Colourised images bring Korean War to life on 70th anniversary of start of conflict
COLOURISED photographs bring the Korean War back to life on the conflict's 70th anniversary.
The pictures capture the horror of fighting in the snowy North Korean terrain as well as war-weary displaced Korean children.
Other images show US troops trekking through the snow during winter and tanks firing across enemy lines in Pyongyang, North Korea.
The mind-blowing pictures have been expertly colourised by electrician Royston Leonard from Cardiff, Wales.
Royston, 54, digitally paints over the black and white images and mixes his colours on screen.
The incredible photographs show a US Marine raising the United States flag above the American consulate in Seoul, Corporal Robert L. Sutton listening and watching for enemy planes from his tank.
One photograph shows the heart-melting moment a Marine stops to feed a kitten during the conflict.
“War is hell, no one really wins at the ground level of the battlefield,” said Royston.
“Both sides governments could go home to dinner with loved ones, but the families of soldiers had empty plates and spaces in their homes and hearts and when the war finished, the talking started.
“When I was young, I asked if war was really needed and the answer I got was that it isn’t but sometimes life gives you no other choice.
“I colour the war photos to show the hard choice made by brave people of that time.”
The Korean War started on June 25, 1950, when North Korea led a surprise attack on South Korea.
During the war, the North was backed by communist countries including the Soviet Union and China while the South was backed by the United States.
The war ended on July 27, 1953 and left millions dead.
During the conflict, nearly five-million people died, almost all of which were from Korea.
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Almost 40,000 Americans were killed and more than 100,000 were wounded.
“The message is already there for all to see in the pictures themselves but I do feel it helps the younger generation to understand that what happened was real,” added Royston.
“I love giving more life to the pictures and I think that colour improves the story the photographs tell.”
