| Abstract |
More than 60 years since the outbreak of war on the Korean Peninsula, U.S. Armed Forces continue to stand by the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines of the Republic of Korea in an effort to deter further North Korean aggression. The purpose of this monograph is to capture operational lessons learned during the Korean War that should be taken into consideration by operational planners as they prepare for future conflict on the peninsula. An examination of the Korean Peninsula's geography, weather, terrain, and place in the world highlights the unique challenges operational planners will face. The strategic context of North Korea's proximity and alliance to China will be important to understand and take into consideration during any operation in the region. China considers North Korea a buffer that protects Manchuria. Encroachment of this border by foreign forces would be considered a threat to Chinese sovereignty. China's continued support of the North Korean regime is essential to North Korea's survival and must always frame the operational environment. Another factor that operational planners must consider is the harsh climate of the Korean Peninsula. It is subject to weather extremes, such as monsoons and harsh winters, that would have a direct impact on operations. During the winter of 1950-1951, marines and soldiers faced sub-zero temperatures and heavy snowfall that blocked mountain passes and clogged main supply routes. Fifty years later, soldiers and airmen serving in Korea experienced another harsh winter that limited operations because of heavy snowfall. Weather has a large operational impact because of the restrictive terrain found on the peninsula. The Korean Peninsula is primarily mountainous, with most valleys running north to south, which limits east-west mobility. In the north, limited infrastructure, such as roads, compounds the problem. |
