Throughout most of its history, Korea has existed as one country with a rich culture and
history. Then in the 1940's, Korea was controlled by Japan. World War II broke out, and
the Allies defeated the Axis powers. The country of Korea was divided into two parts --
the north and the south. The north was occupied by communist Russian forces and the
south by American troops. The dividing line was the 38th parallel(see map). In 1950, a
civil war began between the two Koreas, further separating them. Both countries have
since established totally different ways of life that include government, economics, and
lifestyles. As a result of all that has transpired and recent incidents, it would appear
to be highly improbable that there will be a united Korea in the near future.
The known history of Korea dates back thousands of years before Christ. It was a
nation with a common heritage, language, and ethnicity. Due to Japan's role in World War
II and the fact that Japan had occupied Korea, the country was divided. Many Koreans had
been displaced by Japanese colonization and others by the establishment of the 38th
parallel border line. Korea was not an axis power. It is difficult to understand why
Korea would have to be divided as was Germany.
At first, Korea was supposed to be unified with a multilateral administration. But the
cold war changed the United States' mission to unilateral containment of the spread of
Soviet communism. Supported by the Soviets, North Korea attacked South Korea in June of
1950. The South Koreans pushed into North Korea with American aid. But the Soviet
Union, helped the North Koreans to push the South Koreans back . "During the bitterly
destructive Korean War, the entire peninsula was devastated. Some three million of its
population were killed and more than ten million were left homeless and jobless."
(History in modern) Stalemate resulted in 1953 in terms of land gain. The 38th parallel
remained the dividing line. The Korean War did not resolve anything, allowing problems
to continue up to today. After that time Soviet influence in the North diminished with
the Chinese taking their place. Throughout the Korean War period, Koreans were trying to
adjust to the changes in their lives from Japan's colonization forward.
As a result of the 46-year separation, North and South Korea have grown increasingly
opposite. "...Though the regimes of both north and south were authoritarian and owed
their inception to foreign powers, the two parts of the peninsula were set to evolve in
very different ways."(pg.Korea the search) They have different ideas about religion and
education, different governments and different economies. The many contrasting elements
adopted by each of the two countries have existed since the Korean War. Neither country
has shown signs of changing its ways. The differences that divide the two countries
cannot be overstated.
South Korea is a very open society. South Korea contains many types of practiced
religion. Buddhism has the largest amount of followers. In South Korea, education is
used to teach the cultural heritage of the country and to promote democratic
institutions. Both education and religion are considered vital to the people. In
government, the controlling party is democratic. The leaders are elected by the people.
The government guarantees freedom of the press and religion with few limitations. South
Korea's economy has been growing at an incredible rate. The country's economic growth
has increased by more than five percent in the last few years.(InsouthKoreaBuisiness )
It is stepping forward into the age of technology by putting satellites into space,
building nuclear power plants, creating telecommunication systems, and building and
utilizing high speed railways.
North Korea is a closed society. North Korea is ruled by communism. Because of
communist philosophy, religion is discouraged, and more than two thirds of the people are
non-religious. Unlike South Korea, the North Korean government uses education as a tool
by which to instill communism. There is a constitution which guarantees freedom of the
press, religion, and speech. However, the communists limit these freedoms to ensure
control of the country. Presently, the North Korean economy is in shambles and barely
functions. Due to natural desators and the fact that trade basically occurs only with
its communist neighbors. Surrounding countries are tired of supporting it, and South
Korea is worried about its economic collapse. "In the north they are short of food, short
of fuel, short of everything."(quote #1, *^%$%#&*^%#) South Koreans fear an increase in
the flood of North Korean defectors should the economy worsen.
Recently, there have been a number of incidents that have brought tensions between the
Koreas to a head. These situations include: a North Korean submarine running aground in
South Korea, the trial of two North Korean ex-presidents being tried for treason by South
Korea, the question of the nuclear capability of North Korea, and violent student
radicals in South Korea. The strain between the Koreas has heightened as a result.
In September 1996, a submarine carrying armed North Koreans went aground in South Korea
while trying to off-load the commandos. South Korean soldiers killed approximately 26
saboteurs from the vessel. The submarine went aground while trying to off-load the
commandos. The North Koreans even killed some of the crew from the sub themselves as
they would have burdened the commandos. The North Koreans, however, claim that entire
incident was a training exercise gone bad. United States Defense Secretary Perry said
that all the evidence points to the fact that the North Koreans are lying. It is
reported from South Korea that "a senior government official said it was now less likely
than ever that South Korea would give aid or allow broad investments in North Korea."
(The New York) This latest incursion resembles one that took place in 1968 when a team
of North Korean commandos infiltrated in order to assassinate the president of South
Korea. Kim Young Sam, present South Korean president, said, "It(The North Korean regime)
has not given up its illusion of unifying the peninsula under communism."
Shortly before the submarine incident, two ex-presidents of North Korea, living in South
Korea, Rae Tae Woo and Chun Doo Hwan were tried for treason in August 1996. Both were
convicted. Chun was sentenced to serve more than 22 years in prison, and Rae received
the death sentence. As South Korea maintains that its laws would prevail were the
country to be reunified, any North Korean officials would be punishable for their
offenses as well. Unless these individuals receive special treatment under
reunification, they "are now all the more likely to use everything in their power -
including military threats or even war - to perpetuate the peninsulas North-South
division."(Wall St.$%*^$%^*)
The nuclear capability of the North is another serious issue. As recently as the
submarine episode, the South Korean defense ministry said that "North Korea may launch a
general attack on South Korea deploying long range artillery pieces, Scud missiles tapped
with bio-chemicals, and perhaps nuclear devices." (computer 1) For the past few years,
North Korea has denied testing nuclear devices and has delayed inspections of nuclear
facilities as provided for by the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty.
In August of 1996, another event occurred that was divisive although it was not meant to
be. Seven thousand radical university students, in South Korea, rioted after a protest
against the separation of the two Koreas. The violence in the clash between students and
the police has caused the government to pledge to destroy all radical student movements.
The students had used gasoline bombs, rocks, and steal pipes against the police.
Resentment against such student radical movements has spread amongst the general
population.
When considering the present tense situation, it is important to consider geographical
and political data about Korea. The Korean peninsula is about the size of Minnesota.
There are about 20 million people in the North and around 40 in the South. The divided
country has been in a state of civil war for the past 46 years. The peninsula is
surrounded by China, Russia, and Japan. The United States has kept troops in South Korea
throughout that time period. . Both countries have received massive support from the
super powers. The North is communistic and the South is capitalistic The cold war that
has ended in Europe has not ceased in Asia. "Conjure up a present in which more than a
million soldiers confront each other across a Mason-Dixon line, armed to the teeth with
the latest equipment; the line is so firm that nothing crosses it..." (The 2 Koreas,
&^$^*%) The latest equipment includes bombers, nuclear weapons, chemical warfare, naval
vessels, etc. Given recent divisive situations, the potential for all-out warfare to
develop between the two Koreas has increased. Reunification, as in Germany, becomes more
difficult with each passing day.
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