The Western Pacific D+17 (26 July, 1987)

Western Pacific D+17

0117– The first US attacks against targets in the Pyongyang area are launched. Against a pitch black, star-filled sky two explosions shatter the morning calm. Smoke and fire pour from the twisted wreckage of the Ministry of Defense building and Mansudae Hall, seat of the Supreme People’s Assembly. The two F-117 stealth fighters that dropped the laser-guided ordnance on these targets were outbound and clear before the first anti-aircraft batteries started to fire. Northeast of the capital, another explosion occurred around the same time, adding to the growing chaos and confusion gripping Pyongyang. This target was the location of a suspected leadership bunker that intelligence reports suggested was in use by high-ranking North Korean government officials. A third F-117 was responsible for hitting the bunker.

0500– Radio Pyongyang goes off the air.

0520– Shortly thereafter, communications links between Pyongyang and North Korean commanders in South Korea follow suit.

0735– With no guidance or orders coming from Pyongyang, North Korean corps commanders on the ground in South Korea order their units to adopt a hold-in-place posture for the time being.

1045– Unconfirmed rumors of fighting in the streets of Pyongyang reach the Chinese government in Beijing.

1130– US listening posts in Japan pick up open radio transmissions from a military headquarters outside of Pyongyang ordering North Korean forces to refuse commands that originate from the Ministry of Defense.

1340– The confusion in North Korea encourages Combined Forces Command to take advantage of it. Although the situation is unclear, CFC commander General Lou Menetrey, US Army orders his forward-most divisions to launch aggressive, local counterattacks and gauge the reaction of the enemy.

1528– Pyongyang has become a communications blackhole. Government and military radio networks are silent. State media has not returned to the air. There is no information coming from the North Korean capital.

1755– Clashes break out between troops from sister North Korean regiments south of Tongduchon.

2100– Radio Pyongyang returns to the air with the following announcement: “This is the radio of the Revolutionary People’s Government of North Korea.” Continuous funeral dirges are broadcast next, stretching beyond midnight and into the following day.