The Western Pacific D+16 (25 July, 1987)

Western Pacific D+16

0020– Four F-117A stealth fighters arrive at Misawa Airbase in northern Japan. The aircraft are placed in two heavily guarded hangars as the pilots go into their post-flight debriefings.

0400– Like clockwork, the pre-dawn convoy of trucks containing ammunition, fuel and other war material arrives at the Soviet-North Korean frontier. The Russian truck drivers are replaced by North Korean drivers who will transport the materials to their final destinations in the DPRK. Once the trucks cross the Tumen River, Soviet border guards block the bridge spanning the river with heavy equipment.

0415– The Soviet Union officially informs the North Korean government that the border between their two nations is indefinitely closed.

0500– The North Korean government orders all Soviet diplomats and military advisers to depart the country within twelve hours.

0800– Discussions begin between Chinese and Soviet diplomats in Beijing. The Soviet delegation declares that military assistance efforts for North Korea have been ended on orders from Moscow and the Soviet government is open to taking further steps to deescalate tensions between the Soviet Union and PRC in the coming hours and days.

1030– In South Korea, fighting has been occurring intermittently between North Korean and Combined Forces north of the Han River. US intelligence has indicated the North Koreans are preparing their forces to resume the push towards Seoul in 24 hours. Most of the enemy activity on the ground that morning, and throughout the afternoon has been limited to company and battalion-sized probes of Combined Forces positions.

1305– US and ROK air forces begin striking fuel depots, airbases and convoys carrying troops and war material south to the front. This marks an escalation in the air war with targets deep inside of North Korea under concentrated attack for the first time since hostilities broke out on the Korean Peninsula.

1530– Seventh Fleet’s carriers are also in action on this day. Ranger’s aircraft hit the port and naval facilities at Wonsan while USS Midway’s air wing goes after headquarters and other military targets around Hamhung. As the air attacks continue, the two carrier groups start moving farther north and paralleling the North Korean coast.

1845– The ghost of Inchon remains in the mind of North Korea’s Great Leader. Kim Il Sung issues orders for the defenses along the eastern coastline to be heavily reinforced. He also orders the East Sea Fleet to sortie, engage and destroy the American fleet approaching the homeland.

2225– At Misawa Airbase the F-117 pilots complete their pre-flight briefings and start walking out to their aircraft. The targets for their post-midnight sorties are government and military centers in Pyongyang.