Operation Pokpoong
Encyclopedia
The Operation Pokpoong (폭풍 작전; Korean
for Storm) was an offensive operation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea against the Republic of Korea that marked the start of the Korean War
. The operation began at 04:00 KST
of 25 June 1950 along the 38th parallel north
without a declaration of war
.
The operation was planned by both the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. In addition, the USSR supplied weapons such as tanks and aircrafts to its communist
ally. With the support from the USSR, the DPRK was able to take control of the ROK capital Seoul
within few days.
The original goal for the operation was to occupy entire Korean Peninsula
by 15 August 1950―
50 days, 10 km advance on each day―in commenoration of 5th anniversary of the Liberation Day
. However, heavy loss of the DPRK II Corps, which was in charge of the eastern front, caused by the ROK 6th Infantry Division granted the ROK to delay the DPRK advance. Soon, the United States
joined the war in June 27, and the United Nations Security Council
passed Resolution 84
in July 7.
started to buildup its armament, and redeployed its troops to get ready to attack the Republic of Korea. In May 16, officers of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics began final inspection for the war.
The DPRK Ministry of People's Defense held high-ranking talks everyday since then. In June 10, the Ministry of People's Defense secretly summoned all division and brigade commanders to Pyongyang
for the meeting.
Kang Geon, the Chief of the General Staff of the DPRK, ordered troops to be fully ready for an offensive operation in disguise of defensive operation by June 23. In June 11, Korean People's Army was reorganized into two corps, and the divisions that were placed at the rear started to move as close as 10 to 15 km of north to the 38th parallel north
.
In June 18, the Ministry of People's Defense sent the Reconnaissance Order Number 1 (정찰명령 제1호) to division commanders to gather informations about locations of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces and terrain. In June 22, after completion of reconnaissance and reorganization and approval from Joseph Stalin
, Soviet military advisors ordered the Ministry of People's Defense to send the Engagement Order Number 1 (전투명령 제1호) to its divisions.
In the meantime, Kim Il-sung
informed Joseph Stalin that the war will be started on June 25, and Stalin consented the plan. As scheduled, Korean People's Army began the operation and crossed 38th parallel north
at 04:00 KST
of 25 June 1950. When the war began, Kim Il-sung held the governmental emergency meeting and stated the following to the members of the Workers' Party of Korea
who did not realize the situation:
Korean language
Korean is the official language of the country Korea, in both South and North. It is also one of the two official languages in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in People's Republic of China. There are about 78 million Korean speakers worldwide. In the 15th century, a national writing...
for Storm) was an offensive operation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea against the Republic of Korea that marked the start of the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. The operation began at 04:00 KST
Korea Standard Time
Korea Standard Time is the standard time zone in North and South Korea and is 9 hours ahead of UTC : i.e., when it is midnight UTC, it is 9 am Korea Standard Time. Korea does not currently observe daylight saving time but has experimented with it in the past...
of 25 June 1950 along the 38th parallel north
38th parallel north
The 38th parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 38 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America, and the Atlantic Ocean...
without a declaration of war
Declaration of war
A declaration of war is a formal act by which one nation goes to war against another. The declaration is a performative speech act by an authorized party of a national government in order to create a state of war between two or more states.The legality of who is competent to declare war varies...
.
The operation was planned by both the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. In addition, the USSR supplied weapons such as tanks and aircrafts to its communist
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
ally. With the support from the USSR, the DPRK was able to take control of the ROK capital Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
within few days.
The original goal for the operation was to occupy entire Korean Peninsula
Korean Peninsula
The Korean Peninsula is a peninsula in East Asia. It extends southwards for about 684 miles from continental Asia into the Pacific Ocean and is surrounded by the Sea of Japan to the south, and the Yellow Sea to the west, the Korea Strait connecting the first two bodies of water.Until the end of...
by 15 August 1950―
50 days, 10 km advance on each day―in commenoration of 5th anniversary of the Liberation Day
Gwangbokjeol
Gwangbokjeol, celebrated annually on August 15, is one of the Public holidays in South Korea. It commemorates Victory over Japan Day, which liberated Korea from colonial rule...
. However, heavy loss of the DPRK II Corps, which was in charge of the eastern front, caused by the ROK 6th Infantry Division granted the ROK to delay the DPRK advance. Soon, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
joined the war in June 27, and the United Nations Security Council
United Nations Security Council
The United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...
passed Resolution 84
United Nations Security Council Resolution 84
The United Nations Security Council Resolution 84 was adopted on July 7, 1950. Having determined that the attack on the Republic of Korea by the forces from North Korea constituted a breach of the peace, the Council recommended that the members of the United Nations furnish such assistance to the...
in July 7.
Prelude
Since March 1950, Korean People's ArmyKorean People's Army
The Korean People's Army , also known as the Inmin Gun, are the military forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Kim Jong-il is the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army and Chairman of the National Defence Commission...
started to buildup its armament, and redeployed its troops to get ready to attack the Republic of Korea. In May 16, officers of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics began final inspection for the war.
The DPRK Ministry of People's Defense held high-ranking talks everyday since then. In June 10, the Ministry of People's Defense secretly summoned all division and brigade commanders to Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
for the meeting.
Kang Geon, the Chief of the General Staff of the DPRK, ordered troops to be fully ready for an offensive operation in disguise of defensive operation by June 23. In June 11, Korean People's Army was reorganized into two corps, and the divisions that were placed at the rear started to move as close as 10 to 15 km of north to the 38th parallel north
38th parallel north
The 38th parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 38 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America, and the Atlantic Ocean...
.
In June 18, the Ministry of People's Defense sent the Reconnaissance Order Number 1 (정찰명령 제1호) to division commanders to gather informations about locations of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces and terrain. In June 22, after completion of reconnaissance and reorganization and approval from Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
, Soviet military advisors ordered the Ministry of People's Defense to send the Engagement Order Number 1 (전투명령 제1호) to its divisions.
In the meantime, Kim Il-sung
Kim Il-sung
Kim Il-sung was a Korean communist politician who led the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from its founding in 1948 until his death in 1994. He held the posts of Prime Minister from 1948 to 1972 and President from 1972 to his death...
informed Joseph Stalin that the war will be started on June 25, and Stalin consented the plan. As scheduled, Korean People's Army began the operation and crossed 38th parallel north
38th parallel north
The 38th parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 38 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America, and the Atlantic Ocean...
at 04:00 KST
Korea Standard Time
Korea Standard Time is the standard time zone in North and South Korea and is 9 hours ahead of UTC : i.e., when it is midnight UTC, it is 9 am Korea Standard Time. Korea does not currently observe daylight saving time but has experimented with it in the past...
of 25 June 1950. When the war began, Kim Il-sung held the governmental emergency meeting and stated the following to the members of the Workers' Party of Korea
Workers' Party of Korea
The Workers' Party of Korea is the ruling Communist party of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , commonly known as North Korea. It is also called the Korean Workers' Party...
who did not realize the situation:
Order of battle
Almost entire forces from both sides were involved in the operation either directly or indirectly. The order is at the beginning stage of the operation, and only the major combatants are listed below.Army
- I Corps
- 1st Infantry Division
- 1st Infantry Regiment
- 2nd Infantry Regiment
- 3rd Infantry Regiment
- 3rd Infantry Division
- 7th Infantry Regiment
- 8th Infantry Regiment
- 9th Infantry Regiment
- 4th Infantry Division
- 5th Infantry Regiment
- 16th Infantry Regiment
- 18th Infantry Regiment
- 6th Infantry Division
- 13th Infantry Regiment
- 14th Infantry Regiment
- 15th Infantry Regiment
- 1st Infantry Division
- II Corps
- 2nd Infantry Division
- 5th Infantry Division
- 10th Infantry Regiment
- 11th Infantry Regiment
- 12th Infantry Regiment
- 7th Infantry Division
- 8th Infantry Division
- 81st Infantry Regiment
- 82nd Infantry Regiment
- 83rd Infantry Regiment
- 15th Infantry Division
- 48th Infantry Regiment
- 49th Infantry Regiment
- 50th Infantry Regiment
- 9th Infantry Division
- 10th Infantry Division
- 13th Infantry Division
- 105th Armored Brigade
- 107th Armored Regiment
- 109th Armored Regiment
- 203rd Armored Regiment
- 206th Mechanized Regiment
- 549th Infantry Regiment
- 766th Infantry Regiment
Army
- Capital Division
- 3rd Infantry Regiment
- 18th Infantry Regiment
- 1st Infantry Division
- 11th Infantry Regiment
- 12th Infantry Regiment
- 13th Infantry Regiment
- 2nd Infantry Division
- 5th Infantry Regiment
- 16th Infantry Regiment
- 25th Infantry Regiment
- 3rd Infantry Division
- 22nd Infantry Regiment
- 23rd Infantry Regiment
- 5th Infantry Division
- 15th Infantry Regiment
- 20th Infantry Regiment
- 6th Infantry Division
- 2nd Infantry Regiment
- 7th Infantry Regiment
- 19th Infantry Regiment
- 7th Infantry Division
- 1st Infantry Regiment
- 9th Infantry Regiment
- 8th Infantry Division
- 10th Infantry Regiment
- 21st Infantry Regiment
- 17th Infantry Regiment
Army
- Eighth Army
- 24th Infantry Division
- Task Force Smith
- 21st Infantry Regiment
- 34th Infantry Regiment
- 24th Infantry Division