What decision did MacArthur make after the successful Inchon Invasion?

Question

Cold War

Answer 1

Pursuing the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) forces all the way up to the Yalu river border with China. Everybody knew it would bring China into the war, with the risk of a nuclear war, but MacArthur wanted his war with China. It was the beginning of the end for his career.

"On November 19, 1950, with the DPRK forces largely destroyed, Chinese military forces crossed the Yalu River, routing the UN forces and forcing them on a long retreat. Calling the Chinese intervention the beginning of "an entirely new war", MacArthur repeatedly requested authorization to strike supplies, troops, and airplanes in Manchuria [China] with conventional weapons and also requested permission to deploy nuclear weapons in North Korea. The Truman administration feared that such an action would greatly escalate the war into full-scale conflict with China and possibly draw China's ally, the Soviet Union, into the conflict. Angered by Truman's desire to maintain a "limited war," MacArthur began issuing important statements to the press, warning them of a crushing defeat."

"Truman alerted MacArthur of his intention to initiate 'cease-fire' talks. Such news ended any hopes the general had retained of leading a full-scale war against China, and MacArthur quickly issued his own ultimatum to China. MacArthur's declaration threatened the expansion of the war [...]. He received a mild rebuke. Truman apparently had enough when the Republican leader in the House read a letter from MacArthur, that made public the views he had been pressing on Washington, but Truman decided to wait for the Joint Chiefs. By April the Joint Chiefs decided MacArthur had to go for military reasons--they had lost confidence in his strategy, whereupon Truman moved."

"On April 11, 1951 President Truman relieved General MacArthur of his military command."

"Douglas MacArthur : Korean War" : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_MacArthur#Korean_War

"The American goal of saving South Korea’s government had been achieved, but because of the success and the prospect of uniting all of Korea under the government of Syngman Rhee, the Americans [...] continued the advance into North Korea. This marked a crucial moment in American foreign policy, when the American leaders decided to go beyond simply “containing” perceived Communist threats to actual rollback."

"The U.N. offensive greatly concerned the Chinese, who worried that the U.N. forces would not stop at the Yalu River, the border between the DPRK and China, and extend their rollback policy into China itself. Many in the West, including General MacArthur, thought that spreading the war to China would be necessary. However, Truman and the other leaders disagreed, and MacArthur was ordered to be very cautious when approaching the Chinese border. Eventually, MacArthur disregarded these concerns, arguing that since the North Korean troops were being supplied by bases in China, those supply depots should be bombed."

"Korean War : Invasion of North Korea" : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_War#Invasion_of_North_Korea

Answer 2

To invade North Korea