Part of this came down to pure equipment. Korea was divided into two zones, the Soviet-backed north, and the US-backed south. The original partition of Korea had been highly arbitrary and temporary, and with the wrapping up of occupation affairs the UN security council was not able to come to a conclusion (the USSR boycotting) regarding the fate of Korea. What was supposed to be nation-wide elections collapsed, with both sides claiming the legitimate governance of the entire peninsula. In particular the South's strongman, Syngman Rhee, alarmed US policymakers with his rhetoric about reuniting the peninsula, by force if need be. The decision was made not to arm Rhee's regime with heavy weapons (i.e. artillery, armor, anti-tank weapons) for fear that he would use this material to start a war with his northern neighbor.

While a good ideal, this decision proved flawed as Kim Il-Sung, leader of North Korea, had no such compunctions or lack of supply. He spoke with the Soviet Union (Stalin was still alive and in charge at this time) about his desire to launch a war of reconquest in the south, and was given the approval of the communist bloc along with military equipment such as T-34/85 tanks and other armored vehicles. When North Korea's forces did sweep south across the border they found soldiers ill-equipped to fight them, and quite unwilling otherwise. The ROK (South Korea/Republic of Korea) army was still in tatters after numerous uprisings and internal strife that had only recently been suppressed. The United States immediately mobilized forces to intervene, but the only troops in theater were a token occupation force in Japan. Task Force Smith was formed and thrown into the path of the attacking North Koreans in hopes of buying time for substantial reinforcements to be mustered. Unfortunately for Task Force Smith it was discovered even the 'modern' bazooka was largely incapable of penetrating the T-34's armor, even from point-blank shots to the rear of the vehicle, considered its weakest armor section. The artillery Task Force Smith brought with them proved only slight more effective, as the shrapnel and concussion from High-Explosive shells was capable of knocking out sensitive systems such as tracks, optics, or radio antennae. Unfortunately the only easy way to hit a moving, small target (such as a tank) with artillery is to wait for it to get dangerously close and level the barrels for direct fire - a suicidal proposition considering these artillery pieces are meant to be huddled well behind safe lines.

North Korean tanks were reported to have rode right through Smith's entrenched positions, more or less shrugging off the firepower even a 'competent' organized unit could bring to bear. The Task Force is reported to have held up the advance for but a few hours, while the United States had to bring its divisions from Guam, Hawaii, or the West Coast.