Start of the Korean War
Historical Overview
The Korean War began when the North Korean People's Army launched a surprise invasion across the 38th parallel. The primary strategic objective of the Pyongyang regime, backed by the Soviet Union and China, was to decisively crush the South Korean government and forcibly unify the peninsula under communist rule. The assault triggered the first major military conflict of the Cold War, prompting a UN-mandated intervention led by the United States, and ultimately resulted in a devastating three-year war that ended in a still-ongoing armistice.
Montage of images from the Korean War. Clockwise from top: U.S. Marines retreating during the Battle of the Chosin Resevoir, U.N. landing at Incheon, Korean refugees in front of an American M46 Patton tank, U.S. Marines, led by First Lieutenant Baldomero Lopez, landing at Incheon, and an American F-86 Sabre fighter jet.
In an address to a Joint Meeting of U.S Congress on July 28, 1954, South Korean President Syngman Rhee expressed thanks to the United States for its intervention in the Korean War. His speech also included a frank request for additional financial and military aid to oust communism from his homeland and for launch of an attack on China. Vice President Richard Nixon and Speaker Joseph Martin sat behind Syngman Rhee.
Major (Ch) John F. Reutemann, Deputy Wing Chaplain, 51st Fighter Wing, leads a religious service at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery for French veterans Andre Datcharry and Jacques Grisolet, in Busan, South Korea, May 27, 2026. The interment ceremony serves to honor France’s sacrifice, with around 4,000 deployed and 260 casualties during the Korean War, and express appreciation for France’s continued investment in the United Nations Command headquarters staff. The United Nations Command remains committed to honoring those who served and strengthening the enduring bonds between the Republic of Korea and the nations that stood together 75 years ago. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Desmond Parks)
French army Col. Olivier LeClerca delivers a speech during an interment ceremony honoring André Datcharry and Jacques Grisolet, former French service members who served in the Korean War, at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea in Busan, South Korea, May 27, 2026. The interment ceremony serves to honor France’s sacrifice, with around 4,000 deployed and 260 casualties during the Korean War, and express appreciation for France’s continued investment in the United Nations Command headquarters staff. The United Nations Command remains committed to honoring those who served and strengthening the enduring bonds between the Republic of Korea and the nations that stood together 75 years ago. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Desmond Parks)
U.S. Army General Xavier T. Brunson, commander, United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, and U.S. Forces Korea, greets staff of the United Nations Memorial Cemetery Korea prior to an interment ceremony honoring André Datcharry and Jacques Grisolet, former French service members who served in the Korean War, in Busan, South Korea, May 27, 2026. The interment ceremony serves to honor France’s sacrifice, with around 4,000 deployed and 260 casualties during the Korean War, and express appreciation for France’s continued investment in the United Nations Command headquarters staff. The United Nations Command remains committed to honoring those who served and strengthening the enduring bonds between the Republic of Korea and the nations that stood together 75 years ago. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Desmond Parks)
U.S. Army General Xavier T. Brunson, commander, United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, and U.S. Forces Korea, center, enters the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea to attend an interment ceremony for André Datcharry and Jacques Grisolet, former French service members who served in the Korean War, in Busan, South Korea, May 27, 2026. The interment ceremony serves to honor France’s sacrifice, with around 4,000 deployed and 260 casualties during the Korean War, and express appreciation for France’s continued investment in the United Nations Command headquarters staff. The United Nations Command remains committed to honoring those who served and strengthening the enduring bonds between the Republic of Korea and the nations that stood together 75 years ago. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Desmond Parks)
U.S. Army General Xavier T. Brunson, commander, United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, and U.S. Forces Korea, third from right, enters the United Nations Memorial Cemetery Korea to attend the interment ceremony honoring André Datcharry and Jacques Grisolet, former French service members who served in the Korean War, in Busan, South Korea, May 27, 2026. The interment ceremony serves to honor France’s sacrifice, with around 4,000 deployed and 260 casualties during the Korean War, and express appreciation for France’s continued investment in the United Nations Command headquarters staff. The United Nations Command remains committed to honoring those who served and strengthening the enduring bonds between the Republic of Korea and the nations that stood together 75 years ago. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Desmond Parks)
The United Nations Memorial Cemetery Korea Honor Guard delivers photos of André Datcharry and Jacques Grisolet, former French service members who served in the Korean War, to their interment ceremony in Busan, South Korea, May 27, 2026. The interment ceremony serves to honor France’s sacrifice, with around 4,000 deployed and 260 casualties during the Korean War, and express appreciation for France’s continued investment in the United Nations Command headquarters staff. The United Nations Command remains committed to honoring those who served and strengthening the enduring bonds between the Republic of Korea and the nations that stood together 75 years ago. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Desmond Parks)
Mr. Philippe Bertoux, Ambassador of France to the Republic of Korea, delivers a speech at the Interment Ceremony for André Datcharry and Jacques Grisolet, former French service members who served in the Korean War at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea in Busan, South Korea, May 27, 2026. The interment ceremony serves to honor France’s sacrifice, with around 4,000 deployed and 260 casualties during the Korean War, and express appreciation for France’s continued investment in the United Nations Command headquarters staff. The United Nations Command remains committed to honoring those who served and strengthening the enduring bonds between the Republic of Korea and the nations that stood together 75 years ago. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class Desmond Parks)
U.S. Army General Xavier T. Brunson, commander, United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, and U.S. Forces Korea, delivers a speech at the interment ceremony for André Datcharry and Jacques Grisolet, former French service members who served in the Korean War at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea in Busan, South Korea, May 27, 2026. The interment ceremony serves to honor France’s sacrifice, with around 4,000 deployed and 260 casualties during the Korean War, and express appreciation for France’s continued investment in the United Nations Command headquarters staff. The United Nations Command remains committed to honoring those who served and strengthening the enduring bonds between the Republic of Korea and the nations that stood together 75 years ago. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class Desmond Parks)
U.S. Army General Xavier T. Brunson, commander, United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, and U.S. Forces Korea, delivers a speech at the interment ceremony for André Datcharry and Jacques Grisolet, former French service members who served in the Korean War at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea in Busan, South Korea, May 27, 2026. The interment ceremony serves to honor France’s sacrifice, with around 4,000 deployed and 260 casualties during the Korean War, and express appreciation for France’s continued investment in the United Nations Command headquarters staff. The United Nations Command remains committed to honoring those who served and strengthening the enduring bonds between the Republic of Korea and the nations that stood together 75 years ago. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class Desmond Parks)
U.S. Army General Xavier T. Brunson, commander, United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, and U.S. Forces Korea, delivers a speech at the Interment Ceremony for André Datcharry and Jacques Grisolet, former French service members who served in the Korean War at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea in Busan, South Korea, May 27, 2026. The interment ceremony serves to honor France’s sacrifice, with around 4,000 deployed and 260 casualties during the Korean War, and express appreciation for France’s continued investment in the United Nations Command headquarters staff. The United Nations Command remains committed to honoring those who served and strengthening the enduring bonds between the Republic of Korea and the nations that stood together 75 years ago. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class Desmond Parks)
The United Nations Memorial Cemetery Korea delivers the remains of André Datcharry, a former French service member who served in the Korean War, to his family during an interment ceremony honoring he and Jacques Grisolet in Busan, South Korea, May 27, 2026. The interment ceremony serves to honor France’s sacrifice, with around 4,000 deployed and 260 casualties during the Korean War, and express appreciation for France’s continued investment in the United Nations Command headquarters staff. The United Nations Command remains committed to honoring those who served and strengthening the enduring bonds between the Republic of Korea and the nations that stood together 75 years ago. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class Desmond Parks)
The United Nations Memorial Cemetery Korea delivers the remains of Jacques Grisolet, a former French service member who served in the Korean War, to his family during an interment ceremony honoring he and André Datcharry in Busan, South Korea, May 27, 2026. The interment ceremony serves to honor France’s sacrifice, with around 4,000 deployed and 260 casualties during the Korean War, and express appreciation for France’s continued investment in the United Nations Command headquarters staff. The United Nations Command remains committed to honoring those who served and strengthening the enduring bonds between the Republic of Korea and the nations that stood together 75 years ago. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class Desmond Parks)
U.S. Army General Xavier T. Brunson, commander, United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, and U.S. Forces Korea, greets the family of André Datcharry, a former French service member who served in the Korean War during an interment ceremony honoring he and Jacques Grisolet at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery Korea in Busan, South Korea, May 27, 2026. The interment ceremony serves to honor France’s sacrifice, with around 4,000 deployed and 260 casualties during the Korean War, and express appreciation for France’s continued investment in the United Nations Command headquarters staff. The United Nations Command remains committed to honoring those who served and strengthening the enduring bonds between the Republic of Korea and the nations that stood together 75 years ago. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class Desmond Parks)
U.S. Army General Xavier T. Brunson, commander, United Nations Command, Republic of Korea/U.S. Combined Forces Command, and U.S. Forces Korea, greets the family of Jacques Grisolet, a former French service member who served in the Korean War during an interment ceremony honoring he and André Datcharry at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery Korea in Busan, South Korea, May 27, 2026. The interment ceremony serves to honor France’s sacrifice, with around 4,000 deployed and 260 casualties during the Korean War, and express appreciation for France’s continued investment in the United Nations Command headquarters staff. The United Nations Command remains committed to honoring those who served and strengthening the enduring bonds between the Republic of Korea and the nations that stood together 75 years ago. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class Desmond Parks)
U.S. Army General Xavier T. Brunson, commander, United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, and U.S. Forces Korea, greets Sun, Jeong-in, custodian of the United Nations Memorial Cemetery Korea, following an interment ceremony honoring André Datcharry and Jacques Grisolet, former French service members who served in the Korean War in Busan, South Korea, May 27, 2026. The interment ceremony serves to honor France’s sacrifice, with around 4,000 deployed and 260 casualties during the Korean War, and express appreciation for France’s continued investment in the United Nations Command headquarters staff. The United Nations Command remains committed to honoring those who served and strengthening the enduring bonds between the Republic of Korea and the nations that stood together 75 years ago. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class Desmond Parks)