Changes

=== China invades ===

=== China invades ===

Chinese leader Mao Zedong made up his mind to invade Korea in early May 1949 during a trip to Moscow. This was soon after his communist army had taken Nanjing, then the capital of China. The Chinese Civil War was winding down, leaving Mao in command of a huge victorious army. He was wanted to fight Americans in Korea so that Stalin would continue to provide him with weapons and money. Mao focused on the KMT in southern China until October 1949. His next target was the the French in northern Vietnam. It wasn't until late August 1950 that he began to move his forces north toward Korea.<ref name="Chang">Chang, Jung; Halliday, Jon. Mao: ''The Unknown Story.'' Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. "Why Mao and Stalin Started the Korean War." Chang had access to the Russian archive, which is ignored by most writers on this subject.</ref>

Chinese leader Mao Zedong had wanted to invade Korea since May 1949. After capturing Nanjing, then the capital of China, Mao was the head a huge victorious army. But he was dependent on money and weapons from Russia. War with America would allow Russian funding to continue.

 

Until October, Mao was distracted by the KMT in southern China. His next target was the French in northern Vietnam. In late August 1950, he began to move forces north toward Korea.<ref name="Chang">Chang, Jung; Halliday, Jon. Mao: ''The Unknown Story.'' Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. "Why Mao and Stalin Started the Korean War." Chang had access to the Russian archive, which is ignored by most writers on this subject.</ref>

Kim and Stalin were reluctant to accept Chinese aid at this time. U.S. forces landed at Inchon near Seoul on September 15, 1950 and the Joint Chiefs of Staff authorized operations north of 38th parallel on September 29. Stalin approved Chinese intervention on October 1. There was an emergency meeting of the Chinese leadership at Zhongnanhai in Beijing from October 2-6. Military intervention was approved by "one and a half men," as Mao put it. The "half" was Zhou Enlai. The other party leaders, including Lin Biao were opposed. The decision was always Mao's to make as he had exercised dictatorial authority since 1943. Lin Biao had been Mao's first choice for commander. When he refused, General Peng Dehuai was appointed instead.<ref name="Chang"/>

Kim and Stalin were reluctant to accept Chinese aid at this time. U.S. forces landed at Inchon near Seoul on September 15, 1950 and the Joint Chiefs of Staff authorized operations north of 38th parallel on September 29. Stalin approved Chinese intervention on October 1. There was an emergency meeting of the Chinese leadership at Zhongnanhai in Beijing from October 2-6. Military intervention was approved by "one and a half men," as Mao put it. The "half" was Zhou Enlai. The other party leaders, including Lin Biao were opposed. The decision was always Mao's to make as he had exercised dictatorial authority since 1943. Lin Biao had been Mao's first choice for commander. When he refused, General Peng Dehuai was appointed instead.<ref name="Chang"/>