Tiger's Tail: Obliteration

As American forces pierced Pyongyang's defenses the combined American-Korean four division task force pushed north from the DMZ against wilting North Korean resistance.

American aircraft set upon large North Korean formations. These included B-2 and B-1 strikes, and even old style arc light strikes carried about by trio's of B-52 bombers. Enemy forces before the advancing American-Korean task force risked too much by standing and fighting. However, local North Korean commanders noticed that American aircraft left retreating forces unmolested.

This was by design and on orders from the Pentagon. Reports from North Korean prisoners indicated that after they took Seoul and saw for themselves the luxurious lifestyle lived by their South Korean cousins, most soldiers simply lost the will to fight. As the tide of the war turned decisively against them North Korean morale collapsed. The Pentagon shrewdly ordered retreating formations be left alone hoping most North Korean soldiers understood that retreat was their only hope of survival.

There were those in Seoul who favored the complete obliteration of North Korean forces, but this was a minority position. Most agreed that an element of mercy was needed to bring about piece. One could afford to be magnanimous in victory.

Decisions were being made in other captiols as well. Beijing looked on with alarm as American forces advanced into North Korea and landed on the coast. Orders came from Beijing for forces in the Manchurian region to mobilize.