Prelude: Korean-American relations to 1948. Korea and the United States before the Second World War ; The two-nation relationship during the Second World War ; U.S. military occupation of South Korea -- The critical two years. Establishment of the Republic of Korea ; The policies of the two republics ; The U.S. troop withdrawal issue ; Economic and military aid ; The four episodes -- War and diplomacy in Korea. The nature of and responsibility for the outbreak of the war ; The war ; Wartime diplomacy -- Peacemaking and diplomacy. Armistice negotiations ; Korean reaction and the armistice ; Aid diplomacy and Korean domestic politics.