Tiger's Tail: Unintended

Triumphantly the North Koreans entered Seoul.

Official Washington watched in horror as North Korean troops goose stepped through the city while others made a great show of storming important government offices. In addition to his own propaganda crews, Kim ordered that Western Media be allowed in the city to broadcast his triumph to the world. Dramatically North Korean troops hauled down the South Korean flag from the presidential residence and replaced it with their own.

In Washington some speculated that the president was so humiliated he would have to resign.

As the useful idiots at the BBC and CNN did Kim's bidding, the fight continued. To the south of Seoul North Korean troops established a perimeter against light South Korean resistance. While troops consolidated their hold on Seoul two divisions moved through the city in preparation for a move on Suwan 15 miles to the south. North Korean high command, at Kim's insistence, believed South Korean morale was weak and simply needed a nudge to collapse.

In the west, North Korean forces battered the embattled 82nd Airborne Division holding on at Inchon.

It was at this point that Kim made a speech from Seoul demanding the South Korean President negotiate a settlement and calling for the UN to impose a ceasefire in place. This of course would leave Kim in control of Seoul. The Russians offered to mediate.

While the diplomatic game began American forces readied. In the Pacific the US Navy had finally assembled enough transports to move the five brigades of the 25th Division from its bases in Alaska and Hawaii.  At the same time the 1st Marine Division joined the 3rd Marine Division in Okinawa.

Back in Seoul, thousands of North Korean troops wondered the streets, shops and homes of the South Korean capital and stood in awe, not at the wealth and affluence, but the availability of food and common household items. Toilet paper and tea were particularly popular with the North Korean troops used to a Spartan lifestyle.

Many wondered about the regime they were fighting for...