Number of military casualties during the Korean War 1950-1953

The Korean War began on June 25, 1950, and ended on July 27, 1953, with an armistice. The “War of June 25” started with an invasion by North Korea and claimed around 1.9 million military casualties, including 815 thousand fatalities. This does not even consider the millions of civilians killed or forced to flee from their homes. Throughout the war, North Korea gained control of almost all of South Korea before South Korean and United Nations forces pushed north to regain control. Nearly all regions and people were affected at some point, with massive destruction everywhere.

The unfinished war

The Korean War was the largest international war following the Second World War and one of the few conflicts during the Cold War. The United Nations forces, largely composed of American troops, fought alongside South Korea, while Chinese and Soviet troops supported North Korea. The Korean War unofficially ended with an armistice. This was to be followed by a formal treaty to end the war, but this never happened. Officially, North and South Korea are still at war today. 

Divided families

The Korean War resulted in millions of dead, missing, abducted, and refugee civilians. Over a million North Koreans fled south of the border. The war tore many families apart. Following the inter-Korean summit in 2000, the two governments arranged for family reunions in North Korea. North Korea would not permit the people to leave, so the family members in the south went to meet them. From 2000 to 2023, about 21 reunions have taken place in North Korea. Most of the family members in South Korea are now in their 70s to 90s. Although there is substantial agreement on the need to continue these reunions before the separate families age and pass away, this has not always been possible due to tensions between the two Koreas.