Coming Together/Coming Apart: A History of the Korean War

Season 2 coming....someday. CT/CA will continue its temporary hiatus indefinitely until life settles down. I'll publish a trailer before the release of the first episodes, so keep an eye here and on Twitter! Thank you for your continued support. -Trevor

On July 27th, 1953, the Korean War ended. Today, this series of the podcast ends.

On July 27th, 1953, the Korean War ended. Or did it? What is the Korean Armistice Agreement, and why does it still matter to this day? Opening Excerpt from Dwight Eisenhower's Address to the American Society of Newspaper Editors retrieved from American Rhetoric

The first six months of 1953 proceeded just as the last eighteen months had...but everyone had the gut feeling that things were coming to close. When will the Korean War ever end?

Special Episode (NOTE - I originally planned this for a Friday morning release, but bumped it to Tuesday because I've hit my data limit for the month on my hosting account. New regular episodes will recommence on April 1.) Harry Truman's Farewell Address - https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/harrystrumantrumanfarewelladdress.html  Dwight Eisenhower's Inaugural Address - https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/dwighteisenhowerfirstinaugural.htm 

The second half of 1952 transpired much like the first half of 1952. Why was that? Also, who wins the US Presidential Election of 1952? And finally, who else went along with the "imperialist crusade" of the Americans in Korea?

Over 200,000 people were taken prisoner in Korea; what were their lives like? One of those men taken prisoner just so happened to be an American general taken prisoner in his own camp... Also, how're those negotiations going?

The Korean War really slows down in the second half of 1952....or does it? Negotiations begin, negotiations stall, and negotiations begin again. (Also, let's talk about the air war.)

The gears of war were grinding slower than ever in June of 1951. It didn't help that they were nearing the one year anniversary of the invasion and were right about back where they started... You can reach me by email at [email protected] or on social media as @CTCApodcast.

The Fifth Phase Offensive restarted in May, 1951. How'd that go for the Communists? Note: This is a shorter episode because there's not much that happened in May and also, you know, democracy might be collapsing around us. Please take care of yourself!

Douglas is out and Matthew is in. Will the Korean War continue on as it has without it's American Hero at the helm?

I forgot to mention this last week, but there is not a full episode this week. Take the time you would spend listening to this podcast and spend it with someone you care about. (I'll count it if you choose to spend it with yourself.) It's been a difficult year, and it's an achievement to just make it through. If you have a book recommendation you think I should check out, please find me on social media (@CTCApodcast pretty much everywhere) or rocket an email my way ([email protected]). Happy holidays, and I'll be back with Episode 27 next week!

Old soldiers never die; they just fade away. Bye-bye, Douglas MacArthur. You're 5000 candles in the wind. https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/douglasmacarthurfarewelladdress.htm https://donate.urbangateways.org/trevorowens

By February, 1951, everyone was tired. The men, the vehicles, just all...tired. And cold. A bit of a rest was required, but, as always, there's no rest for the wicked. Combat would pick back up again in no time at all.

As 1950 rolls over to 1951, the Korean War continues on. The Chinese and North Koreans continue their drive down the Peninsula, attempting to push the imperialists and traitors out of the Land of the Morning Calm. The United Nations forces withdraw....and withdraw again....and withdraw again....trading space for time in a bid to stop the Communist onslaught.

On November 23rd, the fighting men of the UN celebrated their first Thanksgiving in Korea. Just a few days later, they would begin the long march south. Elsewhere, US Marines fought the Chinese and the Cold at "Frozen Chosin." Donate to Urban Gateways at https://donate.urbangateways.org/trevorowens

The month of November went well for United Nations forces in Korea, until it didn't.   Donate to Urban Gateways here: donate.urbangateways.org/trevorowens

On October 19th, 1950, Chinese troops crossed the Yalu River into Korea. Why did the Chinese decide to intervene? Why did these Chinese soldiers fight as "volunteers?" How much time did Mao spend agonizing over this monumental decision?

In the first week of October, South Korean and United Nations forces separately crossed the 38th Parallel, invading North Korea. Their targets were Wonsan and Pyongyang, that would both fall within ten days of the crossings. Around the same time, the Supreme Commander meets his Commander-in-Chief and makes a most unfortunate promise.

After their massive success at Inchon and on the Pusan Perimeter, the UN Forces were finally backing away from the brink of disaster. That role was now held by the North Koreans, who were retreating as fast as they could back across the 38th Parallel. The big question now was: would they be followed by the South Koreans and their American allies?

September was an eventful month in Korea. Not only were US Marines going ashore in Inchon, both the KPA and UN forces undertook massive offensives to break the Pusan Perimeter. Only one could be successful, though. There is a reason this episode is called Break-out, and not Break-in.

Douglas MacArthur knew he needed to make a splash to relieve the pressure on his men around Pusan. UN forces had faced disaster after disaster in the first two months of the war, and it appeared that there was an anchor around their necks. Would an ambitious amphibious strike at the heart of Korea, just 20 miles from Seoul but 200 miles from Pusan, keep Mr. MacArthur's illustrious career from sinking?

August 1950 was a month of stalemate, as United Nations forces on the Korean Peninsula, still entirely American and South Korean, were pushed to the brink. The battle line known as the Pusan Perimeter was the site of brutal combat, with the North Koreans trying to push their enemy off the peninsula and the South Koreans fighting for the fate of their country.

On June 25th, the United Nations went to war...sort of. The United Nations would enter the Korean War shortly after it began, but how...and why? July goes about as poorly as June does for South Korea and the United States, and ends in tragedy.

On June 25th, the Korean War began. The first four days went very well for one Korea and very poorly for the other. What made the North Koreans so much more successful than the South Koreans and allowed the Korean People's Army to capture Seoul on the fourth day of the War?

On June 25th, 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea. Were the South Koreans prepared for it?   There might be an audio issue with this episode; I'm recording from a hotel room in Iowa and plan on sorting out the audio properly once I'm back in my home studio.

On June 25th, 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea. What did they do to prepare for the war? Prod. Note, 4/20/21 - The Korea Institute of Military History places KPA strength at just under 200,000 troops split between 10 infantry divisions, one air division, about five support divisions, and one naval combat team of division-strength. So, you can see that there is a lack of accurate information about the true strength of the KPA before the beginning of the Korean War.  

As 1949 turned into 1950, the Soviet Union and United States tried to persuade the new People's Republic of China to side with them in the Cold War. One would fail, and one would gain a valuable ally. In North Korea, Kim Il-sung pressed for war against South Korea. Would Stalin finally grant Kim's greatest wish?

Because I'm taking a bit of a vacation this week, here's a shorter special episode. On June 25th, 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea. It's important to understand how people experienced and wrote about these events as they happened, so listen to what was written about the invasion by the Associated Press and published in the Chicago Sunday Tribune. We're just a few weeks away from discussing this historic day in the course of our history of the Korean War. Be sure to subscribe wherever you enjoy podcasts and stay up-to-date on the first season of Coming Together/Coming Apart!

In 1949, Mao Zedong shocked the world and proclaimed the People's Republic of China. How did he get there? Will it have an effect on Korea? Let's talk about the Chinese Revolution and Civil War.

The Cold War did not begin in 1945. Why did it take a few years for the Grand Alliance of World War II to fall apart? What role did the United Nations play? What were the challenges the UN faced in the first years of its existence?

Two Koreas became independent in 1948 and immediately began trying to get rid of the other. Update, 4/2021: Listener Brian S. informed me of the official ruble-dollar exchange rate for 1949 as provided by the Central Bank of Russia. At $.1887 rubles-per-dollar (or 5.3 dollars-per-ruble), the 212 million ruble loan the Soviets extended to the DPRK is equal to approximately US$40 million in 1949, or approximately US$432 million adjusted to 2021 value. Thank you, Brian!

Between 1946 and 1948, it was the best of times and it was the worst of times in Korea. How do we get from an occupied former colony to two separate states?

The American Occupation of southern Korea began in September, 1945. How did those first few months go? And why did things start to fall apart after the Moscow Conference of December 1945?

The Soviets pushed the Japanese out of Korea in August 1945, occupying one half of a divided peninsula. Who's Cho Man-sik and why was he the Soviet's first choice for leadership? When does Kim Il-sung come into play?

What happened between the surrender of Japan and the arrival of the American and Soviet occupation forces in Korea? Did the Koreans really have their own government controlling the entire peninsula?

Korea was not always divided. Why was division the chosen option for the peninsula post-WWII? Were there other options?

70 years ago, on June 25th, 1950, North Korean soldiers crossed the 38th Parallel into South Korea, marking the beginning of the Korean War. How was this reported when it happened?

Part 2 of the prologue, wherein we introduce five current and future authoritarians and witness the end of the Empire of Japan.

In 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea. How did we get there? Has Korea always been at the center of an East Asian tempest? Why are there even two Koreas in the first place? Can we really find the origins of the Korean War as far back as 1864?

Coming Together, Coming Apart is a history podcast about national independence, liberation, and disintegration. I will take a deep and honest look at why countries form and the ways in which they break down. First up, a history of the Korean War.