Yes, well.. I will be talking about Korea in this entry.
First of all, I'm not being racsit or anything here. Just thought you want to know. I'm just proud that I'm a Korean. ^-^ All you other Koreans should be too!
History
According to legend, the first acknowledged kingdom in Korea emerged in 2333 BC. Tan'gun Wang'gom, the first great ruler of Korea, established his capital at Asadal (now known as P'yong'yang) and called his kingdom Choson, tht means "Land of the Morning Calm." The Tan'gun legend not only reflects Korean ideals, but helped develop the pride of a people with a long history and an ancient culture. Through the centuries, Koreans have preserved this legend which became a source of spiritual comfort in times of chaos. Much of what Westerners find so irrational and inconsistent with legends such as this represents the whole foundation of Korean culture and is the key to understanding their history.
Liberation and the Korean War
On August 15th, 1945, Emperor Hirohito announced on the radio that Japan had surrendered and that the long war in the Pacific was finally over. (YAY) The Japanese surrender to the Allies meant that forty years of harsh colonial rule would come to an end. The 15th of August, the day that WW II was officially over, was also the Day of Liberation in Korea.
But unfortunately, liberation from the Japanese would not spell the end for Korea's misfortunes. The division of Korea into two separate states loomed just beyond the horizon. And perhaps the greatest tragedy of all, the Korean War, lingered not too far behind. The events that would occur between Liberation Day and August 25th (the day that there were two official governments in the Korean peninsula) would set the stage for the tragedy of the Korean War.
ORIGINS OF THE KOREAN WAR
The surrender of Japan was inevitable after the United States dropped the first atom bomb on Hiroshima in August of 1945. Stalin was waiting for just such an opportunity where the Soviets could enter the war against Japan while incurring minimal loss, and so it was no surprise when he declared war against Japan after the U.S. dropped the second atom bomb. Upon Japanese surrender on August 15, 1945, Soviet military forces swept through Manchuria and North Korea taking over Japanese control over these provinces. The United States reacted in alarm when she realized the potential danger of having the strategic Korean peninsula controlled by communist forces. President Truman proposed a joint occupation of Korea by the two powers where the Soviets would occupied the territory north of the 38 parallel, while the U.S. would controle the area south of the line.
Initially, it was the intention of both sides to establish a stable and unified Korea in order to withdraw their military forces from the area. However, neither the Soviet Union or the U.S. wanted the peninsula to fall into the other's hand. In short, the Soviets and the U.S. desired to withdraw their military and resources out of Korea, but they also wanted to leave behind a nation that was favorable to each's ideology; the Soviets desired a Communist Korea whereas the U.S. wanted a democratic nation to be established. And so the roots of division were laid from the very onset of Korea's liberation.
Communist elements in the north were present during the Japanese colonial period, but with the north now under Soviet tutelage the leftist factions were able to seize power. During the period of civil turmoil of 1945- 1946, there were many different leftist factions vying for power. It was during this time that the Soviets helped establish Kim Il Sung, a product of the Soviet military machine, as the leading political figure in the north.
In the south an entirely different story unfolded. The KPR (Koreans People's Republic), which was very leftist in nature, attested that they were the political voice of the korean people. However, General Hodge's primary aims at the time was to prevent communist takeover of south korea, and so he banned the KPR. During this time, a korean patriot named Syngman Rhee began to acquire political power among the conservative elitists in South Korea. His dogmatic advocacy for Korea's full independence often caused friction between him and U.S. officials. But due to Rhee's strong stance against communism, and because of his commitment to maintaining civil order during these turbulent times, General Hodge had no other choice but to give his support to Rhee. Therefore, with U.S. support and the use of strong arm tactics, Syngman Rhee eventually positioned himself has the dominant political leader in South Korea by 1947
Although two different political governments had emerged in Korea by 1947, the fact that they were still only provisional governments gave the korean people hope for a possible unification. Up untill this time, nationalists from both the North and South continued their efforts to negotiate a unification treaty, however, unreconcilable differences between the U.S. and the Soviet Union prevented any such goal. Eventually, the U.S. concluded that the chasm that existed between the U.S. and the Soviet Union in establishing a unified Korea was insurmountable and so they pressured the United Nations to allow for a general election in Korea. Suspicious of foul play by the U.S., the Soviets refused to allow the election to be held in North Korea. Nevertheless, the U.S. advocated that voting should still be carried out in the south in order to establish some sort of legitimate government, and so in May 1948 South Korea held its first general elections. Soon thereafter, the Republic of Korea (ROK) was established and was promptly recognized by the United Nations as the legitemate government of Korea. Up until and through these elections there were heavy protests by Korean leftists who feared that these election would kill all chances for unification. During the same time the north followed with similar actions by holding its own elections. When the votes were tabulated, Kim Il Sung was declared president of the new Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPKR) which was immediately recognized by the Soviet Union and other communist countries as the legetimate government of North Korea. By winter of 1948 the worst fears of Korean Mationalist were confirmed as korea became permanently divided at the 38th parallel.
The elections of 1948 and the division of Korea that ensued set the stage for a civil war. And by 1950, both North and South Korea sensed that war was inevitable. Not only were their armies getting prepared for war, but both Syngman Rhee and Kim Il Sung declared on several occasions that military force would be necessary to unify Korea. However, in terms of being prepared for war, North Korea had a clear advantage over the south. Not only did North Korea possess a larger army, it also had many experienced veterans who had fought in China's Civil War. In addition North Korea by this time were manufacturing some of their own weapons as well possessing many Soviet made weapons. South Korea on the other hand had soldiers who had not even attended basic training. Finally, North Korea had the support of the Chinese Military Therefore, in light of North Korea's military advantage on the eve of the war, it is reasonable to assume that it was North Korea that fired the first shot on June 25, 1950 that started the Korean War.
EVENTS OF THE KOREAN WAR
From the day when North Koreans attacked South Korea on June 25, 1950 to the day of the armistice on July 27, 1953, the events of the Korean war revealed the mass destruction, pain, and suffering Koreans had to endure. At the end of the war, more than 3 million Koreans died while millions of refugees remained homeless and distraught. About 1 million Chinese died in this battle and American casualties numbered 54,246 people. This section will explore and follow the events, strategies, and atrocities of the Korean war.
The Korean war can be divided into three phases.
-The first phase began on June 25, 1950 and ended on the day United Nations (U.N) forces thrusted into North Korea's territory.
-The second phase of the Korean war was essentially the Southern unit's attack and retreat from North Korea.
-The last phase of the war consisted of the "see-saw" fighting on the thirty-eighth parallel, stalemate, and negotiation talks.
On June 25, 1950 at 4 a.m., 70,000 North Korean troops with Russian T-34 tanks crossed the thirty-eighth parallel. President Truman appealed to the United Nations to take "police action" against the "unwarranted" attack. Hence, under the "name of the United Nations", the United States was able to send troops and forces.
On June 29, the North Korean Army, Korean People's Army (KPA), pressed southward and captured Seoul. By August, KPA forces were on their drive toward the Pusan perimeter, which consisted of the northern area of Pohang, southern area of Chinju-Masan region, and Taegu as the major center city.
The U.N forces were on the defensive side until September 15 when the American forces, under the command of General MacArthur successfully landed on Inchon. The landing allowed the U.N forces to break through the Pusan perimeter, to retake Seoul, and to cross the thirty-eighth parallel by September 30. By the end of the first phase of the Korean war, 111,000 South Koreans died and 57,000 were missing.
In the second phase of the Korean war, KPA forces were in retreat. In two days, the Southern forces were approximately 25 miles north of the parallel. Within a week, they captured Wonson, located on the eastern side of North Korea. Thereafter, they marched toward the Yalu River with almost no resistence from the Northern units.
The unexpectant decision of China's entry into the war in early October turned the tide of the war. The Northern units, consisting of Sino-Korean troops, sent the U.N forces retreati ng again. On December 6, the Communist forces retook Pyongyang. And by the end of December, they recrossed the parallel and retook Seoul.
But Northern forces were not as successful as their first attack because by the end of January 1951, the U.N forces were back on the Han river and by March 14, they were able to retake Seoul from North Korea's hands. The conditions in Korea during this time was one of desparation. One can only imagine the chaos not only in Seoul, which exchanged hands 4 times, but in every city in both North and South Korea. Koreans frantically fled their homes in search for refugee camps, safety, shelter, and food.
During the months of May and April of 1951, there was a sort of "see-saw" fighting along the thirty-eighth parallel with neither units really advancing beyond the parallel. By summer of 1951, talks for an armistice began.
Throughout mid-1951 to 1953, negotiation for peace treaty stalled and reopened. A major issue that stalled negotiations was whether POWs should be repatriated on voluntary basis or not. In addition, accusations about war crimes committed by United States stalled negotiations.
Fighting continued with intensified guerilla warfare during the armistice talk. "Operation Ratkiller" was designed to counter guerilla warfare. Also, aerial bombing in North Korea also intensified as the negotiation continued. In fact, to intimate North Korea and in order to end the war quickly, the use of nuclear weapons were considered.
By June 8, 1953, the basic agreement over the POW issue was settled. Both sides agreed on the principle of voluntary repatriation. And by June 17, agreement on the final truce-demarcation line became finalized. Nevertheless, everyone but Syngman Rhee was pleased with the negotiations. He jeopardized the negotiations allowing the release and escape of 27,000 Korean POWs on June 18. This angered North Koreans who wanted United States to take the responsibility to make certain that the negotiations would be carried out by Sygnman Rhee. In one final offensive attack where 7,400 South Koreans were killed and United States forces endangered, United States agreed to take responsibility in enforcing the agreement of the armistice. The armistice was finally signed on July 27, 1953.
Consequences of the Korean War
The Korean War was the first battle in the decades long Cold War. The aftermath of the war left long-lasting effects on military, political and personal levels. A result of the end of the Korean War was that the emerging purpose of being for both Koreas was to oppose the other. The effects were also far-reaching as they signalled a new atmosphere in global relationships beyond the borders of Asia.
bibliography: http://myhome.shinbiro.com/~mss1/history.html
uh.... well.. yes.. that is long. sweatdrop Most probably because uh.. it used the ctrl and... yeah.
ANYWAY, now is my opinion on Korea.
GOOD THINGS ABOUT KOREA!
-We made DDR
-MABINOGI!! The online internet game that my sister is most likely addicted to....
-Pucca Love!
-Mashimaro!
-Chocomaro?
-KIMCHI! heart
-the so called, 'cute' spiky hair dudes?
BAD THINGS ABOUT KOREA!
-I'll think about it and tell you later.
Hopefully this might have helped you learn about Korea and.. stuff...
PLEASE NO CRITS ABOUT THIS JOURNAL ENTRY!
Your friend,
Suiso
View User's Journal
Suiso's Scribble Pad
o_o
 |
User Comments: [5] [add]
|
Mel7 Community Member 
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
Suiso
Community Member 
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
_Pink-n-Black-kitten_ Community Member 
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
sumitro
Community Member 
|
|
|||||||||||||||
User Comments: [5] [add]
Community Member