On this day in 1968 the North Koreans landed a commando force on South Korean shores in an attempt to establish guerrilla bases in South Korea. The attack was part of a delusional series of increasingly aggressive moves that grossly underestimated the lack of support for communists in South Korea.
The landings promoted a massive reaction in the South with 70,000 troops being deployed to counter the 124 commandos who landed and attempted to infiltrate South Korean villages. 110 of the force were killed. Under 70 South Koreans, of which 23 were civilians, died in the event. Three Americans lost their lives.
Coming in the hottest year of the war in Vietnam, and dating back to an attempted raid in January that coincided with the Tet Offensive, this event served to remind that the Korean War had ended in an armistice, not a true peace, and the North Korean effort continued; even violently.
No comments:
Post a Comment