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The Korean War started on June 25, 1950. United Nations ( UN ) Forces were forced to retreat into the Pusan circumference and in awful straits until the Inchon land on September 15, 1950. This caused the North Koreans to make a hasty retreat back to the North .
Ask anyone to name the countries that joined the United States in the Korean dispute, and the answer would include numerous nations. In fact, 21 U.N. member states participated. sixteen members provided fighting units and five others sent medical hospitals. Japan was not a U.N. member then, and was lone remembered for making a draw of money during that war.
While the japanese economy did receive a enormous boost, Japan was not just a bystander during that war. It allowed U.S. troops to use over a twelve airfields, 10 seaports, 14 hospitals, and numerous Army bases. japanese transmit ships were directly involved in the ferry of U.S. troops and supplies to Korea. In addition, over a hundred motorized small vessels were sent to Pusan ( Busan ) as lighters, carrying troops and supplies from large ships to shore .
besides, many japanese nationals served as crewmen on U.S. provide ships. One source mentioned that 37 landing vessels at Inchon were crewed by japanese nationals .
In November 1950, when the U.S. Army tugboat ( LT-636 ) hit a mine, 22 of the 27 japanese among the gang were killed. An exact count of japanese directly involved in the Korean War is not available.
A Japanese minesweeper left over from WWII like this one was used to help the U.S. sweep for mines to protect the UN forces in the Korean War (1950-53) (Photo: Wikimedia Commons, photographer unknown.)
The Crucial Role of Japan’s Minesweepers
not widely known is that Japan sent minesweepers and crews into actual fight to assist the limited phone number of available U.S. minesweepers during the first six months of that war. Over 1,000 crewmembers from Japan ’ s Maritime Safety Agency, with over 40 minesweepers, in addition to a pair of trial ships ( ships that re-check areas cleared of mines ) and some patrol boats, were involved in fight operations clearing mines in korean ports. This was clearly in rape of the Constitution of Japan adopted curtly after the end of World War II, and consequently not publicized.
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In 1950, Japan had over 80 minesweepers and test ships engaged in clearing mines which had been emplaced around Japan during WWII. During the Okinawa campaign, the U.S. had deployed over 100 minesweepers and assist ships. however, by then most had been deactivated .
When the Korean War broke out, the U.S. had one operational minesweeper and some hold ships in the Japan area, primarily to observe japanese minesweeping activities. South Korea had a few minesweepers, but the ships were not properly equipped, nor did they have trained crews .
The minesweepers served two chief fight functions : clear assault beaches for amphibious operation, and sweeping offshore to clear up areas for dark blue ships of friendly forces to apply naval gunfire on foe positions. Minesweepers were besides necessity to keep transportation lanes cleared .
japanese minesweepers were used in all areas of process, and two japanese minesweepers were lost. In October 1950, japanese minesweeper MS-14 hit an enemy mine during clearing operations at Wonsan, and sank, with one fatality and 18 injuries. Another U.N. amphibious bring after Inchon had been planned at Wonsan, but it was not executed due to the hasty retreat of enemy forces .
In December 1950, japanese minesweeper MS-152 ran aground at Hungnam, and was salvaged. There were no fatalities .
By the end of 1950, U.S. minesweepers were available in sufficient numbers and most japanese minesweeping interest ended.
South Korean President Moon Jae visits the Korean War Veterans Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, May 21, 2021. Japanese participants in this war should also be given due recognition. REUTERS/Sarah Silbiger
Publicly Acknowledging the Honors Due Japanese Participants
The employment of minesweepers and engaging in battle was conducted with the recognition and approval of the japanese government. While it may have been politically sensitive at the meter, it is long past due for those Japanese who engaged in battle during the Korean War to be properly recognized and honored.
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This is particularly so for Sakataro Nakatani, the sailor who was killed when his minesweeper was sunk at Wonsan, and early japanese nationals who died in that war. Japan ’ s participation in the Korean War is not a mystery and there is no need to keep it hidden from the populace .
This mention of Japan ’ s minesweepers in the Korean War is to clarify history and to let the korean people know that Japan is not an enemy. indeed, japanese rake was shed in the defense of South Korea .
Japan ’ s affair in the Korean War has not been treated reasonably by most historians. very few make mention of Japan being an active agent player in battle during a identical crucial moment during the Korean War .
besides, much overlooked is the importance of Japan ’ s localization, and the accompaniment it provided to U.N. forces. While many nations, particularly Great Britain and others, provided combat troops, there is little doubt South Korea would not have survived without the interest of the United States, which relied heavily on Japan ’ s digest .
What needs to be distinctly understood is that without Japan, the U.N. effort in that war would have been hard curtailed. even more authoritative than minesweepers, the use of Japan ’ s bases and its logistic support were essential for U.N. forces. Overlooking this all-important divisor could lead to serious miscalculations in planning for the security of South Korea nowadays.
A woman opposing South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s anti-Japan stance shouts during a rally in December, 2019 (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Re-balancing Public Opinion
The potential for a calamity in South Korea is high. War with North Korea is still within the kingdom of possibility and, tied without war, there is besides a high likelihood of the nightmare of millions of starving North Koreans coming across the edge becoming a reality .
There is a tendency to accept U.S. back of Korea as a given, without recognizing that much of that patronize relies heavily on Japan ’ s cooperation. In the early 1960 ’ sulfur, there was a big demonstration in Tokyo opposing Japan ’ s engagement in America ’ randomness wars .
public impression in Japan does matter. Before Park Geun-hye ’ mho presidency a few years ago, all things Korean were at the altitude of popularity in Japan. Since then, due to unceasing anti-Japan tirades by South Korea, about 50 % of the japanese population no longer entrust South Korea .
not lone that, over 80 % of South Koreans are anti-Japanese. fortunately, Korean attitudes toward Japan appear to be improving among the younger generation, and hopefully this course will continue .
In Japan, Korean cosmetics and K-Pop are enjoying high popularity, and there is a revival of the popularity of south korean television Soaps, particularly among the younger crowd.
Japan’s Role in Today’s Security for South Korea
This article was written to point out the critical character Japan performed in the Korean War, and the U.S. reliance on Japan ’ s subscribe, to assure the security of South Korea .
unfortunately, the south korean politics finds that inciting hatred against Japan serves as a useful tool for uniting the korean people and gaining populace political patronize. That is unfortunate, because after treaties and agreements between Korea and Japan that purportedly settled all issues, it seems that nothing has been settled.
What is significant for Koreans to understand is that, after all these years, it appears Japan has last come to the realization that efforts to attain amicable relations with South Korea are futile. No far apologies or concessions can be expected from Japan .
The future of Korea-Japan relationship will be improving to Korea to decide. Hopefully, the future Korean president of the united states will not use anti-Japan opinion as a instrument for gaining public corroborate and make decisions based on business for Korean national security and interests.
generator : Archie Miyamoto
Find other articles by the generator, including those related to the history of the Pacific War and Korean War, at this link .
