Hamgyong campaign
| Hamgyeong campaign | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Imjin War | ||||||||
| ||||||||
| Belligerents | ||||||||
| Japan | Joseon | Orangai (Jurchens) | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | ||||||||
|
Katō Kiyomasa Nabeshima Naoshige | Han Kŭkham (POW) | ? | ||||||
| Strength | ||||||||
|
20,000 3,000 Korean defectors | ? | ~10,000 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | ||||||||
| ? | ? | ? | ||||||
The Hamgyong campaign, also known as Katō Kiyomasa's northern campaign, was Kiyomasa's invasion of Hamgyeong Province, the northeastern region of Joseon (now Korea) during the Imjin War.
The campaign was largely due to the assistance of Korean defectors, who also handed over to the Japanese their princes, Sunhwa and Imhae. The Japanese reached the northeastern edge of Hamgyeong, crossed the Tumen River into Manchuria, and attacked the Orangai clan of Jurchens, but met with heavy resistance. Katō returned south and took up residence in Anbyeon, while Nabeshima Naoshige headquartered in Gilju. By winter, local resistance began pushing back at the Japanese occupation and laid siege to Gilju.