Chinese Military Leaders During the Korean War

North Korean Lieutenant General Kang Kon

Background and History

By September 1, 1950,Kim Il Sung's final offensive, involving 133,000 ill-trained troops, to crush the Pusan perimeter, came to a grinding halt at the Naktong River. For the first time, the UN forces matched the North Korean Army in numbers and firepower. By now the entire infantry fighting manpower of America was in Korea. Between both North and South Koreans, the toll was proving to be debilitating. On August 4, 1950, a 500-pound bomb exploded on the roof of an abandoned factory 20 miles from Pusan at the North Korean People's Army Front Command Headquarters. The bomb broke General Kang Kon's arm and nearly missed General. Kim Chaik, the front commander. It destroyed the radio room and left only a single radio still operating.

General Kim Chaik realized that he had missed a golden opportunity to take Pusan; he had wasted too much resources and time in his ill-conceived mop up operations in South Cholla Province. On September 8, 1950, Lt. General Kang Kon, commander-in-chief of the North Korean Front Army and many of his staff were killed by a land mine.

Kang as born on June 23, 1918 in South Korea and joined Kim Il Sung's army in 1933 and stayed with Kim until his death on the banks of Naktong. He was awarded the title of "Hero of the Republic" and the Central Military Academy No. 1 was renamed Kang Kon Military Academy in recognition of the exploits he performed in building revolutionary armed forces. On September 8, 1950, Lt. General Kang Kon, commander-in-chief of the North Korean Front Army and many of his staff were killed by a land mine. Kang as born on June 23, 1918 in South Korea and joined Kim Il Sung's army in 1933 and stayed with Kim until his death on the banks of Naktong. He was awarded the title of "Hero of the Republic" and the Central Military Academy No. 1 was renamed Kang Kon Military Academy in recognition of the exploits he performed in building revolutionary armed forces.