Korean Conflict -Isabella El-Hage

GEOGRAPHY:

SUMMARY/HISTORY:

Korea still, and has always been a conflicted state. It wasn’t always Communist North Korea and Anti-Communist South Korea. Back in 1910 Japan annexed Korea as one of their colonies, and until World War Two, Korea was under Japan’s rule. During World War Two, United States and Soviet Union made an agreement to occupy Korea after they defeated Japan. Soviet Troops would occupy the northern half, and American Troops would take the bottom half, with the 38th parallel serving as a border. August 15, 1945, Japan surrenders to the Allied Forces, and upon agreement American and Soviet troops began to occupy their designated areas. Now in 1947, with the spread of communism, North Korea turns Communist North Korea. In hopes of leaving South Korea an independent state, American troops leave South Korea. On June 25th of 1950, during the Cold War North Korea decided to cross the 38th parallel, invade South Korea, and attempt to take back South Korea under their Communist rule. American Troops came in to aid South Korea, while Communist China decides to pop in and aid North Korea. Just as American Troops invaded North Korea, Chinese Troops pushed them back behind the 38th parallel. It was agreed a “stale-mate”, and in conclusion there was no winner, the line that divided them before the war continues to divide them today, and though Chinese and American troops agreed on a “seize-fire”, the tensions between North Korea and the rest of the world have not seized.

NORTH KOREAN VIEW:

To this day, North Korea is seen as a huge threat, their humanitarian efforts in their own nation being none, their nuclear threats, and countless other mishaps have made the rest of the world perceive them as the ideal enemy. But what if the Soviet Union has decided to occupy the southern half, under the 38th parallel instead of the top? North Korea could have been the good guys, and we’d be looking at South Korea in a whole new light. Due to that agreement between the Soviet Union and the United States, North Korea was bound to fall under Communist rule. The Soviet Union didn’t just want to occupy the territory they decided to spread Communism too! WOOHOO!

SOUTH KOREAN VIEW:

South Korea is now a prosperous innovative state, with high standards of living, and influential culture. But as I stated before, what if the Soviet Union decided to occupy the southern half? We’d be seeing a very different Korea today. What if American troops had accomplished invading North Korea? The conflicts we are seeing today would be decreased A LOT. One is bound to ask, why didn’t South Korea step in and try to over take communist rule when North Korea was just developing into a crazed Communist state? American troops had to step in and aid South Korea so that they wouldn’t be over taken by Communist rule, if we hadn’t all of Korea could have been an even more powerful Communist state.

SUGGESTIONS FOR PEACE: 

As of now, I don’t think there is hope for ever merging the two nations, and I don’t think it would a good idea either. Both have different styles of governments, and finding an agreement between the two states would be impossible. If we are to do anything though, I think we need to step up our game in humanitarian efforts in North Korea. First by improving relations with North Korea, so that they trust us and allow us into their country. We would also need a lot of money to undo the damage they’ve done. So campaigns to rise awareness and collect money and goods. Then a team or organization to go into North Korea and start understanding and seeing the problems there are so we can know what kind of solutions to pose, and how to set forth our plans.