Korea’s geographical realties affected the conduct of war at the strategic, the operational, and the tactical level. It’s strategic location made it a collision point for competing interests of major power throughout the world. As far as the actual land mass, Korea is a country no larger than the state of Kansas. All together, North and South Korea covers an area of 85,246 square miles, and only fifteen percent of that can be considered plains - these are mostly in the southern coastal regions.

America was supported in its gallant effort, not only by its people but by the United Nations. Every member supported American arms for the first time, and possibly only time in its short history. The United Nations fulfilled the role envisioned for it by its founders: to stop aggression, by force if need be. (Knox, 10)

The United Nations was greatly concerned with the war in Korea, but it did not have a army to send. Thus, the United States Army made up four fifths of the actual forces sent to Korea. The bulk of the forces sent were placed under the command of General MacArthur.

The United States could not allow its interests in East Asia, particularly Japan, to be placed in jeopardy. It was not the nation of Korea per se but its geographical location that prompted America to intervene in the war. (Sommers, 3-10)

Three years, one month, and two days later the war ended. Cease-fire came at 10:00 P.M., and an armistice was signed by North Korea and the United Nations on July 27, 1953. (Boorstin and Kelley, 723-726) The Korean War was the first American war ever waged that was not fought for national survival, for territory, for Manifest Destiny, or for hegemony. This was also an ideological war. For the first time in the nations history Americans were asked to fight and die to contain an idea.

Some topics in this essay:
North Korea, North Communism, War II, United Nations, Korea War, III Peace, Wall Nineteen, South Korea, Korean War, President Clinton, north korea, united nations, korean war, south korea, boorstin kelley 723-726, 38th parallel, boorstin kelley, kelley 723-726, north south, world war, north south korea, peace negotiations,