 On the west side of the <unk> , North Korean Major General <unk> <unk> Sam , commanding the <unk> 9th Division , issued his operations order to the division on August 28 . Its mission in the forthcoming attack was to outflank and destroy the US troops at <unk> <unk> by capturing the <unk> and <unk> areas to cut off the US 2nd Division 's route of supply and withdrawal between <unk> and Pusan . However , the North Koreans weren 't aware that the US 2nd Infantry Division had recently replaced the US 24th Infantry Division in positions along the <unk> River . Consequently , they expected lighter resistance ; the 24th troops were exhausted from months of fighting but the 2nd Division men were fresh and newly arrived in Korea . They had only recently been moved into the line . The North Koreans began crossing the <unk> River under cover of darkness at certain points . 
