The Korean War started on 25 June 1950 and ended on 27 July 1953, after the signing of an armistice agreeing that the country would remain divided.

At the end of the Second World War, Korea – which had formerly been occupied by the Japanese – was divided along the 38th parallel. This was an internal border between North and South Korea based on a circle of latitude.

North Korea, supported by the Soviet Union, invaded the south on the 25 June 1950, which was supported by the United States.  

The three-year war was exceptionally bloody and led to the deaths of 3 million people and tens of thousands of casualties. Listen to oral histories from those who fought in the Korean War and discover their unique stories of the conflict in: Voices of the Korean War. 

Discover more about the history of the conflict below, often referred to as the 'Forgotten War'.

Uniforms and insignia

The Korean People's Army is established

Non-rigid field cap of green fabric (heavily faded to khaki shades) with a flexible cloth peak and raised curtain. The cap features a cloth chinstrap and there is a metal badge attached to the front in the form of a five-pointed red star on a gold circular disc.
© IWM UNI 13296
Image: © IWM (UNI 13296)

North Korea soon fell under the influence of the Soviet Union, whilst the south relied on the support of the Americans. The Korean People's Army (KPA) was established in North Korea in February 1948, from Korean communist guerrillas who had previously served with the Chinese People's Liberation Army, but were 'advised' by Soviet personnel. By mid-1950 the KPA was made up of ten infantry divisions plus other units totalling some 223,000 men.

See object record
Photographs

Invasion of South Korea

Walking along a typical hillside trench is Private Jack Crawford of Company A, 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment.
© IWM (MH 31539)
Image: IWM (MH 31539)

On 25 June 1950 the KPA invaded South Korea and rapidly advanced southwards, trapping South Korean and American troops in a small perimeter around the port of Pusan. The United Nations was quick to respond and immediately encouraged its members to support South Korea. Many countries sent in troops to support the south, including the United States, Great Britain, Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand and South Africa.

See object record
Photographs

Landings at Inchon

Inchon under heavy naval and air bombardment two hours before the main landings.
© IWM A 31722
Image: IWM (A 31722)

The United Nations commander General MacArthur ordered an amphibious landing at Inchon, a port halfway up the Korean Peninsula. His forces were able to drive the KPA back northwards and up to the Yalu River, the border between China and North Korea.

See object record
Photographs

Entry of China

Sergeant Wedel Hulzen, of the Netherlands detachment of the UN forces in Korea, in position to return sniper fire.
© IWM MH 32817

China entered the war at this point and, again, pushed United Nations forces back into the south. During the first half of 1951 fighting stalled and armistice negotiations began in July. However, the negotiations achieved little initial success and the opposing armies continued to face each other in trenches little more than a mile apart for the next two years.

See object record
Photographs

Armistice

Chinese and North Korean Officials attend the Preliminary Armistice Conference being held at Kaesong, Korea.
© IWM HU 50471

Finally, on 27 July 1953, an armistice was signed agreeing that Korea would remain a divided country.

The armistice was signed by officials from the United States, the People's Republic of China, North Korea and South Korea. This agreed to bring the fighting of the Korean War to an end. The armistice agreement was signed at Panmunjom between North and South Korea.  

See object record

Korean War collections

IWM boasts a vast collection of objects, oral histories and photographs from the Korean War: 

  • At a refugee collection station at Changgo-Ri, Korean refugees found near the front line and evacuated by the 3rd US Infantry Division Civil Affairs Personnel, are given typhus shots by an South Korean (ROK) nurse.
    © IWM MH 32885A

    Photographs: The Korean War 1950 - 1953

    This photograph shows a refugee collection station at Changgo-Ri, just below the 38th Parallel. Korean refugees are found near the front line and evacuated by the 3rd US Infantry Division Civil Affairs Personnel and given typhus shots by a South Korean (ROK) nurse.

    Discover more photographs of the Korean War. 

  • Circular (6.5cm diameter) blue cloth badge bearing the emblem of the UN and text 'UNITED NATIONS'.
    © IWM INS 8134

    Object: Badge formation, United Nations

    A circular (6.5cm diameter) blue cloth badge bearing the emblem of the UN and text 'United Nations'.

    Discover more objects from the Korean War. 

  • Oral history recordings

    Hear the voices of those that fought and experienced the Korean War in: Voices of the Korean War.

HMS Belfast in the Korean War

HMS Belfast on the Thames in front of Tower Bridge.
© IWM MAR 555

HMS Belfast spent more than 400 days on patrol during the Korean War, steaming over 80,000 miles. In winter, sea conditions reminded her crew of those she had faced in the Arctic – sub-zero temperatures, ice floes, stormy seas and snow.

Find out more about HMS Belfast in Korea in: Korean War and HMS Belfast: The hottest point of the Cold War. 

Related content

HMS Belfast's armament - video still
Technology and innovation

HMS Belfast's Armament: How to fire the 6-inch guns

HMS Belfast's primary armament throughout her life was her 6-inch guns. In this video, our experts take us from the Gun Direction Platform to the Fire Control Table, then into A-Turret and A-Turret's shell room to see how exactly they worked.

A platoon from 1st Battalion The Black Watch pose for the camera before going out on patrol. On the extreme right is 2nd Lieutenant A T Baillie, the Platoon Commander. On the extreme left is Sergeant Atholl Bluck, the Platoon Sergeant.
Cold War

25 Photographs Of The Korean War

Explore photos that show the experiences of some of the men who served in Korea and the conditions in which they lived and fought during the war.

Two soldiers from the King's Own Scottish Borderers, pass British crosses in the UN Cemetery in Pusan, where a memorial service was held for fallen comrades.
© IWM (MH 31493)
Cold War

Voices of the Korean War

The Korean War lasted from 1950 - 1953. Korea was split into two zones after the end of the Second World War. The country had been occupied by Japan since 1910, and the victorious Allied powers agreed at The Potsdam Conference that Korea should be divided along a circle of latitude - the 38th Parallel.

IWM holds a collection of oral history recordings of those who fought –  hear veterans of the Korean War tell their stories of the conflict. 

Cold War

HMS Belfast 80: Ron Yardley

Ron Yardley joined HMS Belfast as she prepared to head to Korea - he recalls how difficult it was to get his bearings in those early days but he remembers the ship fondly.

Learn more about HMS Belfast's life of service in our special interactive telling the story of the ship and the men who called her home.