The Application of Operational Art to the Korean War

Abstract

The purpose of this research paper is to provide lessons from the Korean War on operational art, which is the pursuit of strategic objectives, in whole or in part, through the arrangement of tactical actions in time, space, and purpose. Future operations, strategic contexts, and history-theory-doctrine integration comprise the three main points concerning the application of operational art. This research uses a comparison method for war planning by North Korea, the United Nations, and China, from the perspectives of a political aim, theory, and doctrine. The three findings are as follows. First, the operational artist must focus on future operations and should not intercede in current tactical operations. Second, the operational artist must pay attention to the ever-changing international and domestic environment to understand the strategic context of operational art from both enemy and ally. Lastly, the operational artist must integrate history-theory-doctrine into planning. Regardless of time, these three findings could apply to other war applications of operational art analysis.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 24, 2018
Accession Number
AD1071118

Entities

People

  • Dong P. Lee

Organizations

  • School of Advanced Military Studies

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter WMD

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Amphibious Operations
  • Asymmetric Warfare
  • Civil War
  • Governments
  • Guerrilla Warfare
  • Intergovernmental Organizations
  • International Organizations
  • International Relations
  • Military History
  • National Politics
  • National Security
  • Prisoners Of War
  • Second World War
  • United States
  • War
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies

Technology Areas

  • Space