June 25th [commonly used to refer
to the Korean War], the tragedy that happened 60 years ago in the
Republic of Korea. It was the first deployment of UN Armed Forces. 21
countries in all participated, led by Western countries like the United
States and the United Kingdom all the way to faraway countries like
Ethiopia.
The most emblematic photo of the
Korean War, a photo of a girl with her younger brother taken in front of
a North Korean M-26 tank. Taken on the 9th of May, 1951, perhaps she is
evacuating or searching for food.
10th of July, 1950. A US G.I. executed with his hands bound.
By the date (26th of September,
1950), this is probably somewhere near Incheon. The tank supporting the
US Marines is leading the DPRK POWs.
The newly conscripted being transported to the training camp, exposed to the elements. July 1950.
During the early days of the war, the army helicopters are evacuating the injured soldiers to the rear.
A dead DPRK solider adjacent to his
destroyed tank. The unstoppable Soviet tanks used by the DPRK gradually
grinds to halt near the Nakdong River defence line. Taken on the 13th
of August, 1950, Andong.
The US Navy dive bomber AD-3 is
dropping 2000 lbs bomb. The location is Shinwooju and the bridge being
bombed is the Yalu River Railroad Bridge. The left-hand side is North
Korea. The bombing targeted the North Korean side of the bridge, which
has created a lunar landscape. Dated November of 1950, these aerial
bombing campaigns agitated the PRC and led to their intervention.
Make-shift command center set up by
the US military which was on retreat to south. This photo is taken on
the 12th of July, 1950. The rice-sheaf camouflage is interesting.
On the attached document the name
of the location is Agok, but there is no such a place by that name.
During the retreat of the early stage of the War, the photo is taken by
the aerial reconnaissance team.
Two POWs captured attacking the rear the Nakdong River by the US Army in September 1950.
This has been classified Top Secret
by the US Army, which has been recently declassified. According to the
attached description, in Danjeon area approximately 1,800 political
prisoners were summarily executed by the ROK military over 3 days. They
were suspected to be communist sympathizers or the DPRK spies. Some of
them survived the massacre to this day and claim they were innocent
civilians.
After the success of the Incheon
amphibian attack in Incheon, the military supplies are being unloaded,
dated 15th of September, 1950.
General MacArthur. Dated 15th of September, donning a thick leather jacket.
Well-paved road of the urban center of Dajeon. This is only 60 years ago.
DPRK soldiers captured during a search mission. Dated 16th of November, 1950 somewhere in North Korea.
M.A.S.H at work.
Taken during the recapturing of
Seoul by the US and ROK. A North Korean hideout reported by civilian led
to the clean-out operation. Another soldier is preparing his machine
gun in case of a fire fight.
This is war. Roughly 400 bodies
were discovered in Dajeon Prison. As the DPRK retreated, POWs and
civilians were all massacred. They were forced to dig their own graves.
The person on the left is a war correspondent. The photo is dated
September of 1950.
After the Seoul Recapture, the dead and alive.
Advancing deep into the DPRK
territory in November of 1950, the US military conducts airborne
operation with C-119. I wonder what their mission was about.
Sukchon and Sunchon area in North Korea. A massive airborne mission underway.
Outskirt of Seoul, US Army is driving out the DPRK partisans using the tank. October of 1950.
Unspecified location but obviously
signs of heavy fire-fight. Aerial bombing and shelling left the area
with virtually no vegetation.
Inside the mine in Kumbong Mt., 60
civilian bodies were discovered. Confirmed massacre by the North Korean
soldiers in October, 1950.
Hwangju, just north of Pyongyang in October, Australian and French soldiers.
The Bay of Wonsan about to witness
the landing of the US Army. This mission was to support the Eastern
Front and total of 50,000 US troops landed in October, 1950.
Taken on the 4th of December, 1950.
The news of the PRC intervention reached Pyongyang and the citizens
evacuating by the destroyed Daedong River rail bridge to head south.
Chinese POWs held by the US Army, dated 9th of December.
Dated 26th of December. Confronting the Chinese force being bombarded by F4U-5 Corsairs.
The bodies of US, UK and ROK
soldiers. They are collected for burial. The location is Gotori, North
Korea. Dated 8th of December.
F86 Sabre attacking the enemy formation, dated 28th of January, 1951.
Hands of the dead ROK solider covered in snow.
Canadian soldiers reading newspaper from back home in February, 1951.
B-26 Invader bombing the enemy main supply depot in Wonsan.
Attacking the enemy hideout with the flame-thrower, dated March of 1951.
British SAS unit infiltrated behind
the enemy line to sabotage the railway. Over 30 meters of railway were
destroyed due to this operation, significantly slowing down the supply
line coming from China to North Korea.
Napalm dropped by B-26. The location is somewhere in North Korea, dated 10th of May, 1951.
Uijeongbu, Turkish soldier riding a donkey.
Three North Korean soldiers surrendering on fishing boat.
Chooncheon, May of 1951. Bodies of the Chinese soldiers, still smouldering.
Anti-aircraft lights pointing the
sky against the US bombing. These lights in fact helped identify the
military targets. After the first wave of attack, bellowing stacks of
smoke guided the next wave of attack.
Hiding in the trench against the mortar attack, dated April of 1952.
Collected shells of North Korean army. Where did they use all these?
Panmunjom, where the 1953 Korean Armistice Agreement is signed. Ceasefire means war is simply on hold, could resume anytime.
Four US Marines are clearly elated by the news of ceasefire, the war is over finally.
A Marine stands guard on Baengnyeong Island.
The names of those who died during
the war are engraved, including the Cheonan servicemen. Only their names
remain, but they were human beings with families and loved one – can
you imagine how terrified they must have been at their last minute?
