history of kuk sool won:
1:9 THE KOREAN CIVIL WAR: 1950-1953

On the morning of June 25th, 1950, North Korean forces crossed the 38th parallel - civil war had broken out. Within four days, SEOUL, the capital of South Korea, had fallen. Many political leaders, including President RHEE, fled south to organise resistance, setting up a temporary capital in the southern port of PUSAN. Within six weeks, the North Korean forces had almost conquered the entire Korean peninsula, having pushed the South Korean and UN forces back to a position southeast of the NAKETONG River. However, when American reinforcements landed at INCHUN on September 15th, the North Korean offensive wavered, and they retreated amid confusion.

Although the majority of armed forces supporting the South Korean forces were American, troops from sixteen countries made up the combined UN forces. These were: AMERICA, AUSTRALIA, BELGIUM, CANADA, COLUMBIA, ETHIOPIA, FRANCE, GREAT BRITAIN, GREECE, LUXEMBOURG, NETHERLANDS, NEW ZEALAND, PHILIPPINES, SOUTH AFRICA, THAILAND and TURKEY.

The UN counter-offensive coincided with the American forces landing on INCHUN, and by September 19th, 1950, SEOUL had been re-captured. In fact, the counter-offensive was so successful that within two weeks the UN forces had reached the 38th parallel. After crossing the parallel, UN forces reached the YALU RIVER (the border between North Korea and China) and by October 26th the North Korean forces were almost obliterated.