Battle of Kaesong–Munsan explained

Conflict:Battle of Kaesong–Munsan–Bongilcheon
Partof:the Korean War
Operation Pokpung (North Korea)
Operation Western Region (South Korea)
Date:25–28 June 1950
Place:Yonan, Kaesong, Munsan, Bongilcheon
Result:KPA victory
Successful ROK withdrawal
Commander1:
  • Choe Kwang
    (1st Infantry Division)
  • Kim Yang-chun
    (2nd Infantry Regiment)
  • Lee Chang-kwon
    (3rd Infantry Regiment)
  • Hwang Sok
    (14th Infantry Regiment)
  • Hyon Hak-pong
    (div artillery regiment)
  • Pang Ho-san
    (6th Infantry Division)
  • Han Il-rae
    (13th Infantry Regiment)
  • Cho Kwan
    (15th Infantry Regiment)
  • Lee Min
    (div artillery regiment)
  • Choe Yul-sok
    (203rd Armored Regiment)
  • Choe Hyon
    (3rd 38-Guard Brigade)
Commander2:
  • Paik Sun-yup
    (1st Infantry Division)
  • Choe Gyeong-rok
    (11th Infantry Regiment)
  • Jeon Seong-ho
    (12th Infantry Regiment)
  • Kim Jeom-gon
    (12th Infantry Regiment)
  • Kim Ik-ryeol
    (13th Infantry Regiment)
  • Noh Jae-hyeon
    (6th Artillery Battalion)
  • Choe Yeong-hui
    (15th Infantry Regiment)
  • Yu Hae-jun
    (Seoul Special Regiment)
Strength1:
  • 1st Infantry Division
  • 6th Infantry Division
    (-1 regiment)
  • 203rd Armored Regiment
  • 3rd 38-Guard Brigade
    (-5 battalions)
Strength2:
  • 1st Infantry Division
  • 15th Infantry Regiment
  • Seoul Special Regiment

The Battle of Kaesong–Munsan–Bongilcheon (Hangul: Korean: 개성–문산–봉일천 전투; Hanja: Korean: 開城–汶山–奉日川 戰鬪) was a series of battles that occurred along the western region of the 38th parallel between 25 and 28 June 1950, and it was a part of the Operation Pokpoong (North Korea) and Operation Western Region (South Korea) that marked the beginning of the Korean War. On 25 June, the 1st Infantry and the 6th Infantry Division, supported by the 203rd Armored Regiment and the 3rd 38-Guard Brigade, of the Korean People's Army Ground Force (KPAGF) I Corps launched a surprise supporting attack on the Republic of Korea Army (ROKA) 1st Infantry Division to surround Seoul from the west while the KPA I Corps main attack concurred in the west central region of the 38th parallel defended by the ROK 7th Infantry Division.[1] [2]

Prelude

North Korea

Korean People's Army Ground Force[1]

South Korea

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.[3]

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.[3]

Republic of Korea Army[1]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Yang . Yeong-jo . Nam . Jeong-ok . Son . Gyu-seok . Bak . Dong-chan . 6.25 전쟁사 2 (The History of the Korean War Book 2) . Institute for Military History, MND . Korean . Institute for Military History, Ministry of National Defense, Republic of Korea . 2005-12-12 . 1739-2705.
  2. Book: Korea Institute of Military History. The Korean War. 25 August 2011. 1 January 2000. U of Nebraska Press. 978-0-8032-7794-6. 170.
  3. Web site: 개성-문산지구 전투 . Korean History Information Center . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111001033111/http://ki.warmemo.co.kr:8101/warmemo/jsp/data/view.jsp?type=1&pkey=625CB00001 . 2011-10-01 .