The US campaign to drop 600,000 tons of bombs to destroy North Korea

The US conducted carpet bombing with a total of 635,000 tons of bombs over three consecutive years, destroying almost every target in North Korea.

A North Korean village was bombed with napalm by the US. Photo: Wikipedia.

In June 1950, North Korea sent troops across the 38th parallel, quickly pushing back the US-trained South Korean army.Authorized by the United Nations to use force, the United States sent troops to rescue South Korea, quickly driving the North Korean army across the border.

During this war, the US launched a merciless bombing campaign against North Korean targets that lasted for many years to destroy the opponent's rear, according to National Interest.

"Few Americans know or remember that we carpet-bombed North Korea for three years without regard for civilian casualties," said US historian Bruce Cumings.

Major General Emmett O'Donnell, former commander of the B-29 Bomber Command in the Far East, said the bombing campaign's purpose was to flatten five major North Korean cities and destroy all 18 key strategic targets. General Curtis Lemay said the US strategic air force destroyed all major cities in both North and South Korea and killed 20% of the North Korean population within three years.

According to Newsweek, the US dropped a total of 635,000 tons of bombs on North Korea, including 32,557 tons of napalm. For comparison, the US used 503,000 tons of bombs across the entire Pacific theater during World War II.

80% of North Korea's railway system was destroyed. Photo: Wikipedia.

Pyongyang does not have many industrial facilities, so the number of strategic bombing targets for Washington is also limited.By the fall of 1952, the US no longer had strategic targets to bomb, forcing them to shift to less important areas.

Every city, town, and industrial area in North Korea was hit by airstrikes. The US bombing completely destroyed Sinanju Province, 95% of the capital of North Hwanghae Province, Sariwon, 85% of Hungnam Town, 80% of the port cities of Wonsan and Hamhung, and 75% of the capital Pyongyang.

American and allied aircraft then began targeting North Korea’s hydroelectric power plants and 20 dams, which provided 75 percent of the country’s water for agriculture and rice production. In May 1953, the U.S. Air Force destroyed five dams, causing severe flooding that left millions of North Koreans starving. The bombings also caused widespread power outages and destroyed 80 percent of North Korea’s railways.

Analysts have expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of the devastating bombing campaign during the Korean War, especially the goal of destroying bridges near the Yalu River to cut off support from China and the Soviet Union. These targets were all heavily guarded with air defenses, making the bombing campaign not really successful.

Millions of people fell into starvation due to the bombing of dams. Photo: Wikipedia.

In fact, North Korea recovered from the war damage faster than South Korea, despite suffering heavier casualties. This devastating bombing campaign is part of the reason why North Koreans still hate the US to this day. "All North Koreans know about this campaign and it is still in their minds," Mr. Cummings emphasized.

According to VNE