Battle of Qingshanli

After the March 1st Movement of 1919 by Koreans calling for liberation from Japanese occupation, some Korean activists formed an independence army in Manchuria. The Japanese government asked China to subdue them, to limited effect. On 2 October 1920, the Independence Army raided Hun-ch'un and killed 13 Japanese including the commissioner of the consulate police. In response, Japan decided to send troops to eastern Manchuria. Japan immediately held talks with China, and on 16 October received permission for military action in eastern Jilin from the governor of Jilin. ==Combat==

The Japanese forces who joined the expedition were the 28th Brigade of the 19th Division, which was on its way back to Japan, and two units from the 11th and 13th Divisions who had been sent to Vladivostok. Among them, only the 19th Division of the Choson Army of Japan, part of the Imperial Japanese Army garrisoned in Korea, engaged in combat. The 19th Division was deployed to Hunchun (Isobayashi Detachment), Wangqing (Kimura Detachment) and Yanji-Helong (Azuma Detachment). The Isobayashi and Kimura detachments engaged in no significant conflict. From 21 to 23 October, the Northern military administration office army () led by Kim Jwa-jin lured Japanese soldiers and attacked them in Baiyunping (), Quanshuiping (), and Wanlougou (). The Korean guerilla force was victorious. The Japanese forces were eventually relieved by the Azuma Detachment. The Azuma Detachment engaged in combat with the Korean Independence Army on 23 October; Korean forces were led by Hong Beom-do. The Korean troops had the Japanese Azuma Detachment at a disadvantage, and the two forces fought the final battle in the town of Yulang (). The Korean army claimed to have killed 1,200 Japanese soldiers and wounded thousands of others on 26 October, though the number of casualties is debated. After the assault, Korean forces retreated, pursued by the Japanese army. The number of Japanese casualties was exaggerated, according Kim Hak-Cheor (also known as Song Jin-woo), who participated in many battles as a member of the Korean Independence Army. He argued that the number of Japanese casualties was exaggerated by a factor of 300 or more. According to him, when Korean independence forces encountered the Japanese army, they lost 9 out of 10 times, and even if they won, they could only kill 2 or 3 Japanese soldiers. ==Controversies==

Hunchun massacre South Korea views the Hunchun incident as a deception by Japan, who they believe used it as an excuse to dispatch troops. Casualties of the Japanese army Japanese sources claim 11 dead and 24 wounded, and no officer casualties. On the contrary, South Koreans refer to this battle as the "great victory at Cheongsalli" and consider it a victory of the Independence Army. For the casualties of the Japanese army, Hanguk Doknip Undongji Hyulsa () by Bak Inseok (1920) states "900-1,600 including Regimental Commander Kanō," Daehan Minguk jeongdangsa compiled by the National Election Commission (1964) "over 1,000," Hanguk jeonjaengsa by the Military History Compilation Committee of the Ministry of National Defense (1967) "3,300 dead and wounded," and Hanguk Minjok Undongsa by Jo Jihun (1975) "3,300 including Regimental Commander Kanō." According to Kim Hak-Cheor, who participated in many battles as a member of the armed group for the independence of Korea, the number of Japanese casualties that Koreans claimed was exaggerated more than 300 times. == See also ==