Part:-1
Introduction to The Korean War
North Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea; DPRK) and South Korea (Republic of Korea; ROK) and its allies battled each other in the Korean War, which lasted from June 25, 1950, to July 27, 1953, on the Korean Peninsula. The Soviet Union and the People’s Republic of China backed North Korea, while the United States-led United Nations Command (UNC) backed South Korea. An armistice stopped hostilities in 1953 without a treaty being signed.
With intentions for a future independent state, the US and the Soviet Union split Korea, a 35-year-old Japanese colony, into two occupation zones along the 38th parallel following the end of World War II in 1945. The zones established their own administrations in 1948 as a result of political disputes and pressure from their supporters.
Kim Il Sung commanded the DPRK in Pyongyang, while Syngman Rhee led the ROK in Seoul. Both claimed to be the only legal government in all of Korea and fought a few small-scale conflicts. The Korean People’s Army (KPA), armed and trained by the Soviet Union, invaded the south on June 25, 1950.
The UN Security Council condemned the attack and advised nations to fight the invasion without the Soviet Union present. The United States provided almost 90% of the armed soldiers in the 21-nation United Nations army.
Only the Pusan Perimeter remained after the Republic of Korea Army (ROKA) and its allies were almost routed after two months. However, KPA soldiers and supply routes were cut off when UN forces arrived at Inchon in September 1950. In October 1950, they invaded North Korea and moved near China’s frontier, the Yalu River.
The Chinese People’s Volunteer Army (PVA) crossed the Yalu and joined the conflict on October 19, 1950. After the PVA launched its first and second offensives, UN soldiers withdrew from North Korea in December. After seizing Seoul once more in January 1951, Communist troops lost it two months later.
They were driven back to the 38th parallel after the Chinese spring attack failed, and the last two years of the conflict became an attrition struggle.
The Korean Armistice Agreement, which established the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and permitted the exchange of detainees, put an end to the fighting on July 27, 1953. Millions of people were displaced by the battle, which also claimed 3 million lives and had a higher percentage of civilian deaths than either World War II or the Vietnam War.
The murder of suspected communists by Seoul and the starvation and torture of POWs by North Korea are examples of alleged war crimes. Almost all of Korea’s main cities were devastated, and North Korea became one of the most frequently bombarded nations in history. The war remained a frozen conflict as no peace treaty was ever signed.
Names
Because it started on June 25, the conflict is often known in South Korea as the “625 War” (6·25 전쟁; 六二五戰爭), the “625 Upheaval” (6·25 동란; 六二五動亂; yugio dongnan), or just “625”.
The conflict is officially known in North Korea as the “Chosŏn [Korean] War” (조선전쟁; Chosŏn chŏnjaeng) or the Fatherland Liberation War (Choguk haebang chŏnjaeng).
Although the term “Chosŏn War” (Chinese: 朝鮮戰爭; pinyin: CháoxiƎn Zhànzhēng) is occasionally used informally, the portion of the war that followed the People’s Volunteer Army’s intervention in mainland China is commonly and officially known as the “Resisting America and Assisting Korea War” (抗美援朝战争; pinyin: Kàngměi Yuáncháo Zhànzhēng). In Taiwan (Republic of China), Hong Kong, and Macau, the phrase “Hán (Korean) War” (Chinese: 韓戰; pinyin: Hán Zhàn) is most frequently used.
Since the United States never technically declared war on its adversaries and the operation was carried out under UN auspices, President Harry S. Truman first referred to the war in the US as a “police action”. Because of the lack of public attention it received during and after the conflict, compared to the global scope of World War II and the ensuing anxiety of the Vietnam War, it has been referred to as “The Forgotten War” or “The Unknown War” in the English-speaking world.
Background
Japanese imperial rule from 1910 to 1945
During the First Sino-Japanese War (1894–95), Imperial Japan reduced China’s power over Korea, bringing to the brief Korean Empire. Japan made the Korean Empire its protectorate with the Eulsa Treaty in 1905 and annexed it with the Japan–Korea Treaty in 1910, ten years after conquering Imperial Russia in the Russo-Japanese War. After the fall of the Korean Empire, Japan governed Korea directly from 1910 until 1945.
A large number of Korean nationalists left the nation. Nationalist China established the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in 1919. It had a tense relationship with its founding president, Syngman Rhee, who was located in the US, failed to bring the nationalist organizations together, and failed to gain international recognition. Korean communists spearheaded the fight against the Japanese both inside and externally from 1919 until 1925 and beyond.
The communist People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the nationalist National Revolutionary Army (NRA) assisted in organizing Korean refugees in China against the Japanese forces, who had already controlled areas of the country. Yi Pom-Sok led the Nationalist-supported Koreans in the 1941–1945 Burma war.
In Korea and Manchuria, the communists battled the Japanese under the leadership of Kim Il Sung, among others. China, the United Kingdom, and the United States agreed that “in due course, Korea shall become free and independent” during the Cairo Conference in 1943.
Korea split between 1945 and 1949
The Soviet Union pledged to join its allies in the Pacific War within three months of the European triumph at the Yalta Conference in February 1945 and the Tehran Conference in 1943. On May 8, 1945, Germany formally submitted, and two days after Hiroshima was bombed with atomic weapons, on August 8, 1945, the USSR declared war on Japan and invaded Manchuria. The Red Army had started to occupy Korea’s north by August 10.
US Colonels Dean Rusk and Charles H. Bonesteel III were tasked with dividing Korea into Soviet and US occupation zones on August 10 in Washington. They suggested the 38th parallel as the boundary. In response to the Japanese surrender on August 15, this was included in US General Order No. 1.
“Even though it was further north than could be realistically reached by U. S. [sic] forces in the event of Soviet disagreement… we felt it important to include the capital of Korea in the area of responsibility of American troops,” Rusk said as he explained the selection of the 38th parallel.
He stated that he was “faced with the scarcity of U.S. forces immediately available and time and space factors which would make it difficult to reach very far north before Soviet troops could enter the area”.
The US questioned if the Soviets would concur, as Rusk’s remarks suggest. However, Joseph Stalin stuck to his cooperative wartime strategy, and on August 16 the Red Army stopped for three weeks at the 38th parallel to wait for US forces to arrive.
Proclamation No. 1, which established English as the official language during military authority and declared US military control over Korea south of the 38th parallel, was delivered to the Korean people by General Douglas MacArthur on September 7, 1945.
To receive the Japanese surrender south of the 38th parallel, US Lieutenant General John R. Hodge traveled to Incheon on September 8. As commander of the United States Army Military Government in Korea (USAMGIK 1945–48), Hodge was appointed as military governor and had direct authority over South Korea.
As decided at the Moscow Conference, Korea was managed by a US-Soviet Union Joint Commission in December 1945 with the goal of granting independence following a trusteeship of five years. Riots started because Koreans did not like waiting five years for independence.
The USAMGIK suppressed them by outlawing the PRK Revolutionary Government and People’s Committees on December 12 and strikes on December 8. The USAMGIK imposed martial law in response to more public turmoil.
The United States administration chose [when?] to stage an election under UN auspices to establish an independent Korea, citing the Joint Commission’s failure to make progress. Many South Korean officials boycotted it, while the Soviet government and Korean communists refused to cooperate on the grounds that it would not be fair.
In May 1948, South Korea held its general election. On July 17, the resulting South Korean government enacted a national political constitution, and on July 20, Syngman Rhee was chosen president. On August 15, 1948, the Republic of Korea (South Korea) was founded.
The Soviets consented to the installation of a communist regime headed by Kim Il Sung in the Soviet-Korean Zone of Occupation. August 1948 saw the holding of the North Korean legislative elections. The US withdrew its soldiers in 1949, while the Soviet Union did the same in 1948.
Civil War in China (1945–1949)
After the war with Japan ended, the Chinese Civil War kicked back into high gear, pitting the Communists against the Nationalist-led government. The Communists were focused on gaining ground in Manchuria, and they received significant help from North Korea, which provided both supplies and troops.
According to Chinese sources, North Korea donated a massive amount of resources, including 2,000 railway cars filled with essential supplies. Additionally, thousands of Koreans joined the Chinese People’s Liberation Army during the conflict. North Korea also offered a safe haven for non-combatants and helped maintain communication with other parts of China.
With the creation of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 1949, North Korean soldiers’ contributions to the Chinese Communist triumph were commemorated. China returned between 50,000 and 70,000 Korean veterans who had fought in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) with their weapons as a token of gratitude. Later on, these veterans were instrumental in the initial invasion of South Korea. China further strengthened their partnership during that critical time by promising to back North Korea in the case of war with South Korea.
South Korea’s Communist Insurrection (1948–1950)
An insurrection supported by North Korea had emerged in the southern portion of the peninsula by 1948. The Koreas’ unofficial border conflict, which resulted in division-level clashes and thousands of casualties on both sides, made this worse. Nearly all of the ROK’s training and attention was directed toward counterinsurgency rather than traditional combat.
A force of several hundred American officers provided them with equipment and advice, and they were effective in assisting the ROKA in defeating insurgents and surviving against North Korean military (Korean People’s Army, or KPA) forces along the 38th parallel. The border conflicts and insurgency battle claimed the lives of almost 8,000 South Korean police officers and troops.
In April 1948, Jeju Island saw the first socialist insurrection. The rebels backed the northern administration even though North Korea was not actively involved. A sad battle resulted from the strong measures taken by the South Korean government in its war against the South Korean Labor Party. Numerous innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire were among the more than 30,000 persons who died.
The Yeosu-Suncheon uprising started at the same time. Attacking conservative families and raising red flags, thousands of troops deserted. Thousands more were killed as a result of the government’s violent response to this rebellion.
Both uprisings had been brutally put down by May 1949.
The fighting flared up again in the spring of 1949. Guerrillas, supported by soldiers who had switched sides and agents from North Korea, intensified their attacks in the mountainous regions.
By the end of 1949, the South Korean army was locked in a fierce battle with the People’s Guerrilla Units. These units, organized and armed by North Korea, were backed by thousands of North Korean commandos who had sneaked across the border. In September, they launched a major offensive to weaken the South Korean government and pave the way for a full-scale invasion by the North Korean army. However, this attack failed.
Despite the setback, the guerrillas managed to hold their ground in the mountainous regions of North Gyeongsang and Gangwon provinces, near the border with North Korea.
While the guerrilla war raged on, the South Korean and North Korean armies clashed in larger battles along the border, starting in May 1949.
One significant incident occurred on August 4, 1949. A large number of North Korean soldiers attacked South Korean troops occupying territory north of the 38th parallel. The South Korean 2nd and 18th Infantry Regiments fought back fiercely at Kuksa-bong, successfully repelling the North Korean assault. The North Korean troops were forced to retreat.
As 1950 began, the number of border clashes between the two Koreas had significantly decreased.
The South Korean government continued its efforts to suppress the insurgency within its own borders. Through relentless military operations and the harsh winter conditions, the guerrillas were forced to abandon their safe havens and suffered significant losses.
In response, North Korea sent additional troops to reinforce the insurgents and establish new guerrilla units. By early 1950, there were around 3,000 North Korean infiltrators operating in 12 units within South Korea. However, the South Korean army effectively countered these efforts, eliminating or dispersing all of these units.
In October 1949, the South Korean army launched a major offensive against the guerrillas in South Cholla and Taegu. By March 1950, they claimed to have killed or captured over 5,600 guerrillas and seized a large number of weapons. This decisive blow crippled the insurgency.
North Korea, desperate to keep the uprising alive, sent battalion-sized units of infiltrators led by Kim Sang-ho and Kim Moo-hyon. However, these units suffered heavy losses at the hands of the South Korean army. The first battalion was almost completely wiped out by the 8th Division, while the second battalion was annihilated in a carefully planned attack by the 6th Division.
By the spring of 1950, the guerrilla war had largely ended, and the border between the two Koreas was relatively quiet.
War Prelude (1950)
By the end of 1949, the combined efforts of the South Korean and US militaries had significantly weakened the indigenous communist guerrilla forces in South Korea, reducing their numbers from 5,000 to around 1,000.
Despite this, Kim Il-sung, the leader of North Korea, remained convinced that widespread uprisings had weakened the South Korean military and that a North Korean invasion would be met with popular support from the South Korean people. In March 1949, Kim began lobbying Stalin for support for an invasion, traveling to Moscow to personally persuade him.
Initially, Stalin was hesitant to support a war in Korea. The Chinese Civil War was still ongoing, and US forces were present in South Korea. However, by the spring of 1950, Stalin’s assessment of the situation had changed. The Chinese Communist Party had achieved victory under Mao Zedong, US forces had withdrawn from South Korea, and the Soviet Union had successfully detonated its first nuclear bomb, breaking the US nuclear monopoly.
Stalin believed that the US would be less likely to intervene in Korea, given its lack of strategic importance and the recent experience in China. Furthermore, the Soviet Union had managed to decipher US diplomatic communications, reinforcing Stalin’s belief that the US would not risk a nuclear confrontation over Korea.
Based on these developments, Stalin adopted a more aggressive stance in Asia. This included a commitment to provide economic and military aid to China through the Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship, Alliance, and Mutual Assistance.
In April 1950, Stalin finally gave Kim Il-sung the green light to attack South Korea. However, he imposed a condition: Mao Zedong had to agree to send reinforcements if necessary. This marked the realization of Kim’s long-held dream of a unified Korea.
It’s important to note that Stalin made it clear that Soviet forces would not directly engage in combat, thus avoiding a direct confrontation with the United States.
The meeting between Kim Il-sung and Mao Zedong in May 1950 has been subject to various historical interpretations.
Some historians, like Barbara Barnouin and Yu Changgeng, argue that Mao agreed to support Kim despite concerns about potential US intervention, driven by China’s urgent need for Soviet economic and military aid.
On the other hand, Kathryn Weathersby, citing Soviet documents, claims that Kim secured Mao’s support, which accelerated his war preparations.
Chen Jian contends that Mao did not actively oppose Kim’s plans and that Kim had reasons to inform Stalin of Mao’s support.
More recent scholarship, as presented by Zhao Suisheng, suggests that Mao was initially hesitant about Kim’s war proposal and sought verification from Stalin. Stalin’s approval, conveyed through a telegram, ultimately led Mao to accept the decision to unify Korea, albeit with caution regarding potential US intervention.
Soviet military advisors, experienced in World War II, were sent to North Korea as the Soviet Advisory Group. By May 1950, they had finalized the invasion plan, which began with a small skirmish on the Ongjin Peninsula on the west coast of Korea. This would then be followed by a full-scale North Korean invasion aimed at capturing Seoul and encircling and destroying the South Korean army. The final stage would involve eliminating any remaining South Korean government forces and seizing control of the rest of South Korea, including its ports.
On June 7, 1950, Kim Il-sung proposed a Korea-wide election to be held between August 5th and 8th, followed by a consultative conference in Haeju on June 15th and 17th. As a peace gesture, North Korea sent three diplomats to South Korea on June 11th, but South Korean President Syngman Rhee rejected this overture.
On June 21st, Kim revised the invasion plan to include a full-scale attack across the 38th parallel, rather than the limited operation on the Ongjin Peninsula. This decision was influenced by concerns that South Korean intelligence had uncovered the invasion plans and that South Korean forces were bolstering their defenses. Stalin approved this revised plan.
While these preparations were taking place in North Korea, there were frequent clashes along the 38th parallel, particularly in the Kaesong and Ongjin regions. Many of these incidents were initiated by the South Korean side.
The South Korean army was being trained by the US Korean Military Advisory Group (KMAG). General William Lynn Roberts, the commander of KMAG, expressed extreme confidence in the South Korean military, claiming that any North Korean invasion would be nothing more than “target practice.”
Similarly, South Korean President Syngman Rhee repeatedly voiced his ambition to conquer North Korea, even during a visit by US diplomat John Foster Dulles on June 18th.
While some South Korean and US intelligence officers anticipated a potential attack, similar predictions had been made in the past without any action being taken. The Central Intelligence Agency, while noting the movement of North Korean troops towards the border, interpreted this as a defensive measure and concluded that an invasion was unlikely.
Furthermore, UN observers who inspected the border on June 23rd did not detect any signs of an impending war.
Comparison of forces
The Chinese were heavily involved in the Korean War from the very beginning, building on their previous collaboration with the Korean communists during the Chinese Civil War. Throughout 1949 and 1950, the Soviet Union continued to provide military aid to North Korea. After the Communist victory in the Chinese Civil War, ethnic Korean units from the People’s Liberation Army were sent to North Korea to aid in the war effort.
In the fall of 1949, two Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) divisions, primarily composed of ethnic Korean soldiers, entered North Korea. These were the 164th and 166th divisions. Smaller PLA units continued to arrive throughout the rest of 1949.
The reinforcement of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) with experienced PLA veterans continued into 1950. The 156th Division and several other units from the former Fourth Field Army arrived in February. The PLA 156th Division was reorganized as the KPA 7th Division.
By mid-1950, between 50,000 and 70,000 former PLA troops had joined the KPA, significantly bolstering its strength. Combined with advanced weaponry like tanks, artillery, and aircraft supplied by the Soviet Union, and rigorous training, the KPA gained a significant military advantage over the South Korean army, which was primarily armed with small arms and lacked heavy weaponry.
Several high-ranking North Korean generals, such as Lee Kwon-mu, were actually ethnic Koreans born and raised in China. Traditionally, it was believed that these individuals fought in the Chinese Civil War as part of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) before returning to North Korea. However, recent research based on Chinese archival sources by Kim Donggill suggests a different narrative.
It appears that these soldiers were indigenous to China, belonging to the long-established ethnic Korean community in the country. They were recruited into the PLA in the same manner as any other Chinese citizen, rather than being sent from North Korea.
In 1949, North Korea had a population of approximately 9.62 million. By mid-1950, its military, armed and trained by the Soviet Union and China, consisted of:
- Ground Forces: 10 infantry divisions, 1 tank division, totaling around 150,000 to 200,000 troops.
- Armored Vehicles: Around 274 T-34-85 tanks and 200 artillery pieces.
- Air Force: 210 fighter planes, 150 Yak fighter planes, 35 reconnaissance aircraft, and 110 attack bombers.
This well-equipped and trained military force allowed North Korea to swiftly capture key territories like Kaesong, Chuncheon, Uijeongbu, and Ongjin.
Both North and South Korea possessed small navies, which were primarily used for coastal artillery support rather than significant naval engagements.
A Stark Contrast: Military Might
While North Korea possessed a formidable military force, bolstered by Soviet and Chinese support, South Korea was significantly outmatched.
North Korea’s Military Advantage:
- Well-equipped and Trained: The North Korean army was equipped with modern weaponry, including tanks and artillery, and was well-trained by Soviet military advisors.
- Air Superiority: The North Korean Air Force had a significant advantage in terms of both quantity and quality of aircraft.
- Strong Support from Allies: The Soviet Union and China provided substantial military aid, including advanced weaponry and experienced troops.
South Korea’s Military Disadvantage:
- Under-equipped and Undertrained: The South Korean army was poorly equipped, lacking heavy weaponry like tanks and artillery.
- Limited Air Force: The South Korean Air Force was small and consisted mainly of outdated training aircraft.
- Lack of Strong Alliances: While the United States had a military presence in Japan, its forces in South Korea were limited.
This stark disparity in military capabilities would significantly impact the early stages of the Korean War, leading to rapid North Korean advances.
Deaths
The Korean War was a devastating conflict that resulted in the tragic loss of millions of lives, primarily civilian. It is considered one of the deadliest conflicts of the Cold War era, with estimates suggesting that around 3 million people perished.
The war’s impact on the civilian population was particularly severe. Scholars have noted that the percentage of civilian casualties in Korea was higher than in World War II or the Vietnam War. Bruce Cumings estimates the civilian death toll at 2 million, while Guenter Lewy places it between 2 and 3 million. This makes the Korean War one of the deadliest conflicts in East Asia, a region heavily impacted by Cold War-related armed conflicts.
The Korean War’s devastating impact on the civilian population is a significant aspect of the conflict. Estimates suggest that civilians accounted for at least half, and potentially up to 70%, of the total casualties, a far higher proportion than in World War II or the Vietnam War.
The Peace Research Institute Oslo estimates nearly 1 million battle deaths and a total death toll of around 3 million, with the difference attributed to excess civilian deaths from massacres, starvation, and disease.
The war’s destruction was widespread, with virtually all major cities on the Korean Peninsula suffering significant damage. North Korea, in particular, experienced immense devastation, with an estimated 12-15% of its population perishing. This staggering loss of life, comparable to the Soviet Union’s losses in World War II, underscores the war’s enduring human cost.
Military
The Korean War was a devastating conflict that resulted in significant casualties for all involved. Here’s a breakdown of the casualties for the major participants:
South Korea:
- Military Deaths: 137,899
- Missing: 24,495
- Wounded: 450,742
- Prisoners of War (POW): 8,343
United States:
- Battle Deaths: 33,686
- Missing: 7,586
- Non-Battle Deaths: 2,830 (excluding 17,730 erroneously included)
- Wounded: 103,284
United Nations (excluding US and South Korea):
- Deaths: 4,141
- Wounded: 12,044
These figures highlight the immense human cost of the Korean War, a conflict often overshadowed by other historical events.
The United States played a crucial role in the Korean War, with its involvement significantly impacting the course of the conflict. Here are some key points highlighting the US contribution and the human cost of the war for American soldiers:
Early Heavy Casualties:
- The initial months of the war, before the Chinese intervention in November 1950, were particularly deadly for US forces.
- Between July and October 1950, the US Army suffered a staggering 31% of its total combat deaths for the entire war.
- By the time of the first encounter with Chinese forces, the US had already lost 8,516 soldiers.
Significant Human Cost:
- Over 1.7 million American soldiers served in the Korean War, constituting 31% of the total US military personnel on active duty during that period.
- The war resulted in approximately 33,686 American battle deaths and 7,586 missing in action.
- Additionally, there were 2,830 non-battle deaths and 103,284 wounded in action.
Economic Cost:
- The Korean War was a significant financial burden for the United States, costing an estimated $30 billion.
Impact on Global Politics:
- The US intervention in Korea was a pivotal moment in the Cold War, as it marked the first major armed conflict between the US-led Western bloc and the Soviet-backed Communist bloc.
- The war solidified the US commitment to containing the spread of communism and established a long-lasting military presence in the region.
The Korean War remains a significant historical event, underscoring the human cost of conflict and the complexities of international relations during the Cold War era.
The combined death toll for non-American UN militaries during the Korean War was 3,730. Additionally, 379 were reported missing in action.
China’s significant involvement in the Korean War came at a considerable cost, both in terms of human life and economic resources.
Human Cost:
- Official Chinese Estimates: The Chinese government has officially reported 183,108 deaths and 21,374 prisoners of war.
- Historical Estimates: Other sources suggest significantly higher casualty figures, with some estimates reaching 400,000 deaths.
Economic Cost:
- The war cost China over 10 billion yuan, a substantial sum for a developing nation at the time.
- This expenditure represented a significant portion of China’s annual government budget.
- China also incurred substantial debt to the Soviet Union.
Military Commitment:
- A significant portion of China’s military forces, including infantry, air force, tank units, artillery divisions, and railroad engineering divisions, were deployed to Korea.
- Chinese soldiers who served in Korea faced a higher risk of death compared to those who fought in World War II or the Chinese Civil War.
The Korean War was a pivotal moment in China’s history, shaping its foreign policy and military strategy for decades to come. The heavy human and economic costs of the conflict highlight the sacrifices made by the Chinese people in the name of national security and international solidarity.
The Korean War was a devastating conflict that took a heavy toll on all involved, particularly North Korea.
North Korean Losses:
- Military Casualties: According to South Korean and international estimates, North Korea suffered the highest military casualties of any belligerent. These estimates range from 290,000 to 316,579 deaths and missing.
- Economic Devastation: The war had a catastrophic impact on North Korea’s economy. Extensive bombing campaigns destroyed a significant portion of the country’s infrastructure, including 85% of its buildings and 95% of its power generation capacity.
Soviet Losses:
- Military Casualties: The Soviet Union, while providing significant support to North Korea, suffered relatively limited direct military losses. Official figures indicate 299 deaths and the loss of 335 aircraft.
The Korean War had a profound and lasting impact on the Korean Peninsula, leaving a legacy of division, destruction, and human suffering.
The Korean War was a devastating conflict that resulted in significant casualties on both sides. While the exact numbers are disputed and difficult to verify, various sources provide estimates of the losses suffered by the major participants:
Allied Forces:
- United States: Approximately 33,686 military deaths and 103,284 wounded.
- South Korea: Approximately 137,899 military deaths, 24,495 missing, and 450,742 wounded.
- Other UN Nations: Approximately 3,730 military deaths and 12,044 wounded.
Communist Forces:
- North Korea: Approximately 294,151 military deaths, 91,206 missing, and 229,849 wounded.
- China: Estimates vary widely, but Chinese sources report 183,108 deaths, while Western sources suggest figures as high as 900,000.
It is important to note that these are estimates, and the actual number of casualties may be higher or lower. The war’s impact on the civilian population was also significant, with millions of people displaced and killed.
Civilian
The Korean War was a devastating conflict that resulted in the tragic loss of life, particularly among civilians. While the exact number of civilian casualties is difficult to determine, various estimates suggest a staggering toll:
South Korea:
- Confirmed Violent Civilian Deaths: Over 750,000
- Missing Civilians: Over 1 million
- Refugees: Millions displaced
North Korea:
- Estimated Civilian Deaths: Over 1 million
These figures highlight the immense suffering endured by the Korean people during the war. The conflict’s impact on the civilian population was profound, with widespread destruction, displacement, and loss of life.
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