Reflecting on June 25, 1950 and the Communist Invasion of South Korea

For many Americans under the age of 50 or so, the Korean War (previously known as the "Korean Conflict" in politically sanitized language) may not be understood as a major military confrontation like the U.S. involvement in Vietnam. Nevertheless, this conflict was a global, war even though it has often been referred to as the 'Forgotten War.' One needs to  consider that the former Soviet Union, as well as a newly formed Communist regime of the People's Republic of China (P.R.C.), in addition to the Soviet puppet state  under the North Korean Communists (the Democratic People's Republic of Korea – D.P.R.K.), all took part in fighting to take over South Korea. This Communist triad of nations was aligned against the joint military forces of the participating nations of the United Nations. The conflict, though limited to the nation of Korea, represented a definitive global confrontation. It could have mushroomed into World War III.