Britannica Sources used in this answer

How did North Korean forces capture Seoul in the first days of the Korean War?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Korean War, June–August 1950 — Korean War Map showing North Korean advances in the Korean War in June–August 1950.

North Korean forces captured Seoul by launching a coordinated, large-scale conventional invasion across the 38th parallel in the predawn hours of June 25, 1950.1

The offensive was spearheaded by the Korean People’s Army (KPA) I Corps, which consisted of 53,000 troops. This force utilized a thunderous artillery barrage to support their advance across the Imjin River toward Seoul. Having spent the previous year building a formidable offensive force modeled after a Soviet mechanized army—equipped with superior weaponry and tanks provided by the Soviet Union—the North Koreans successfully overwhelmed defensive positions.1

By the afternoon of June 28, 1950, the KPA entered the city. Despite this rapid capture, the North Koreans failed to achieve their broader strategic goal of forcing a quick surrender from the South Korean government or causing the total disintegration of the South Korean army, as remaining forces established a new defensive line south of the Han River.1