Two Strategic Intelligence Mistakes in Korea, 1950

摘要

On 25 June 1950 the North Korean People's Army of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) swept across the 38th parallel and came close to uniting the Korean peninsula under the Communist regime of Kim Il-sung. American military and civilian leaders were caught by surprise, and only the intercession of poorly trained and equipped U.S. garrison troops from Japan managed to halt the North Korean advance at a high price in American dead and wounded. Four months later, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) intervened in massive numbers as American and U.N. forced pushed the North Koreans back across the 38th parallel. U.S. Military and civilian leaders were again caught by surprise, and another costly price was paid in American casualties.