U.S. Defense of Pusan and Landing At Inchon
Battle of Pusan Perimeter: August 4th - September 18th 1950
Battle of Inchon: September 15th - September 19th 1950
The Battle of Pusan Perimeter was one of the first major engagements of the Korean War. American soldiers stationed in Japan were the first to be brought to the frontlines of the Korean War. The UN troops needed to keep a foothold in Korea after being pushed back by the North Korean forces. UN troops rallied around 140,000 troops to try to repel the North Korean forces that were around 98,000 strong. For six weeks UN troops, which was mainly Republic of Korea soldiers and American soldiers and British soldiers, fought off the North Korean forces and were not pushed back farther into the Pusan Perimeter. North Korean troops were weakened after weeks of supply losses and casualties. UN troops used the port of Pusan to get more supplies into the perimeter to aid the UN soldiers. The Battle of Inchon would be the battle that would push back the North Korean forces in this early stage of the war. United States Marines landed in Inchon with the hopes of recapturing the city of Seoul and severing the North Korean supply lines. Inchon was 25 miles from Seoul and this area of land was considered to be too risky to land on, but Supreme Commander MacArthur insisted. After this landing the American-led forces were able to sever the North Korean supply lines and recapture Seoul, which was under North Korean control since June of that year. This was a major turning point in the Korean War and pushed the North Korean forces back off of the Pusan Perimeter and further north.
Battle of Pusan Perimeter: August 4th - September 18th 1950
Battle of Inchon: September 15th - September 19th 1950
The Battle of Pusan Perimeter was one of the first major engagements of the Korean War. American soldiers stationed in Japan were the first to be brought to the frontlines of the Korean War. The UN troops needed to keep a foothold in Korea after being pushed back by the North Korean forces. UN troops rallied around 140,000 troops to try to repel the North Korean forces that were around 98,000 strong. For six weeks UN troops, which was mainly Republic of Korea soldiers and American soldiers and British soldiers, fought off the North Korean forces and were not pushed back farther into the Pusan Perimeter. North Korean troops were weakened after weeks of supply losses and casualties. UN troops used the port of Pusan to get more supplies into the perimeter to aid the UN soldiers. The Battle of Inchon would be the battle that would push back the North Korean forces in this early stage of the war. United States Marines landed in Inchon with the hopes of recapturing the city of Seoul and severing the North Korean supply lines. Inchon was 25 miles from Seoul and this area of land was considered to be too risky to land on, but Supreme Commander MacArthur insisted. After this landing the American-led forces were able to sever the North Korean supply lines and recapture Seoul, which was under North Korean control since June of that year. This was a major turning point in the Korean War and pushed the North Korean forces back off of the Pusan Perimeter and further north.