Episode 34: Building Inchon examines the extensive diplomatic and political preparation which the Truman administration engaged with in the weeks before MacArthur’s landing at Inchon on 15th September 1950. Truman was forced to deal with several issues, including the independently minded actions of some of his own personnel, like the Secretary of Defence, who would be forced to resign. We see a new policy report NSC 81 come to the fore, even while it didn’t promise a whole lot it still managed to please the British and French, which was its primary goal.

Meanwhile, Mao and Stalin’s cynical approach to Kim Il-sung’s precarious position became clear as August became September. As Stalin’s support of North Korea slackened, the Soviet leader became focused instead with building towards his political strategy and end goal of bringing China into conflict with the West. Mao on the other hand was determined to wait until the landings at Inchon took place, landings which he almost certainly expected, so that it would be easier to swoop into North Korea and re-orientate the loyalties of that state in its moment of desperation. 

Thus the Americans were allowed to plan for their famed amphibious landing in peace, and General MacArthur moved forward with his finest hour unaware that he was as much of a pawn in the wider game as Kim Il-sung had been. It was up to MacArthur now to turn the tide and open the next phase of this conflict, and the General proved more than up to the task.

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Music used

“You’re a Grand Old Rag” by Billy Murray in 1906. Available: https://archive.org/details/GrandOldRag-BillyMurray9256

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