Inchon landing
While the main force of the Korean People's Army was concentrated on the Naktong River front, UN forces overcame the handicap of extreme tidal ranges to carry out a successful amphibious landing, swiftly recapturing Seoul and cutting off the KPA's line of retreat.
Belligerents
UN forces (mainly US and South Korean)
- Commanders
- Douglas MacArthur
- Strength
- About 70,000 landing troops
Korean People's Army
- Commanders
- Choe Yong-gon
- Strength
- Limited garrisons at Inchon and Seoul
Background
After the Korean War broke out, the KPA drove south and squeezed South Korean and US forces into a small defensive perimeter around Pusan. Overriding objections, MacArthur advocated an amphibious landing at Inchon on the west coast of the Korean Peninsula to strike at the enemy's rear.
Course of the battle
- Covert planningResisting doubts from within, MacArthur insisted on exploiting Inchon's narrow window of extreme tides for a surprise landing.
- Amphibious assaultUN forces forced their way ashore at high tide, quickly seizing the beachhead and the key point of Wolmido.
- Seoul recapturedThe landing force then pushed inland, recapturing Seoul within days and cutting the supply and retreat routes of the KPA forces in the south.
Outcome at a glance
| Date | 1950 |
|---|---|
| Place | Inchon (now South Korea) |
| Result | While the main force of the Korean People's Army was concentrated on the Naktong River front, UN forces overcame the handicap of extreme tidal ranges to carry out a successful amphibious landing, swiftly recapturing Seoul and cutting off the KPA's line of retreat. |
| Winner | UN forces (mainly US and South Korean) |
| Casualties | The Korean People's Army suffered several thousand killed, wounded and captured, while UN casualties were comparatively light. |
| Territorial change | Within weeks the course of the war was completely reversed, as UN forces went from the Pusan Perimeter to an advance north across the 38th parallel. |
Impact
The Inchon landing is one of the riskiest yet most successful amphibious flanking operations in military history. It completely reversed the early course of the Korean War, but the subsequent UN advance north prompted China to enter the war.
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