Inchon, Battle of

In the Korean War, successful US Marines amphibious operation on 15 September 1950 at Inchon, 32 km/20 mi west of Seoul, South Korea. The Marines secured the city within two weeks and broke the North Korean forces' hold on the Pusan area.

Following their invasion of South Korea on 25 June 1950, the North Koreans had advanced down the Korean peninsula and contained US and ROK (Republic of Korea) forces in a tight perimeter around Pusan from which they were unable to break out. General Douglas MacArthur proposed an amphibious landing at Inchon so as to cut the North Korean supply lines which ran through Seoul and thus weaken their grip on the Pusan perimeter. The landings were successful, with only 20 Marines being killed and 176 wounded. The Marine force advanced toward Seoul while reinforcements were poured in through Inchon and by 27 September the city had been taken, the communist supply lines broken, and the North Korean forces around the Pusan Perimeter were in retreat.