1. Cold War Tensions 1945-1994 Korea was heavily influenced during this time by new forces, (USSR & USA). They didn't always agree upon on another on many things
1.1. "This division of Korea, after more than a millennium of being unified, was seen as controversial and temporary by both regimes. From 1948 until the start of the civil war on June 25, 1950, the armed forces of each side engaged in a series of bloody conflicts along the border."
2. Aug 26, 1945 38th Parallel was agreed upon between the Soviets and the Americans
2.1. "On August 10, 1945 two young officers – Dean Rusk and Charles Bonesteel – were assigned to define an American occupation zone. Working on extremely short notice and completely unprepared, they used a National Geographic map to decide on the 38th parallel."
2.2. Social - In South Korea, people had a democratic type of approach, they had the freedom of speech and could influence one another
3. 1910 Japan Annexes Korea as a consequence of the first Sino-Japanese War.
3.1. Social - All Koreans were discriminated in rights such as equality among citizens because the Japanese viewed them as inferior Economical/Political- Imperialism was starting to play in Japan, It formed a colony in Korea and other areas. These colonies were for economic gains as the new Industrial Japan needed raw materials.
3.2. "Japan forcefully acquired three major foreign territories between 1894 and 1910: Taiwan in 1895 after the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-5; Korea as a protectorate in 1905 after the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-5, then as a colony when unilaterally annexed by Japan in 1910; and the Kwantung Leased Territories in 1905 in southern Manchuria when Japan succeeded to Russia's leases after the Russo-Japanese War. This section of the essay summarizes briefly the imperialistic expansion of Japan during the period and the actions of the world's imperialist powers that influenced the course of Japan's actions."
3.3. Imperial Japan entered World War 2 on the Axis side, eventually all their allies got defeated, after the United States use the atomic bombs, Japan surrender in fear of Soviet invasion. Japan had to give up all it's imperial gains including a few islands, Taiwan, and Korea.
4. Citations: 1- "Korean War." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 23 May 2016. 2- History.com Staff. "Korean War." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 01 Jan. 2009. Web. 23 May 2016. 3-Wikipedia. Korean War, n.d. Web. 23 May 2016.
5. 1950 North Korean Army pushes the South Korean government back to Pusan. U.S. preparing coalition.
5.1. The Aggression escalated when the North Korean regime invaded the South Korean Republic in 1950
5.1.1. "In June 1950 North Korea launched 223,000 soldiers supported by 150 tanks across the border into South Korea. The North Korean People’s Army (KPA) was a conventional army equipped with Russian tanks, artillery and tactical aircraft. Many North Korean soldiers were hardened veterans of the war against Japan and the Chinese Civil War. KPA soldiers were well trained and equipped. Tactics were based on Soviet doctrine which emphasized rapid advances spearheaded by armored and infantry assaults. The quality and power of the KPA’s initial invasion resulted in its opponents being forced back to the southern tip of the Korean peninsula."
5.2. "At first, the war was a defensive one–a war to get the communists out of South Korea–and it went badly for the Allies. The North Korean army was well-disciplined, well-trained and well-equipped; Rhee’s forces, by contrast, were frightened, confused, and seemed inclined to flee the battlefield at any provocation."
5.3. 1950 A United States led U.N. coalition against the aggressive North Korea was established to push them back
5.3.1. "Communism was acting in Korea, just as Hitler, Mussolini and the Japanese had ten, fifteen, and twenty years earlier. I felt certain that if South Korea was allowed to fall, Communist leaders would be emboldened to override nations closer to our own shores. If the Communists were permitted to force their way into the Republic of Korea without opposition from the free world, no small nation would have the courage to resist threat and aggression by stronger Communist neighbors."
6. Chinese Communist party agreed to assist North Korea with the Soviet Union in return for resources and aid to help them fight the war.
6.1. "Initially, this new strategy was a success. An amphibious assault at Inchon pushed the North Koreans out of Seoul and back to their side of the 38th parallel. But as American troops crossed the boundary and headed north toward the Yalu River, the border between North Korea and Communist China, the Chinese started to worry about protecting themselves from what they called “armed aggression against Chinese territory.” Chinese leader Mao Zedong (1893-1976) sent troops to North Korea and warned the United States to keep away from the Yalu boundary unless it wanted full-scale war" & "The contribution made by the Soviets was vital. They provided diplomatic support, strategic and grand tactical planning, including the planning of the invasion of South Korea, and essential logistical support. They supplied and trained the air forces of China and North Korea. Soviet pilots flew aircraft with Chinese or North Korean markings and after the war claimed to have shot down over 400 UN aircraft."
6.2. North Koreans push back to relatively to the 38th parallel and agree on an armistice to halt the war.
6.2.1. Although MacArthur's dismissal ignited a political firestorm, most historians have agreed that Truman had little choice but to uphold the doctrine of civilian control of the military. But on military grounds, the picture is less clear. Whether or not his proposals would have ended the war they probably would have avoided the stalemate, which lasted for another two years. Not until nearly two million more had died did the Korean War end, when an armistice was signed on July 27, 1953."
6.2.2. Present day - South Korea turned to be more prosperous than their brother on the North Korea. Militarily wise, while it is true North has the atomic bomb, South Korea's military is more advanced than ever before.
6.2.2.1. "Since the war, Korea has remained divided along the DMZ. North and South have remained in a state of conflict, with the opposing regimes both claiming to be the legitimate government of the whole country. Sporadic negotiations have failed to produce lasting progress towards reunification."