Conflict and Tension in Asia

• The Korean War

  1950 - 53
• Korea is divided along the 38th Parallel

  Aug 1945
• Kim Il Sung takes power in North Korea

  1948
• NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) is formed

  1949
• The Korean People's Army (North) invaded the South: 25th June 1950
• President Truman declares the USA will help South Korea: June 1950
• US Amphibious Attack in Inchon

  Sep 1950
• US forces reach the Yalu River

  Oct 1950
• 200,000 Chinese Troops cross the border into North Korea: Oct 1950
• The UN forces are driven out of Seoul for the 2nd time: Jan 1951
• General MacArthur is sacked 


  11th April 1951
• Stalemate in the Korean War 


  May 1951
• The Communist Party of China (CPC) was founded by Mao Zedong: 1921
• Beijing falls to the communist government 


  Jan 1949
• The USSR first suggested to start peace talks for the Korean War: June 1951
• Korean War armistice is signed in Panmunjom: 27th July 1953
• Stalin dies 


  March 1953
• Eisenhower replaces Truman as US President

  1952
• The Battle of Dien Bien Phu

  1954
• French surrendered at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu: May 1954
• Diem becomes President of South Vietnam

  1954
• Elections in South Vietnam

  Oct 1955
• Strategic Hamlet Programme introduced

  1962
• Eisenhower president of the USA

  1953 - 61
• Kennedy president of the USA

  1961 - 63
• SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty Organization) set up

  Sep 1954
• Vietcong established

  Dec 1960
• Le Duan is sent to South Vietnam to report the effectiveness of the armed resistance groups.: 1956
• Johnson's Presidency

  1963 - 1969
• Nixon's Presidency

  1969 - 1974
• Diem is shot

  Nov 1963
• Gulf of Tonkin

  Aug 1964
• 200,000 US troops land in North Vietnam

  1965
• Congress allowed the USA to become involved in the full-scale Vietnam war: Aug 1964
• Vietcong attacked a US helicopter base in South Vietnam: Feb 1965
• US launched Operation Rolling Thunder

  Feb 1965
• North Vietnam attack a US Military Base in Sanh, South Vietnam: Jan 1968
• Tet Offensive

  30th Jan 1968
• My Lai Massacre

  16th March 1968
• The full story of the My Lai Massacre is broken to the public: 12th Nov 1969