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Pushed Farther South
The first battle between the US and North Korea was "The Battle of Osan", where Task Force Smith, 540 troops from the 24th Infantry Division. The US's objective was to stall the KPA (Korean Peoples Army) until more troops arrived, but had failed severely due to the KPA's heavy artillery. The KPA had begun to force their way in, pushing back US troops located in Pyongtaek, Chonan, and Chochiwon, forcing the 24th Division into Taejon. The 24th Division had suffered 6,564 dead, wounded or captured. -
The Battle of Pusan Perimeter
The UN withstood attacks from the KPA meant to capture the city and had the USAF (United States Air Force) delay the KPA with daily ground support units which destroyed 32 bridges stopping most train and road traffic. The USAF had also denied any supply of materials towards the KPA by destroying logistics depots, petroleum refineries, and harbors while the US Navy air forces supported by destroying transport hubs. The US and UN had supplied troops and heavy artillery, outnumbering the KPA. -
The Battle of Inchon
The KPA were now at a disadvantage against the Perimeters defenders since they were losing men and supplies significantly. General McArthur had planned for a landing in Inchon, near Seoul and 160 miles behind KPA lines. The group designated to land at Inchon was made up of ROK forces, marines from the 1st Division and the 7th Infantry Division. When the 40,000 troops had made it to Inchon, there weren't too many KPA forces in the area which made for a light battle, bu the destruction of Inchon. -
Crossing the Border
During the Cold War, the Soviets and the US had split Korea into two different countries at the 38th parallel under different rule. Both leaders believed that their form of rule was the one that represented the whole of Korea. This feud had eventually escalated into conflict, with North Korean, as well as Chinese and Soviet, troops crossed the border and marched on into the South. The United Nations had heard what happened and sent in troops from 21 different countries, preparing for a war. -
Breaking Out of the Pusan Perimeter
The Eighth Army had begun its breakout with Task Force Lynch, the 3rd battalion, 7th Calvary Regiment, and two 70th Tank Battalion advancing through 106 miles of KPA territory joining the 7th infantry division at Osan. The X Corps were easily dealing with KPA defenders around Seoul, threatning to trap the KPA's main force in South Korea. Stalin had sent in General Zakharov to advise Kim-Il-Sung to deploy forces to Seoul instead of Pusan's Perimeter. The UN took Seoul back and the KPA retreated. -
The UN invades North Korea
UN forces pushed KPA forces into the North with the ROK advancing after them. Six days later, UN authorized the ROK to advance even further North. The X Corps landed at Wonsan and Riwon, but these cities had already been captured by the ROK forces. The Eight Army had advanced up western Korea to capture Pyongyang. The 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team had made their first two combat jumps in October with the objective of preventing North Korean leaders from fleeing. The KPA lost thousands. -
China Intervenes
Kim-Il-Sung had requested China for help in the North. Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai had asked for Stalin's involvement , but Stalin had made it clear that the Soviets weren't going to intervene. However, Stalin was willing to lend supplies and the air force which needed 2 to 3 months to be operational. UN forces doubted the Chinese would do much to affect them and thought nothing much of it. The PVA had taken the UN by complete surprise and had forced the Eighth army to retreat mid December. -
Fighting Near the 38th Parallel
General McArthur had been relieved by President Truman. China's final attack had involved 3 PVA field armies (approximately 700,000 men) attacking the UN. The first offensive was against the I Corps, which put up a strong resistance in the Battle of Imjin River and the Battle of Kapyong and the PVA were suffering severe casualties in comparision to the UN forces. The second attack was against ROK and the US X Corps and had succeeded until they were stopped soon after. China planned a retreat. -
A Constant Stalemate
PVA troops were suffering from bad military equipment, serious logistical problems, overextended communication and supply lines, and the constant threat of UN bombing. These problems were addressed at a meeting, but little was done to fix these problems. Peng Dehuai had angrily confronted Mao and Zhou at a meeting and Zhou had decided the option to prevent this ongoing stalemate was to split the forces into three armies to train more pilots, more anti-air guns, and to buy equipment from Russia. -
The Korean Armistice Agreement
Peace negotiations had went on for 2 years and something they found problematic was the prisoner of war repatriation. Many PVA and KPA soldiers wanted to stay in the South and this upset the Chinese and North Koreans. Chairman Indian General Thimayya was told to handle the matter. New president, Dwight D. Eisenhower went to Korea to learn what could possibly end the war. Dwight, the PVA and KPA had signed the Korean Armistice Agreement and South Korean president Syngman Rhee had refused to sign.
