Operation Rat Killer

Before the operation, the guerrillas were allegedly responsible for harassing nearly a third of UN forces and conducting regular attacks on roads and railways used by them. After the operation, the guerrilla forces were greatly weakened, although a resurgence remained a threat until the end of the war.

Background

In 1951, a large number of communist guerrilla groups, ranging in size from a few hundred to several thousand, were operating in territory supposedly controlled by UN forces and were attacking roads and railways, sniping at UN forces, and raising funds from local inhabitants. These guerrilla bands were particularly active in the Jirisan mountains, although sniping and guerrilla activity had been reported even in the capital, Seoul. Local anti-communist militias formed to fight back, sometimes engaging in savage reprisals against villages deemed to be supporting the guerrillas.