The Cabinet Papers banner
 

The Korean War

New Zealand soldiers on battlefield in Korea.
A 25-pounder field gun of New Zealand artillery detachment opens fire in support of the 1st Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
©Imperial War Museum BF365

In 1945 America declared the 38th parallel of latitude as the line of separation between American and Soviet influence in Korea. The Russians set up a communist state in the north and the Americans established the Republic of Korea in the south. In 1950 North Korea invaded South Korea, marking the start of the 'Forgotten War'.

Related documents

Britain enters the war

British forces arrive

The Battle of the Imjin River

Armistice and the demilitarised zone (DMZ)

Search using Republic of Korea Commonwealth Brigade Korean War

Further reading

  • Farrar-Hockley, A., The British Part in the Korean War. 2 vols. (London: HMSO, 1995)
  • Macdonald, C., Britain and the Korean War (Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1990)
  • Tarling, N., Britain, Southeast Asia and the Impact of the Korean War (Singapore: Singapore University Press, 2005)

Content

Related Links

The National Archives Newsletter Icon

Send me The National Archives’ newsletter

A monthly round-up of news, blogs, offers and events.

Sign up
About our privacy policy