Changes

With the situation in the south finally stabilized, in September, 70,000 UN troops under [[Douglas MacArthur|General MacArthur]], with massive support, landed at [[Inchon]], near [[Seoul]], surprising the exhausted North Koreans. The landings were an extremely risky operation; if any significant resistance had been encountered, the landing craft would probably have been stranded by the extreme [[tide]]s of the landing zone, leaving the forces landed vulnerable to complete annihilation. However, they were lucky and only two days after the capture of Seoul from the 20,000 North Korean defenders was announced, it was actually achieved.

With the situation in the south finally stabilized, in September, 70,000 UN troops under [[Douglas MacArthur|General MacArthur]], with massive support, landed at [[Inchon]], near [[Seoul]], surprising the exhausted North Koreans. The landings were an extremely risky operation; if any significant resistance had been encountered, the landing craft would probably have been stranded by the extreme [[tide]]s of the landing zone, leaving the forces landed vulnerable to complete annihilation. However, they were lucky and only two days after the capture of Seoul from the 20,000 North Korean defenders was announced, it was actually achieved.

=== China invades ===

=== China attacks ===

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.<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.<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>

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"/>

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. 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. An American conquest of North Korea would put U.S. soldiers within 50 miles of the Russian naval base at Vladivostok. Stalin approved Chinese intervention on October 1.<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"/>

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"/>

American forces crossed the 38th parallel on October 7, intent upon destroying North Korean forces. They captured the capital [[Pyongyang]] in mid-October. The first Chinese counterattack was at Unsan on October 25. China broke off this offensive on November 6. By the time UN forces had reached the Yalu on November 21, China had sent hundreds of thousands of troops south from Manchuria, supported by Russian built [[MiG-15]] fighters that were superior to any UN aircraft then in-country. The UN offensive was halted and by December UN forces were in retreat. In January the Chinese forces captured Seoul.

American forces crossed the 38th parallel on October 7, intent upon destroying North Korean forces. They captured the capital [[Pyongyang]] in mid-October. The first Chinese counterattack was at Unsan on October 25. China broke off this offensive on November 6. By the time UN forces had reached the Yalu on November 21, China had sent hundreds of thousands of troops south from Manchuria, supported by Russian built [[MiG-15]] fighters that were superior to any UN aircraft then in-country. The UN offensive was halted and by December UN forces were in retreat. In January the Chinese forces captured Seoul.