A Slight Different Outcome of Korean War

[Wolfsman&83]

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POD: In early November 1950, U.S Commander Douglas MacArthur was sacked by President Truman for the disastrous reckless moves of not heeding the warning of the Chinese PVA troops advancing at the mountainous areas. On November 3, President Truman handpicked Matthew Ridgway to lead for the entire duration of the Korean War (1950-53) to speed up the implementation of the gradual withdrawal of the majority of U.N forces and U.S Forces from the nearby Yalu River and the endangered mountainous ridge zones about 30-40 miles near Yalu River. Even if 80% of U.S and U.N forces, including some ROK forces, withdrew from danger zones, Mao Zedong rebuffed the reduction threats near the Yalu River border. Mao contacted Chinese Army commander Peng Duhuai and other military officials by telegrams to screw up the U.N armed forces' retreat and annihilate them. In a 1954 interview with British officials, Chinese FM Zhou Enlai replied, "Even if the threats mitigated from the U.N imperialists, the (Chinese) forces dared to relentlessly chase down the enemy, or I refer to U.N forces, to show an example of heinous behaviors at buffer areas."

Despite minor quarreling about postponement, the Chinese PVA forces launched a major vibrant offensive assault in northern North Korea starting in mid-November 1950. General Matthew Ridgway strategized the U.S and Allied forces' defense position to maintain the city of Pyongyang as long as possible to inflict heavy casualties from Chinese PVA forces and regrouped NK forces. On December 10, the ROK forces abandoned the defense at Pyongyang finding itself unsuitable against the massive and accurate Chinese artillery bombing range of Pyongyang. The Allied successfully reserved about 60-70% of U.N forces and regroup at Seoul. The North Korean forces recaptured Haeju and Gaeseong separately on December 23 and December 26. The die-hard Chinese forces tried to liberate Seoul, but it was unsuccessful since the Chinese forces only captured Paju and Uijeongbu thanks to heavily U.S 8th Army division withstanding in Seoul. With the Chinese military supplies dwindling, the R.O.K and U.S forces initiated a final blow of counterattacks to drive away the frightening Chinese PVA forces. Imjin River was fully back on defensible functional by March 1950.

In late May 1950, the U.S and R.O.K jet fighters initiated countless bombing raids south of Gaeseong to prepare for new campaigns. After the Allied forces established a foothold a few miles north of the Imjin River, the ROK forces initiated full attacks against resiliency NK soldiers while the majority of Chinese forces relocated from Gaeseong to the villages in mountainous areas of Gangwon Province. Allied forces took about 3-4 weeks to recapture Gaeseong. On June 15, 1950, the R.O.K armed forces successfully retook Gaeseong with massively damaged hanoks.By early July 1950, the South Korean Army divisions fortified the river defense at Yeseong (Ryesong) River in the event the Chinese forces reinvigorated renewal attacks. The armistice talks were positioned at Kumchon to discuss POWs issues and the position of the battlefield line. After two long years of frustrating talks, a new U.S President Dwight Eisenhower accepted the recommendation of voluntarily prisoner exchange depending on POW's critical choices. After the armistice was signed in June 1953, the JSA was located in the river town of Kumchon. Despite the ceased combat, the South Korean military forces unwillingly stood a chance to recover Mount Kumgang. The city of Gaeseong, as well as south and north of Gaeseong, suffered extensive damage with about 800-1,200 bombing randomized sites that left the town paralyzed with poverty. The South Korean government decided to off-limit the large civilian visitation to Gaeseong from 1954 until 1970 when President Park Chung-hee revitalized the "Miracle of Han" to start reconstructing the damaged facilities, fortresses, and cultural properties despite intensified risks by North Korean artillery ranged.

[Wolfsman&83]

Any current thoughts about placing Gaeseong and half of Yeseong River around within and north of the 38th parallel based on South Korean economy?