임진왜란 전반기 조명 군사 협력의 일단 - 함경도 일본군 퇴각과 관련하여－

Abstract

One large-scale military operation of the Japanese troops before the peace talk with the Ming troops during the first half of 1593 was the retreat of Katō Kiyomasa’s army from Hamgyŏng Province, located in the northeastern part of Korean Peninsula, in the second lunar month of 1593. After the withdrawal, the Japanese troops reinforced war potential along the strategically important areas south of the Han River in such a way that new lines of military operations stretched as far south as Ch’ungju in Ch’ungch’ŏng Province. Simultaneously, they also spread information about extensive military reinforcement, attack on the west coast of Chosŏn, and attack on the east coast of Ming in order to take over an advantageous position in peace negotiations. Meanwhile, Chosŏn paid close attention to the movement of the Japanese troops in Hamgyŏng Province after the Battel of Haengju, specifically one unit under Kiyomasa heading northwards for Hamhŭng and the other going down southwards. To counter Kiyomasa’s advance geared presumably to making contact with the Ming army, the Chosŏn government asked the Ming commanders to launch a massive offensive against the Japanese troops. To stop the other unit, the Chosŏn army made use of ambushes and surprise attacks. And, as opposed to the reinforcement of the Japanese troops after the withdrawal, the Chosŏn government not only observed carefully how they rebuilt their military strength in the central frontline area, including Kyyŏnggi, Kwang’wŏn and Ch’ungch’ŏng provinces, but also took great effort to facilitate joint operations with the Ming army. Nevertheless, the Chosŏn government found itself confronted with difficult circumstances in which to protect its own security vis-à-vis the Ming army, in search of a peace talk with the Japanese army, as well as the Japanese army, in preparation of counteroffensive operations, during the time. Hence, the retreat of the Japanese army from Hamgyŏng Province in the second lunar month of 1593 displayed vividly the way Chosŏn, Ming, and Japan fought in the war on their terms. This approach will enable us to illuminate the manner in which the Chosŏn government pursued a total war against Japan and the Ming army waged a limited war against Japan and to comprehend the state of the military cooperation between Chosŏn and Ming.