The Korean War can be divided into a number of phases. Phase 1 (Jun -Nov 1950) - early victories for the North Koreans marked the beginning of this phase. However the UN counter offensive in September 1950 pushed the North Koreans back to the 38th parallel and liberated Seoul. Phase 2 (Nov 1950 – Jun 1951) saw a massive Chinese counter offensive. The Americans, who had doubted whether the Chinese would join the war, underestimated the determination of the Chinese troops. The Chinese suffered massive losses in the face of Western technology and infantry technique as wave after wave of troops attacked. Eventually the Chinese offensive ground to a halt, the Australian troops playing a pivotal role. Phase 3 (Jun 1951 – Jul 1953): the war, which had now been going on for a year, reached a stalemate. Peace talks, sponsored by the Russians, dragged on for two years while the fighting continued in sporadic bursts with little large large-scale movements across the frontline. The war finally ended when a truce was signed on 27th of June 1953, leaving North and South divided as much before. Under the UN Reconstruction Agency, South Korea was rebuilt. The Americans poured massive amounts of military and economic aid into South Korea, which is now a prosperous and strong trading partner of America and Australia. The USSR likewise poured resources into the North, which remains a Communist country. Today, the heavily defended and fortified 38th parallel with its no-mans land, barbed wire and machine gun posts stands as a stark reminder of the failure of the Korean War to resolve the differences between North and South and has left the country permanently divided.
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(277 words)