After the first two months of the conflict, South Korean forces were on the point of defeat, forced back to the Pusan Perimeter. In September 1950, an amphibious UN counter-offensive was launched at Inchon, and cut off many of the North Korean attackers. Those that escaped envelopment and capture were rapidly forced back north all the way to the border with China at the Yalu River, or into the mountainous interior. At this point, in October 1950, Chinese forces crossed the Yalu and entered the war. Chinese intervention triggered a retreat of UN forces which continued until mid-1951. After these dramatic reversals of fortune, which saw Seoul change hands four times, the last two years of conflict became a war of attrition, with the front line close to the 38th parallel. The war in the air, however, was never a stalemate. North Korea was subject to a massive bombing campaign. Jet fighters confronted each other in air-to-air combat for the first time in history, and Soviet pilots covertly flew in defense of their Communist allies. COUNT 5
QSN1 At the beginning of the conflict, where were South Korean forces pushed back to? ANS1 Pusan Perimeter QSN2 In 1950, what country got involved in the war? ANS2 China QSN3 How many times did the control of Seoul change? ANS3 four QSN4 On land, where was the last two years of the war fought? ANS4 close to the 38th parallel QSN5 What type of combat was seen for the first time in the history of war? ANS5 air-to-air combat