In November 1950, troops of South Korea and the United Nations in the north went to the Pacheon area, where they met strong resistance and suspended the offensive; on the eastern front, the South Korean units reached the Korean-Chinese border in the Khesanjin area, seized the ports of north-east Korea. General MacArthur ’s “Christmas offensive” was almost reached. In response, the joint troops of the DPRK and China launched the Pyongyang-Hynnam operation (November 25 - December 24, 1950). Its idea was to strike the main forces of the South Koreans and the UN army by strikes in the Pyongyang (from the area north of Anchzhu) and Hamhyn (from the area of Lake Changzhin), to reach the Pyongyang - Wonsan line . The main efforts of the troops were concentrated on the western sector of the front.
On November 24, the 8th US Army launched an offensive on the right flank in the area of Bukdin and Hichkhon. Having advanced to a depth of 19 kilometers, the troops captured the border south of Techon and Unsan . The UN offensive stopped there. On November 25, at the end of the day, Chinese volunteers together with the DPRK army launched a counterattack and managed to wedge themselves into the positions of the 1st South Korean division in the Techon region. The fighting continued even at night, as a result of which the regiment of communist forces made it to the joint between the UN forces and attacked the positions of the 7th and 8th South Korean divisions. Most of the 2nd South Korean corps was destroyed. Organized departure has become impossible. In order to strengthen the flank, the commander of the U.S. Army transferred the 1st Cavalry Division from the Suncheon area to the breakthrough point and the Turkish brigade from the Kecheon Region to Toccheon, but this redeployment of troops did not bring success. Following the strike in the central sector of the front, the Chinese forces rushed into the breakthrough formed between the 8th Army and the 10th Corps. On the night of November 27, Chinese troops attacked the positions of the 1st Marine Division , located in the area of the Chosinsky reservoir. The division managed to escape from complete defeat only with the active support of aviation. Until November 29, the 8th Army was able to repel the attacks of the Communist troops, but by the end of this day the Americans began to withdraw along the entire front. On December 2, the withdrawal of American formations from Yudamni began. Continuing to pursue the American troops, parts of the CPV and KPA entered Pyongyang on December 5. On December 9th, the retreating US units north of Jinhunni were withdrawn from the encirclement. The evacuation of American and South Korean troops from Hamhyn and Hynnam lasted from December 10 to 24. All this time, naval artillery of the cruisers and carrier-based aircraft of the Sicily , Badong Straight and Bataan aircraft supported the defenses of Hynnam. The marine division was the first to evacuate, then the 7th American division , and then the 1st South Korean corps. Together with the troops, 86 thousand refugees were evacuated. After the last ships set sail, the port was blown up. On December 24, units of the Korean People’s Army entered Heinnam and Wonsan. On the same day, North Korean troops on the entire front reached the 38th parallel, connecting with units of the People’s Army operating behind enemy lines.
During the operation, the CPV and KPA inflicted heavy losses on the enemy: the 2nd South Korean Corps, the Turkish Infantry Brigade and the 1st American Marine Corps division lost from 40 to 70% of the personnel. Losses of up to 30% were suffered by divisions of the 10th and parts of the 1st and 9th American army corps. The total loss of UN troops in this operation amounted to 36 thousand people, including more than 24 thousand Americans.
