KJCKorea
Journal Central

This study examines the role of the CINCUNC in the early armistice negotiations of the Korean War, focusing on an operational-level analysis. It analyzes the military operations and negotiation processes carried out by the CINCUNC, highlighting the significance of their role in advancing the armistice negotiations. To date, research on the Korean War armistice negotiations has primarily centered on the progression of the negotiations, the strategies employed by both sides, and the analysis of major issues. Specifically, analyses of the negotiation process have focused on the impact of internal conflicts among U.S. policymakers, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, key relevant countries, and the communist side. However, the proactive role of CINCUNC Ridgway has not been addressed. This study analyzes Ridgway's role at the operational level, focusing on the Line Kansas-Wyoming and the summer offensive. Ridgway established the Line Kansas-Wyoming as the UN forces' main defensive line during the armistice negotiations and used the summer offensive to pressure communist forces, contributing to the UN negotiation delegation's ability to secure and maintain the initiative. The research findings indicate that Ridgway played a decisive role in securing and maintaining the initiative for the UN negotiation delegation during the early armistice negotiations. In the military demarcation line negotiations, Ridgway pushed for offensive operations centered on the Line Kansas-Wyoming to secure military superiority. The UN forces' military superiority pressured the communist side to abandon their previous claims, creating conditions conducive to swiftly concluding the military demarcation line negotiations.

This study analyzes how the United States secured its war fighting capabilities from the mainland during the early stages of the Korean War. Specifically, it focuses on the period from June to September 1950, examining how the U.S. acquired the necessary manpower, equipment, supplies, and war funds to conduct the war. The analysis reveals that by September 1950, the United States had established the basic foundation for conducting the war. At the outbreak of the Korean War, the existing U.S. military forces and national system were insufficient to deter and repel the North Korean forces. Consequently, the initial U.S. response was limited and quickly encountered political, military, and economic constraints. In response, President Harry S. Truman delivered a speech to the U.S. Congress on July 19, 1950, requesting the necessary resources to overcome these limitations. After explaining the justification for the war in his speech, Truman requested solutions for securing manpower, equipment, supplies, and war funds, as well as authority for the government to control civilian resources. Truman’s requests were fully accepted by Congress and legislated by September, resulting in the mobilization of the nation's full capabilities, which significantly ensured the United States' ability to conduct the war.

The purpose of this study is to examine the role the railroad played in the Korean War. Both North and South Korea actively utilized railroads for the Korean War. Since its construction in the early 20th century, the railroad has functioned as a major means of Japan's colonial rule. This soon led to the expansion of Japan's military power, and eventually became the driving force behind the Korean Peninsula and Manchuria falling under Japanese influence. Even after liberation and division on August 15, 1945, the influence of the railroad continued. Although the Japanese Empire built a railroad for their own convenience, social infrastructure facilities such as railroads were insufficient to the point where they had to be utilized as is even after liberation. Also, people's daily lives at that time were already centered around railroads. However, less than two years after the government was launched, a fratricidal tragedy occurred. Both North and South Korea actively utilized railroads to wage war efficiently. This was because utilizing the railroad to its fullest potential had a major impact on winning or losing the war. In particular, unlike South Korea, which was poorly prepared for war, North Korea planned to actively utilize railroads to wage war efficiently even before the war, and actually put this into practice. After the outbreak of war, South Korea also actively used railroads in the war effort and expanded several railroad lines. The framework created in this way was used to form the post-war Cold War system and develop the national economy, and the results continue to this day. This aspect of the Korean railway has both universality and specificity in world railway history, so it can be said to have great research value. However, to date, not much research has been conducted in Korean railroad history focusing on the Korean War. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the role of railroads and their subsequent influence in the Korean War.