Synopsis C, Korea - Northwards to the Yalu, September-November, 1950

Page 1 S. KOREA - Synopsis C: Northwards to the Yalu, Sept.-Nov. 1950 STECORDS AND is COVERN CENS Pusan Perimeter The tide of battle began to shift inthe early part of September. Stabilized During the first week of September the troops defending the Pusan perimeter withstood the last large-scale North Korean offensive during this phase of the war. The enemy breached the 120-mile perimeter at a number of points, but strong counterattacks by UN troops forced the North Koreans to retreat, and by Sept. 13th the perimeter had been stabilized as the UN moved to the offensive. Inchon Landing On September 16th the Marines carried out an amphibious landing at Inchon, occupied Kimpo airfield about 10 miles from Inchon, and pushed toward Seoul. MacArthur reported that the whole operation proceeded on "schedule" and that the losses were "light." Con- currently, offensive operations were opened along the Pusan peri- meter line. On the 17th one column of Marines advanced from Inchon to the southern suburbs of Seoul. Meanwhile the thrust northward from the Pusan perimeter continued, being described by an 8th Army communique as a "general offensive" by four US and five ROK divisions. Seoul Recaptured The fall of Seoul was announced by MacArthur's headquarters on September 26th, although sources within the city reported that heavy fighting was still in progress. On September 28th Lt. Gen. Walker stated at his 8th Army headquarters that the North Korean Army was in complete rout and no longer existed as an organized force. He added: "We are engaged in pursuit with a view to anni- hilating the enemy before he reaches the 38thth Parallel. I feel we will be able to accomplish this in its entirety in so far as units are concerned that were disposed south of the Seoul-Taejon- Pusan highway. I believe everything south of this line, which is now secure, will be annihilated." Walker estimated that if the "mopping up" operations were successful, about three fourths of the North Korean Army would have been destroyed since June 25th. Enemy resistance ceased in Seoul on September 29th, with MacArthur and Rhee leading a victory parade into the city. By the 30th, organized enemy resistance had virtually ceased in South Korea. MacArthur Broad- Also on the 30th MacArthur broadcast the following surrender casts Surrender terms to the commander in chief of the North Korean forces: Terms "The early and total defeat and complete destruction of your armed forces and war making potential is now inevitable. In order that decisions of the UN may be carried out with a minimum of further loss of life and destruction of property, I, as the UN Commander in Chief, call upon you and the forces under your command, in whatever part of Korea situated, forthwith to lay down your arms and cease hostilities under such military supervision as I may direct and I call upon you at once to liberate all UN prisoners of war and civilian internees under your control and to make adequate provision for their protection, care, maintenance and immediate transportation to such places as I indicate.