[2] Originally, the goal of Operation Pokpung was to take control of the entire Korean Peninsula by 15 August 1950—50 days, with an average advance of 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) each day—in commemoration of the fifth anniversary of Gwangbokjeol.
On 7 July, the United Nations Command was established to direct a multinational military response against the DPRK.
[4] On 30 January 1950, Stalin contacted ambassador Terenty Shtykov and explained he was ready to help organize an invasion plan.
Stalin noted that in order to capture South Korea, Kim would need to be prepared to minimise the risk of a lengthy battle.
[4] Since March 1950, the Korean People's Army (KPA) started to build up its armament and redeployed its troops to get ready to attack South Korea.
[3] Stalin had dispatched Lieutenant General Vasiliev, to prepare the invasion plan before the Stalin-Kim meeting was held in Moscow in April.
[3] On 10 June the DPRK Ministry of People's Defense secretly summoned all division and brigade commanders to Pyongyang for a meeting.
On 11 June the KPA was reorganized into two corps, and the divisions that were placed at the rear started to move as close as 10 to 15 km of north to the 38th parallel.
[3] On 18 June the Ministry of People's Defense sent Reconnaissance Order Number 1 (정찰명령 제1호) to division commanders to gather information about locations of the ROKA forces and terrain.
[7] When the war began, Kim held a governmental emergency meeting and stated the following to the members of the Workers' Party of Korea who did not realize the situation: Comrades, the forces of traitor Rhee Syngman have crossed the 38th parallel and started a full-scale invasion to challenge our northern republic.
[5]A report on behalf of the United Nations Commission on Korea was submitted on 24 June by two Australian military observers, Major F. S. B.
[9] The inadequate resources of the ROKA, in particular the absence of armor, air support and heavy artillery, rendered a South Korean invasion of the North militarily impossible.
At 17:00 on 25 June the field observers had reported that North Korean forces had that morning mounted a surprise attack all along the 38th parallel.
[9] However, Kim had claimed in a broadcast made on 26 June at 09:20 that South Korea had attacked the North in the section of Haeju, provoking counterattacks.
[7] In the light of the report by Peach and Rankin, UNCOK unanimously rejected the North Korean contention.
[6] At 10:00 on 25 June The Pentagon received a report detailing that North Korean forces had invaded the South at several locations.
[6] The KPA invasion was spearheaded by Soviet manufactured T-34 medium tanks, equipped with high-velocity 85 mm guns.
It also claims "the [US] Administration held Soviet Union responsible as the motivating power behind the North Korean government."
The report refers to the South Korean troops as "puppets" of the "aggressive, imperialist" United States and that the "country and people were faced with a grave danger.
In response to the invasion, Truman ordered United States provide assistance with air and land forces in Korea.