1950

June 25: North Korea invades South Korea.

June 28: North Korean troops seize Seoul, capital of South Korea.

July 1: The first US army unit arrives in the southeastern port of Busan.

July 7: The United Nations Security Council approves the dispatch of troops to defend South Korea.

July 25: North Korean troops control most of the Korean peninsula and advance on Busan.

September 15: US and allied forces land US troops at the western port of Incheon, outflanking North Korean forces and driving them back.

September 26: The US-led UN forces reclaims Seoul.

October 19: The UN forces seizes Pyongyang, capital of North Korea.

October 25: After US-led forces drive through North Korea to the border with China, the Chinese leadership sends troops to help North Korea. US-led forces fall back in retreat.

1951

January 4: Communist forces recapture Seoul

January 25: US-led forces launch major counterattack

March 14: UN forces march back into Seoul

April 30: Chinese and North Korean spring offensive stopped north of Seoul

June 23: Moscow calls for truce talks

July 10: Korean War armistice talks begin.

Fighting continues during on-off talks.

1953

April 20 The exchange of prisoners of war begins.

June 9: South Korea's government decides to boycott a truce.

July 27: The Korean War armistice agreement is signed.

WAR.WIRE