The Korean War

Book excerpt: The Korean War (1950?53) began as a conflict between North Korea and South Korea and eventually involved the United States and nineteen other nations. An estimated three million people lost their lives during the war. For Americans who think that only GIs and their United Nations contingent comrades fought effectively, The Korean War will be a surprising introduction to the valor and sacrifice of the South Korean army. This comprehensive view of the war from the South Korean perspective has not been previously available in English translation.øThe Korean War comprises three volumes. Volume 3 follows the final course of the war from fighting to cease-fire negotiations and the opening of truce talks. The establishment of the demilitarized zone, the end product of the armistice agreement, and the start of the cease-fire structure are described in detail. The volume concludes with an examination of the Political Conference held in Geneva, which sought a peaceful unification of the Korean peninsula.