Korea is a peninsula of the Asian Continent (Far East). It is located between the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea. For many years it was linked to mainland China, but around 1910 it was attacked by Japanese colonialism, developing national sentiment in Koreans, which allowed the formation of organizations in favor of independence. Early in 1919 Emperor Li Hi, who was living under arrest, passed away. His death was blamed on the Japanese, a fact that further united Korean sentiment . As a result of this fact, all the intellectual circles drafted a declaration for its independence, calling on all the powers of the world, so that Japanese colonialism would withdraw from its territory. This movement was harshly repressed by the occupation authorities.
Situation in Korea after World War II
After World War II, and after the defeat of Japan, an agreement was reached between the victorious powers, determining that North Korea, north of the 38th parallel, would remain under Soviet command and South Korea, south of the same parallel. Southern, led by the US
In North Korea, the National Democratic United Front was founded in August 1946. , of socialist tendency and Soviet influence, directed by Kim II Sung. In the same way, in South Korea, in May 1948, the State Administration had been organized, with a conservative tendency, in charge of Syngman Rhee, with North American influence. Both peoples, both those of the North and those of the South, wanted their unification, a fact that had to be carried out under the supervision of the United Nations.
The unification attempts collided with the ideopolitical interests of the occupying nations. The case went to the UN General Assembly. Given the impossibility of Korean unification, the Republic of South Korea, with its capital Seoul, and the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea, with its capital Pyongyang, were proclaimed in 1948.
The occupation troops, Soviet and North American, withdrew from the scene although the latter continued to hold some positions. This was the motive for a bloody war that would last three years.
The Two Korea War
Towards June 1950, an infiltration of the forces of the North took place, which seriously endangered the stability of the government of the South . This Fact was used by the US within the UN Assembly, to send its forces on behalf of this international organization. US General Mac Arthur, landed his forces in South Korea (Inchon), and began a victorious counteroffensive, crossing the 38th parallel and occupying much of North Korea's territory .
The American advance was stopped at the end of 1950, due to the entry into the war of thousands of Chinese volunteers, who crossed the Yalu River , in support of the North Koreans. In addition, they received support in war material from the Soviets; in such a way that the North Americans had to withdraw, overcoming many difficulties, to the South of the 38th parallel. Mac Arthur proposed to attack Continental China. This thesis did not prosper because if it had been accepted, the World would have entered the third world conflagration.
On July 27, 1953, the Pannunjun armistice was signed , creating a demilitarized zone, at the 38th parallel and definitively dividing the two Koreas, although their unification is currently being attempted.