Mongolia.
3. What was the outcome of the War?
After several reversals which saw consecutively the almost complete defeat of US-led forces, the almost complete defeat of North Korean Forces, the entry of massive Chinese troops that helped North Koreans avoid annihilation, the end result was a stalemate and finally an armistice which was signed in 1953.
4. Who were the historical personalities involved and what were their roles?
Kim il-Sung the Stalinist leader of North Korea who launched the invasion. Syngman Rhee, the authoritarian leader of South Korea who fought the invaders. US President Harry Truman who reunited the UN-mandated coalition of over 20 countries that fought the North Koreans (90 % of military personnel were Americans) and launched the Truman Containment Doctrine. Stalin, the Soviet dictator who provided North Korea with enormous amounts of funds, weapons, military advisors and fighter jets with “volunteer” Soviet pilots. Mao Zedong who sent hundreds of thousands of Chinese “volunteers” to help North Koreans avoid total defeat. General Douglas MacArthur who wanted to nuke China and was relieved from active duty by Truman.
5. How did the war end?
After the war came to a stalemate in 1951, Chinese command decided it was too costly for them to continue a war they could not win. They decided to engage in peace talks that lasted until November of 1954. The end result was a cease fire and a demilitarized zone at the 38th parallel. They have been engaged in a silent conflict for 65 years.