English: Following the stunning success of the North Korean invasion of South Korea in the summer of 1950, United Nations forces were trapped in the southeast corner of the peninsula in an area known as the Pusan Perimeter. With the bulk of the North Korean People's Army (NKPA) engaged around Pusan, UN Supreme Commander Gen. Douglas MacArthur began advocating for a daring amphibious strike on the peninsula's west coast at Inchon. This he argued would catch the NKPA off guard, while landing UN troops close to the capital at Seoul and placing them in a position to cut the North Korean's supply lines. Many were initially skeptical of MacArthur's plan as Inchon's harbor possessed a narrow approach channel, strong current, and wildly fluctuating tides. Also, the harbor was surrounded by easily defended seawalls. In presenting his plan, Operation Chromite, MacArthur cited these factors as reasons the NKPA would not anticipate an attack at Inchon. After finally winning approval from Washington, MacArthur selected the US Marines to lead the attack. Ravaged by post-World War II cutbacks, the Marines consolidated all available manpower and reactivated aging equipment to prepare for the landings.