Why this matters now
Both wars are tested for: the 38th + 17th parallel divisions; Kim Il-sung + Syngman Rhee vs Ho Chi Minh + Diem; MacArthur Inchon landing 15 Sept 1950 + Chinese intervention Oct 1950; Truman fired MacArthur 11 April 1951; Eisenhower armistice 27 July 1953; Vietnam’s Geneva division 1954; Diem assassination Nov 1963; Gulf of Tonkin Resolution 7 Aug 1964; Tet Offensive 30 Jan 1968; Nixon’s Vietnamisation; Paris Peace Accords 27 Jan 1973; Fall of Saigon 30 April 1975.
Korean War (1950-53)
Background: Korea liberated from Japan 15 Aug 1945. USSR + USA divided peninsula at 38th parallel. North Korea (Kim Il-sung, Soviet-backed) + South Korea (Syngman Rhee, US-backed). Both claimed all-Korea sovereignty.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 25 June 1950 | North Korea invaded South. Captured Seoul in 3 days. South pushed to Pusan Perimeter. |
| 27 June 1950 | UN Security Council Resolution 83 (USSR boycotting) authorised force. 16 countries sent troops; USA majority. |
| 15 Sept 1950 | Inchon Landing — General Douglas MacArthur conducted brilliant amphibious assault behind enemy lines. North forces retreated. |
| Oct 1950 | UN forces crossed 38th parallel into North. Reached Yalu River. |
| Oct-Nov 1950 | Chinese intervention — Mao sent ~300,000 “Volunteer Army”. Pushed UN back south of 38th. |
| 11 April 1951 | Truman fired MacArthur over public disagreement on nuclear weapons + crossing Yalu. |
| Mid-1951-53 | Stalemate near 38th parallel + Panmunjom truce talks. |
| 5 March 1953 | Stalin died. |
| 27 July 1953 | ARMISTICE signed at Panmunjom. Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) created at 38th parallel. No peace treaty — war technically continues. |
Death toll: ~5 million (3 million Korean civilians + military). India’s role: K.M. Panikkar warned of Chinese intervention; India’s 60th Parachute Field Ambulance unit served; India chaired the Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission. Nehru’s NAM diplomacy helped end the war.
Vietnam War (1955-75)
Background: Vietnam divided at 17th parallel by Geneva Conference 1954 after French defeat at Dien Bien Phu. North Vietnam (Communist, Ho Chi Minh) + South Vietnam (Ngo Dinh Diem, US-backed). 1956 reunification election cancelled by Diem.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1 Nov 1955 | Diem proclaimed Republic of Vietnam. |
| 1960 | National Liberation Front (NLF) / Viet Cong formed for Southern Communist insurgency. |
| 1961-63 | JFK increased US military “advisors” from 700 to 16,300. |
| 1 Nov 1963 | Diem assassinated in coup. Political instability in South. |
| 2-4 Aug 1964 | Gulf of Tonkin Incident — USS Maddox reportedly attacked by NV torpedo boats. |
| 7 Aug 1964 | GULF OF TONKIN RESOLUTION — US Congress authorised LBJ to use military force without declaration of war. |
| 1965 | Operation Rolling Thunder bombing of North. 1st US ground troops at Da Nang March 1965. By 1968: 540,000 troops. |
| 30-31 Jan 1968 | TET OFFENSIVE — NVA/Viet Cong coordinated assault on 100+ South Vietnamese cities incl. Saigon US Embassy. Military defeat for North but political turning point in US. |
| 16 Mar 1968 | My Lai Massacre — US troops killed 504 unarmed civilians. |
| 1969 | Nixon’s “Vietnamisation” policy — transferring combat to ARVN. |
| 1970 | Cambodian Incursion + Kent State shootings (4 Kent State students killed protesting war). |
| 1972 | Easter Offensive. Christmas bombings of Hanoi. |
| 27 Jan 1973 | PARIS PEACE ACCORDS — US withdrew. Kissinger + Le Duc Tho 1973 Nobel Peace (Le Duc Tho declined). |
| 1974-75 | NV final offensive. |
| 30 April 1975 | FALL OF SAIGON — NVA tank crashed Presidential Palace. US helicopter evacuation from rooftop. Saigon renamed Ho Chi Minh City. |
| 2 July 1976 | Socialist Republic of Vietnam proclaimed; unification. |
Death toll: ~3 million Vietnamese + 58,220 US dead. War cost USA $173 bn + lasting psychological scars.
UPSC angle
Know KOREAN WAR (25 June 1950 - 27 July 1953) + VIETNAM WAR (1 Nov 1955 - 30 April 1975); KOREA: liberated from Japan 15 Aug 1945, USA+USSR divided 38TH PARALLEL, North Kim Il-sung (Soviet) vs South Syngman Rhee (US); North invaded 25 June 1950 captured Seoul 3 days, UNSC Res 83 27 June 1950 (USSR boycott), INCHON LANDING 15 SEPT 1950 MacArthur, UN crossed 38th into North Yalu River, CHINESE INTERVENTION Oct-Nov 1950 Mao 300000 Volunteer Army pushed UN back, TRUMAN FIRED MACARTHUR 11 APRIL 1951, Panmunjom truce talks; Stalin died 5 March 1953; ARMISTICE PANMUNJOM 27 JULY 1953 DMZ at 38th NO PEACE TREATY; ~5 million dead; INDIA: K.M. Panikkar warned Chinese intervention, 60th Parachute Field Ambulance unit, Chaired Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission, Nehru NAM diplomacy; VIETNAM: Geneva Conference 1954 17TH PARALLEL divided (Dien Bien Phu French defeat), North Ho Chi Minh vs South NGO DINH DIEM (US-backed, 1956 reunification election cancelled); Diem proclaimed RoV 1 Nov 1955; NLF/VIET CONG 1960; JFK 1961-63 military advisors 700→16300; Diem assassinated coup 1 Nov 1963; GULF OF TONKIN INCIDENT 2-4 Aug 1964 USS Maddox; GULF OF TONKIN RESOLUTION 7 AUGUST 1964 US Congress LBJ unilateral force; OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER 1965 + 1st US troops Da Nang March 1965 (540000 by 1968); TET OFFENSIVE 30-31 JAN 1968 coordinated assault 100+ cities Saigon US Embassy political turning point; MY LAI MASSACRE 16 March 1968 504 civilians killed; Nixon Vietnamisation 1969; Cambodian Incursion + Kent State 4 killed 1970; PARIS PEACE ACCORDS 27 JAN 1973 Kissinger + Le Duc Tho Nobel Peace (Tho declined); FALL OF SAIGON 30 APRIL 1975 NVA tank Presidential Palace, helicopter evacuation rooftop, Saigon → Ho Chi Minh City; Socialist Republic Vietnam 2 July 1976; ~3 million Vietnamese + 58220 US dead; war cost $173 bn USA.
Frequently asked questions
When did the Korean War end?
Armistice signed at Panmunjom on 27 July 1953 — DMZ created at 38th parallel. No peace treaty was ever signed, so the war technically continues to this day.
What was the Inchon Landing?
General Douglas MacArthur’s brilliant amphibious assault on Inchon on 15 September 1950 — behind North Korean lines — that reversed the war’s tide.
What was the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution?
US Congress’s 7 August 1964 resolution authorising LBJ to use military force in Vietnam without declaration of war — based on USS Maddox alleged attacks. Pretext for escalation.
What was the Tet Offensive?
30-31 January 1968 coordinated North Vietnamese / Viet Cong assault on 100+ South Vietnamese cities incl. Saigon US Embassy. Military defeat for North but turned US public opinion against the war.