 Unknown to the UN planners , however , there were already 180 @,@ 000 Chinese troops stationed in Korea , with more reinforcements infiltrating across the border . Although the PVA was ordered to maintain a defensive posture in North Korea until Soviet weapons could arrive in the spring of 1951 , its earlier successes convinced the Chinese leadership that the PVA was capable of turning the tide of UN advance . Encouraged by the fact that the UN did not know their true numbers , PVA Commander Peng Dehuai outlined the Second Phase Campaign , a counteroffensive aimed at pushing the UN forces back to a line half way between Ch 'ongch 'on River and Pyongyang . As a part of a deception plan to further reinforce the weak appearance of Chinese forces , Peng ordered all units to rapidly retreat north while releasing POWs along the way . With 230 @,@ 000 troops at his disposal and another 150 @,@ 000 heading to the Chosin Reservoir , Peng authorized the start of the Second Phase Campaign on November 22 , 1950 . 
