Battle of Kaesong–Munsan

Last updated
Battle of Kaesong–Munsan–Bongilcheon
Part of the Korean War
Operation Pokpung (North Korea)
Operation Western Region (South Korea)
Date25–28 June 1950
Location
Yonan, Kaesong, Munsan, Bongilcheon
Result KPA victory
Successful ROK withdrawal
Belligerents
Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea
Commanders and leaders
  • Flag of the Korean People's Army Ground Force (2023-).svg Choe Kwang
    (1st Infantry Division)
  • Flag of the Korean People's Army Ground Force (2023-).svg Kim Yang-chun
    (2nd Infantry Regiment)
  • Flag of the Korean People's Army Ground Force (2023-).svg Lee Chang-kwon
    (3rd Infantry Regiment)
  • Flag of the Korean People's Army Ground Force (2023-).svg Hwang Sok
    (14th Infantry Regiment)
  • Flag of the Korean People's Army Ground Force (2023-).svg Hyon Hak-pong
    (artillery regiment)
  • Flag of the Korean People's Army Ground Force (2023-).svg Pang Ho-san
    (6th Infantry Division)
  • Flag of the Korean People's Army Ground Force (2023-).svg Han Il-rae
    (13th Infantry Regiment)
  • Flag of the Korean People's Army Ground Force (2023-).svg Cho Kwan
    (15th Infantry Regiment)
  • Flag of the Korean People's Army Ground Force (2023-).svg Lee Min
    (artillery regiment)
  • Flag of the Korean People's Army Ground Force (2023-).svg Choe Yul-sok
    (203rd Armored Regiment)
  • Flag of the Korean People's Army Ground Force (2023-).svg Choe Hyon
    (3rd Guard Brigade)
  • Flag of the Republic of Korea Army.svg Paik Sun-yup
    (1st Infantry Division)
  • Flag of the Republic of Korea Army.svg Choe Gyeong-rok
    (11th Infantry Regiment)
  • Flag of the Republic of Korea Army.svg Jeon Seong-ho
    (12th Infantry Regiment)
  • Flag of the Republic of Korea Army.svg Kim Jeom-gon
    (12th Infantry Regiment)
  • Flag of the Republic of Korea Army.svg Kim Ik-ryeol
    (13th Infantry Regiment)
  • Flag of the Republic of Korea Army.svg Noh Jae-hyeon
    (6th Artillery Battalion)
  • Flag of the Republic of Korea Army.svg Choe Yeong-hui
    (15th Infantry Regiment)
  • Flag of the Republic of Korea Army.svg Yu Hae-jun
    (Seoul Special Regiment)
Strength
  • Flag of the Korean People's Army Ground Force (2023-).svg 1st Infantry Division
  • Flag of the Korean People's Army Ground Force (2023-).svg 6th Infantry Division
    (-1 regiment)
  • Flag of the Korean People's Army Ground Force (2023-).svg 203rd Armored Regiment
  • Flag of the Korean People's Army Ground Force (2023-).svg 3rd Guard Brigade
    (-5 battalions)
  • Flag of the Republic of Korea Army.svg 1st Infantry Division
  • Flag of the Republic of Korea Army.svg 15th Infantry Regiment
  • Flag of the Republic of Korea Army.svg Seoul Special Regiment

The Battle of Kaesong–Munsan (Hangul:개성, 문산 전투; Hanja:開城 汶山 戰鬪) was a part of Operation Pokpoong, the offensive by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea that marked the beginning of the Korean War. [1]

Contents

Order of battle

Democratic People's Republic of Korea

Republic of Korea

Prelude

Due to the reorganisation of the Republic of Korea Army, the quality of training of the ROK 1st Infantry Division was lower than that of other divisions. The 11th Infantry Regiment and the 12th Infantry Regiment just began battalion-sized training; only 2 battalions from the 13th Infantry Regiment were at the last phase of the training, and 1 battalion was sent away for the field training. [2]

In addition, 57% of the soldiers were given leave on June 24. Under the circumstances, the 12th Infantry Regiment had to defend 80 km frontline with only 800 troops. Moreover, heavy firearms and vehicles were sent to the rear for reorganization, and the division commander Paik Sun-yup was absent at the scene for training since June 14. [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paik Sun-yup</span> South Korean military officer (1920–2020)

Paik Sun-yup was a South Korean military officer. Paik is best known for his service during the Korean War, for being the first four-star general in the history of the South Korean military, and for his service as a diplomat and statesman for the Republic of Korea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Ripper</span> 1951 UN military offensive to retake Seoul as part of the Korean War

Operation Ripper, also known as the Fourth Battle of Seoul, was a United Nations (UN) military operation conceived by the US Eighth Army, General Matthew Ridgway, during the Korean War. The operation was intended to destroy as much as possible of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army (PVA) and Korean People's Army (KPA) forces around Seoul and the towns of Hongch'on, 50 miles (80 km) east of Seoul, and Chuncheon, 15 miles (24 km) further north. The operation also aimed to bring UN troops to the 38th Parallel. It followed upon the heels of Operation Killer, an eight-day UN offensive that concluded February 28, to push PVA/KPA forces north of the Han River. The operation was launched on 6 March 1951 with US I Corps and IX Corps on the west near Seoul and Hoengsong and US X Corps and Republic of Korea Army (ROK) III Corps in the east, to reach the Idaho Line, an arc with its apex just south of the 38th Parallel in South Korea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Republic of Korea Marine Corps</span> Amphibious warfare branch of South Koreas military

The Republic of Korea Marine Corps, also known as the ROK Marine Corps, ROK Marines or South Korean Marine Corps, is the naval infantry of South Korea. The ROKMC is a branch of the Republic of Korea Navy responsible for amphibious operations, and also functions as a rapid reaction force and a strategic reserve.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">27th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)</span> British Army unit which fought in WWI, WWII, and the Korean War

The 27th Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Army that saw service in the First World War, the Second World War, and the Korean War. In Korea, the brigade was known as 27th British Commonwealth Brigade due to the addition of Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and Indian units.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Capital Mechanized Infantry Division</span> Military unit of South Korea

The Capital Mechanized Infantry Division, also known as Fierce Tiger Division, is currently one of the six mechanized infantry divisions in the Republic of Korea Army. It is part of the VII Maneuver Corps, tasked with covering approaches to Seoul from North Korea and counterattack operations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Infantry Division (South Korea)</span> Military unit

The 1st Infantry Division is a military formation of the Republic of Korea Army's I Corps. The division was established on 1947 under the command of Colonel Kim Suk-won.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">III Corps (South Korea)</span> Military unit

The III Corps is a corps of the Republic of Korea Army that was formed on October 16, 1950. One of its commanders was Major General Yu Jae Hung.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Unsan</span> 1950 Korean War battle

The Battle of Unsan, also known as the Battle of Yunshan, was a series of engagements of the Korean War that took place from 25 October to 4 November 1950 near Unsan, North Pyongan province in present-day North Korea. As part of the People's Republic of China's First Phase Campaign, the People's Volunteer Army (PVA) made repeated attacks against the Republic of Korea Army (ROK) 1st Infantry Division near Unsan beginning on 25 October, in an attempt to take advancing United Nations Command (UNC) forces by surprise. In an encounter with the United States military, the PVA 39th Corps attacked the unprepared U.S. 8th Cavalry Regiment in Unsan on 1 November, resulting in one of the most devastating U.S. losses of the war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Ongjin Peninsula</span>

The Battle of Ongjin Peninsula was a series of battles that occurred in Ongjin Peninsula between 25 and 26 June 1950 and was a part of the Operation Pokpung and Operation Western Region that marked the beginning of the Korean War. On 25 June, the Korean People's Army Ground Force (KPAGF) 3rd Guard Brigade, reinforced with the 1st Infantry Regiment of the 6th Infantry Division, launched a surprise attack on the Republic of Korea Army (ROKA) 17th Infantry Regiment in Ongjin Peninsula, modern-day Ongjin and Kangryong. The battle ended on 26 June with a KPA victory, but many ROKs were able to escape from the peninsula.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of the Ch'ongch'on River</span> Part of the Korean War

The Battle of the Ch'ongch'on River, also known as the Battle of the Ch'ongch'on, was a decisive battle in the Korean War that took place from November 25 to December 2, 1950, along the Ch'ongch'on River Valley in the northwestern part of North Korea. In response to the successful Chinese First Phase Campaign against the United Nations (UN) forces, General Douglas MacArthur launched the Home-by-Christmas Offensive to expel the Chinese forces from Korea and to end the war. Anticipating this reaction, the Chinese People's Volunteer Army (PVA) Commander Peng Dehuai planned a counteroffensive, dubbed the "Second Phase Campaign", against the advancing UN forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Taegu</span> Engagement between United Nations Command (UN) and North Korean forces early in the Korean War

The Battle of Taegu was an engagement between United Nations Command (UN) and North Korean forces early in the Korean War, with fighting continuing from August 5–20, 1950 around the city of Taegu, South Korea. It was a part of the Battle of Pusan Perimeter, and was one of several large engagements fought simultaneously. The battle ended in a victory for the UN after their forces were able to drive off an offensive by Korean People's Army (KPA) divisions attempting to cross the Naktong River and assault the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Third Battle of Seoul</span> 1950–1951 battle in the Korean War

The Third Battle of Seoul was a battle of the Korean War, which took place from December 31, 1950, to January 7, 1951, around the South Korean capital of Seoul. It is also known as the Chinese New Year's Offensive, the January–Fourth Retreat or the Third Phase Campaign Western Sector.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of the Bowling Alley</span> UN forces defeated North Korean forces 1950

In the Battle of the Bowling Alley , United Nations Command (UN) forces defeated North Korean forces early in the Korean War near the city of Taegu, South Korea. The battle took place in a narrow valley, dubbed the "Bowling Alley", which was north of Taegu. It followed a week of fighting between the Korean People's Army (KPA) 13th Division and the Republic of Korea Army's (ROK) 1st Division along the latter's last defensible line in the hills north of the city. Reinforcements, including the US Army's 27th and 23rd Infantry Regiments were committed to bolster the ROK defenses. This battle and several others were smaller engagements of the Battle of Pusan Perimeter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Sangju (1950)</span> Engagement between the United Nations and North Korean forces

The Battle of Sangju was an engagement between the United Nations and North Korean forces, occurring on July 20–31, 1950, in the village of Sangju in southern South Korea, early in the Korean War. It ended in a victory for the North Korean forces after they were able to push troops of the United States and South Korea out of the area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Naktong Offensive</span> Military offensive during the Korean War

The Great Naktong Offensive was a North Korean military offensive against United Nations Command (UN) forces early in the Korean War, taking place from September 1–15, 1950. It was the North Korean Korean People's Army (KPA)'s unsuccessful final bid to break the Pusan Perimeter established by the UN forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Kyongju</span> Part of the Korean War

The Battle of Kyongju was an engagement between United Nations Command (UN) and North Korean forces early in the Korean War from August 31 to September 15, 1950, in the vicinity of Kyongju in South Korea. It was a part of the Battle of Pusan Perimeter, and was one of several large engagements fought simultaneously. The battle ended in a victory for the UN after large numbers of United States Army (US) and Republic of Korea Army (ROK) troops repelled a strong North Korean Korean People's Army (KPA) attack.

The Battle of Gorangpo was one of a series of coordinated attacks beginning on 25 June 1950 that marked the beginning of the Korean War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yu Jae-hung</span>


Yu Jae Hung was a Republic of Korea (ROK) military officer who commanded the ROK II Corps and ROK III Corps in the Korean War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Pyongyang (1950)</span> 1950 battle of the Korean War

The Battle of Pyongyang was one of the major battles of the United Nations' offensive during the Korean War. Following the Battle of Inchon, the UN forces re-captured Seoul, the capital of South Korea, and proceeded to advance into North Korea. Shortly after advancing, the American and South Korean forces faced the North Korean defenses near Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, on 17 October.

The Operation Western Region was a defensive operation conducted by the Republic of Korea Armed Forces (ROK) between 25 and 28 June 1950 against the Operation Pokpung of the Korean People's Army (KPA) during the beginning of the Korean War. On 25 June 1950, the KPA I Corps launched a surprising attack on the ROK forces located in the western region of the 38th Parallel. The ROK delayed the KPA advance and created conditions for the United Nations to participate early, but lost territories in Ongjin Peninsula and cities nearby Seoul.

References

  1. Korea Institute of Military History (1 January 2000). The Korean War. U of Nebraska Press. p. 170. ISBN   978-0-8032-7794-6 . Retrieved 25 August 2011.
  2. 1 2 "개성-문산지구 전투". Korean History Information Center. Archived from the original on 2011-10-01.