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The Second Korean War, also called the Korean Front or the Battle for the Korean Peninsula, was a battle in the Asia-Pacific Front that occurred during World War III. Prior to the war, the two Koreas were technically still at a state of war as only an armistice ended the first Korean War on July 27, 1953. Before this, skirmishes occurred on the DMZ. The was reignited when the People's Republic of China declared war on the United States of America and their allies. North Korea took advantage of the situation and then promptly pushed through the DMZ, pushing the U.S. and South Korean forces back. The battle for control of the peninsula had began.
The Battle[]
North Korea invades[]
KPA soldiers celebrate the capture of Seoul.
Kim Il Sung, upon having heard of China's declaration of war with the United States, was overjoyed with the news. He thought the war with "imperialism" and "capitalism" had begun, and promptly ordered the KPA to push through the DMZ. U.S. and South Korean forces, already on constant alert since the War began in Europe, fought back with ferocity on the advancing KPA. However, the amount of KPA troops was massive, and the allies were pushed back away from the DMZ. U.S. Forces Korea then requested reinforcements, which came from nearby Japan. Meanwhile, Japan and South Korea placed their differences aside as Japanese deployed some of its Self Defense Forces to the Korean Peninsula. It was for the first time in nearly 40 years that Japanese troops were in the Korean Peninsula. Seoul unfortunately fell to the North Koreans and the Chinese after two weeks of the start of the war - due to its proximity to the DMZ. The South Korean government relocated to Busan which was known as the Second Pusan Perimeter.
Above the skies of the peninsula, U.S., South Korean, and Japanese fighter jets fought the KPAF and the PLAAF. The killcount for the allied forces was higher since the F-14, F-15, F-16, and F-4 was more advanced compared to MiG fighters and J-series of jets used by the North Koreans and the Chinese. U.S. gunships pounded the tanks of both the KPA and the PLA. Meanwhile, on the ground, the KPA attacked the allied forces through rushes of human waves. However, for their numbers, casualties was high because the allied troops made sure the North Koreans were paying for every inch. The U.S., meanwhile, asked assistance from their ANZUS allies: Australia and New Zealand. The two nations promptly intervened, while also deploying some of their naval forces to Hong Kong, Brunei, American Samoa, Guam, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Canada also joined, deploying parts of their navy and army to join the ground war in South Korea.
It appeared that despite the superior number of the communist forces, they were challenged by the technological superiority of the allied forces. To the east of Korea, the U.S. 7th Fleet engaged the PLAN East Sea Fleet, which resulted in the loss of majority of the fleet. The U.S. loses two destroyers against the PLAN. The rest of the East Sea Fleet retreated back to Dalian and Shanghai. In the Sea of Japan, the U.S., the ROK Navy and Japan Maritime Self Defense Force engaged a joint Soviet-Chinese Navy, resulting in an equal loss of both sides. The Japanese also sunk North Korean naval ships through the use of submarines. In a bid of desperation, the Soviet Union deployed their Spetsnaz to the Korean peninsula. These troops inflicted heavy losses to the allied forces. However, they were soon challenged by the U.S. Marines, the U.S. Navy SEALs, Australian SAS and the South Korean Special forces. The allies were then refreshed with an arrival of 10,000 U.S. Marines from the 3rd MEU.
Turning the tide[]
Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 bombing KPA Armor and Infantry.
The arrival of Marine reinforcements turned the tide of the war on the favor of the allies. Canadian reinforcements soon joined in with the arrival of the Royal Canadian Dragoons and mechanized infantry from Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. The allies were then pushing into Seoul, which fell earlier to the war. In a span of month and a week, Seoul was liberated; Incheon was liberated in the next two weeks. From there, the Allies crossed the DMZ. However, the North Koreans themselves dug in while anticipating the Allies. They placed several mines and booby traps to be used as revenge weapons. This hindered the allied forces, as several tanks, APCs, and the troops were lost but this only delayed the inevitable. Kim Il Sung then ordered its reserve components of the Korean People's Air Force to lay waste to the "imperialists." North Korean Mi-24 Hinds were then deployed to combat allied armor, which in turn destroyed or crippled. 5 M1 Tanks, 10 M60 Pattons, 12 M2 Bradleys, 6 Canadian LAVs, 16 SDF Type 74 Tanks and 20 South Korean K1 Tanks. The Allies would then temporarily pull back their armored forces, and let anti-aircraft infantry, anti-aircraft vehicles, and fighter jets hunt down these Mi-24 hinds. South Korean soldiers were able to shoot down 6 Mi-24 Hinds with MANPADS and anti-aircraft vehicles. The rest of the Hinds were hunted down by Allied jets. The remaining Hinds retreated back to North Korea. Subsequently, the allies captured a North Korean base just across the DMZ and captured several weapons to turn against the communists. The allies, now with their captured North Korean tanks, came up with the plan to confuse the Chinese forces and North Korea in their march to Pyongyang. Meanwhile, Kim Il Sung was rallying the Korean People's Army to fight the "U.S. and their imperialists puppets" to the last man, even though it would mean the annihilation of Pyongyang.
The Battle of Pyongyang[]
House-to-house fighting in Pyongyang.
In Pyongyang defenders set up everything then can to halt the allies. Most of the KPA soldiers and officers who still had reasonable minds knew Pyongyang would eventually fall to the allies. The fanatical KPA soldiers in meantime placed several defenses such as mines, barb wires, anti-tank barricades, booby traps and whatever object can be used to stem the Allied advance. However, America and her allies already used the "use their own weapons against them" tactic.
The Allies capture Pyongyang.
After a week, North Korean soldiers were expecting seeing American tanks. Instead they found a peculiar sight: a column of North Korean T-62 and T-72 tanks. Thinking they were retreating tanks, the KPA were soon surprised when these tanks opened fire on them, which they later learned the hard way that these were captured by the allies and used against them. In the confusion, North Korean troops destroyed some of their tanks and Chinese tanks thinking they were allies. Using this as an advantage, Allied troops and special forces quickly came storming in the city; quickly dispatching the confused Chinese and North Koreans. It was at this time that the real Allied armored allied vehicles and gunships came crashing down on the cities. The disorganized Chinese and North Koreans soon found themselves in the defensive as a fierce house-to-house fighting began. In just a week, Kim Il-Sung found his "worker's paradise" quickly falling to the so called "imperialists" but he rallied upon the North Koreans to continue fighting. However, it was already obvious at this point that Pyongyang would be captured in a few days time. Kim Il Sung and his generals then took refuge in bunker to oversee the last of the KPA fight the allies. However, CIA Special Activities Division tracked his location and reported it to the allies. The decision to breach the bunker was given to the Republic of Korea, who were given the kill capture order to Kim Il Sung. A day later, the ROK Army and Special Forces breached the bunker, dispatching its defenders and executing Kim Il Sung's trusted generals. Kim Il Sung was preparing to kill himself but was captured South Korean Special Forces, who proceeded to hit him with the but of their rifles and beat him. They planned to publicly execute him in front of the North Korean public to prove that Kim was not a "god" or so he claimed. Another week later, Pyongyang was finally captured by the Allies, and Taekukgi flew over the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun. The allies had to deal with fanatical KPA who posed a mere annoyance rather than actual guerrilla combat itself. These would eventually die down on the following weeks that came. Over 50,000 KPA and PLA soldiers were captured as POWs following the Fall of Pyongyang.
Aftermath[]
ROK soldiers during the Allied military occupation of North Korea.
With the capture of Pyongyang, the allies then placed the city and the entire North Korea under military occupation to maintain order and reconstruction. The not-so-diehard generals of Kim Il Sung were spared as these were placed under military captivity so they would be representatives during the ceasefire/peace/unification treaty of the peninsula and the Third World War as well. Meanwhile, South Korean officials then appeared in the captured city, finally informing the North Korean populace that for the past 50 years, their life was a lie. This enraged the North Korean populace who targeted their anger towards the Kim Dynasty, something the CIA, the Korean CIA, and MI6 wanted to happen for a long time.
Map of Reunified Korea.
Kim Il Sung was publicly executed by hanging following the end of the war after being charged and found guilty for crimes against humanity. The Korean Peninsula was reunified two years later, under the South Korean government. The reunified peninsula was know simply known as the Republic of Korea. For the first time, former North Korean citizens were able to feel and taste the fruits of capitalism and democracy. Additionally, majority of the families from both Koreas that were separated since the 1950-53 Korean War were able to reunite. The reunification of the Korea enabled South Korea to access the minerals and natural resources of North Korea. As for the Korean People's Army, majority of the POWs went in to enlist in the newly reformed Republic of Korea Armed Forces, in which the weapons and equipment of the KPA would be integrated to the ROK military.
The effects of this war also brought a form of rapprochement to Japan, of which majority of the South Korean populace thanked for intervening against the North Koreans. Over the course of years, Japan would formally apologize for it's atrocities during the Occupation of the Korean Peninsula (1910-1945), World War II, and the comfort women - further bringing the two nations closer by 21st century. The United States still maintains a military presence in the peninsula, although this is downsizing since there is little need to do so.
Gallery[]
This section shows some photos of the Second Korean War.
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