"The Chinese failed of accomplish their basic mission, which prisoners agreed was the destruction of the 1st Marine Division. In every instance the efforts of the first night assault were the most formidable, with enemy effectiveness declining sharply after a second or third attack. The explanation seems to be that the 12 divisions were sent into northeast Korea with supplies, which would have been sufficient only if the first strong attempts had succeeded. The comments by the 26th Army CCF support this conclusion."

As to the reason why the Chinese took no advantage of the Hungnam redeployment, there is no doubt that they were too riddled by battle and non-battle casualties to make the effort. The Chinese PLA had been militarily ineffective in the Chosin Reservoir operation and required a considerable period of time for replacement, re-equipment, and reorganization.

Thus it appeared that the Marines not only saved themselves in the Chosin Reservoir fight; they also saved the Eighth Army from being assailed by reinforcements from northeast Korea in the CCF offensive.