• Maritime Security
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.109-135
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• 2023

The North Korean military's maneuver toward Honam was the fastest maneuver the North Korean army had demonstrated during the Korean War, and it was a threatening attack that forced the Korean and Allied forces to fully adjust the defenses of the Nakdong River. However, when this study analyzed the North Korean military's maneuver toward Honam in terms of indirect approach strategy, there were a number of factors that inevitably led to its failure. In terms of implementing the indirect approach strategy, the North Korean military cited a number of failure factors, including the dispersion of combat forces, the inflexibility of changing the line of operation, the maneuvering of ground forces, and the lack of psychological distaction. However, the North Koreans were preparing for a final "surprise attack," in which the 7th Division, which was following the North Korean 6th Division, took another diversion and attempted to attack in the direction of Tongyeong. With this, the North Koreans intended to break through the Nakdong River defenses and head for Pusan. However, the North Korean attack was ultimately thwarted by the Korean Navy and Marine Corps' Tongyeong Amphibious Operation. With a swift maneuver using the sea as a maneuvering space, the Navy and Marine Corps occupied key points first, creating an advantageous situation and fending off an attack by the North Korean 7th Division. The Navy and Marine Corps' Tongyeong Amphibious Operation finally thwarted the North Korean military's maneuver toward Honam, thus maintaining the Nakdong River defenses.