The Caretaker: A Novel

The Korean War is rooted in the aftermath of World War II, when the Korean peninsula was split into two nations as a way to appease the interests of both the United States and the Soviet Union: North Korea became communist controlled, aligning itself with the Soviet Union, and South Korea became an American ally. Troops were initially stationed in each country but withdrawn in 1949. On June 25, 1950, the conflict began when North Korea launched an attack on South Korea in an attempt at reunification. The United States became involved in the conflict after a call to do so from the United Nations. Defending South Korea was considered vital to prevent the spread of communism. The Soviet Union was aided by its ally China, while the United States was supported by a United Nations coalition including countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom, France, Greece, and Belgium. American and British soldiers fought alongside the South Koreans. A stalemate was reached a year later in July 1951, and the Soviet Union declared that it would sign an armistice. However, the official end would not come for two more years due to disputes over prisoners of war. The fighting ended when an armistice was signed on July 27,1953, but since there was no peace treaty, the Korean conflict remains technically ongoing.