BBC Documentary - Kill Them All - The American Military in Korea
The Korean War was a bloody conflict. It left Korea, North and South,
with several million dead and the UN forces involved in the fighting
with over 100,000 casualties. But despite fighting as intense and as
violent as any other conflict since World War Two, Korea has always been
history's 'Forgotten War'.
While atrocities conducted both by North and South Korean forces have
already been documented, recently a much darker side to the US
involvement in the Korean War has begun to emerge. It casts a shadow
over the conduct of US forces during the conflict, particularly of
officers and generals in command. Declassified military documents
recently found in the US National Archives show clearly how US
commanders repeatedly, and without ambiguity, ordered forces under their
control to target and kill Korean refugees caught on the battlefield.
More disturbing still have been the published testimonies of Korean
survivors who recall such killings, and the frank accounts of those
American veterans brave enough to admit involvement.
The Korean War began on 25 June 1950 when communist North Korea invaded
the South with six army divisions. These North Korean forces, backed by
impressive Soviet equipment including tanks, made quick gains into the
territory. The United States decided to intervene in the defence of the
South and, taking advantage of the Soviet absence from the UN Security
Council, proceeded to press for UN resolutions condemning the invasion.
Days later a resolution was passed calling upon member countries to give
assistance to South Korea to repulse the attack. General Douglas
MacArthur, then in charge of US forces in the Pacific and of the
occupation of Japan, was appointed commander of the joint forces.
BBC Documentary - Kill Them All
Korean War - Documentary Film 1950 - 1953
Korean War in Color documents war-torn Korea the
way the soldiers saw it-in full, shocking color. This digitally mastered
DVD presents a true picture of war-full of terror, chaos, blood and
courage. Many of the images included here have never been seen by the
general public before, having been kept top secret for decades by
military officials for fear of a public backlash.
Here are just a
few of the color highlights: M.A.S.H. units in action-no Hawkeye, B.J.,
radar or Klinger here-these are the real men and women who saved
thousands of lives. Also, the daring Inchon invasion, the battle of
Seol, the Naktong River campaign, winter along the Chosin Reservoir, War
in the Skies, and legendary director John Ford s rare footage of the
1st Marine
Division in Action.
In April 1950 Kim Il-sung
travelled to Moscow and secured Stalin's support for a policy to unify
Korea under his authority. Although agreeing with the invasion of South
Korea in principle, Stalin refused to become directly involved in Kim's
plans, and advised Kim to enlist Chinese support instead. In May 1950
Kim visited Beijing, and succeeded in gaining Mao's endorsement. At the
time, Mao's support for Kim was largely political (he was contemplating
the invasions of Taiwan and Tibet), and was unaware of Kim's precise
intentions or the timing of Kim's attack. When the Korean war broke out,
the Chinese were in the process of demobilizing half of the PLA's 5.6
million soldiers Stalin created "detailed [war] plans" that were
communicated to the North Koreans.
On 7 June 1950, Kim Il-sung
called for an election in whole Korea on 5--8 August 1950 and a
consultative conference in Haeju on 15--17 June 1950. On 11 June, the
North sent three diplomats to the South, who were later arrested by the
South. Fourteen days later on 25 June 1950, the North Korean People's
Army (KPA) crossed the 38th parallel border and invaded South Korea.
Korean War- Documentary Film 1950-1953
