 |
| [left to right] Democratic People's Republic of Korea leader Kim Il-Sung and Republic of Korea leader Syngman Rhee |
Liberation from Japanese control came after Japan lost World War II and forcibly accepted the Potsdam Declaration on August 14, 1945 (F). Shortly before and after this event, forces occupied North Korea on August 8, while US forces occupied South Korea on September 8 (F). The US had set up a military alliance with conservative South Korean politicians, while Soviets allied with communist North Korean forces. After many attempts, the US and former USSR failed to agree on plans for reunifying Korea. The issue was presented at the UN meeting, and elections were only held in South Korea, due to North Korea’s denial of the UN elections’ competency (F). South Korea then elected a National Assembly that later formed a democratic constitution. On August 15, 1948, Syngman Rhee, the first president of the Republic of Korea was elected(F). At the same time, ex-anti-Japanese guerrilla leader Kim Il- Sung controlled North Korea. While both North and South claimed to contain the only legitimate government of all Korea, the UN general Assembly acknowledged only the Republic of Korea, or South Korea, as the singular and official government of Korea (F).
On June 25, 1950, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea invaded South Korea in an attempt to unify the peninsula under communist control(E). After advancing and taking over Seoul, the Republic of Korea’s capital, the UN Council declared the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea as the aggressor of the battle and ordered the troops to withdraw. Upon receive this news, US President Harry S. Truman ordered all US units to battle on June 30(E). Shortly after, the UN created a multinational command to join US troops in aiding the Republic of Korea. After disintegrating North Korea’s army, US General Douglas MacArthur drove his troops into North Korea, only to be engaged in battle by Chinese troops. China, who declared against the reunification of Korea by US and UN forces fought back until General MacArthur retreated and established the 38th parallel as the boundary between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea(E).
 |
| The 38th Parallel; The boundary line between North and South Korea. |
8 comments:
A prime example of the destruction of the Cold War! Korea, along with the other countries that suffered due to proxy-wars, suffered unfairly because of the problems pertaining to the U.S. and the USSR. Like Vietnam, the Cold War split Korea into two separate republics. These countries of lesser power including Korea, are like a playing field for the dominant powers, the U.S. and the USSR.
So basically, the communist USSR used North Korea to fight against the anti-communist US-backed South Korean.
Reminds me a lot of the Vietnam War, where US-backed South Korea was battling against the spread of communism to North Korea.
Quite frankly, US likes to get involved in a lot of proxy wars where they just had no place to be part of in the first place. US is like that meddling gossiper: hear rumors, react like a drama queen, go in and try to solve the problem themselves, but end up making the situation worse.
Just like how US backed South Korea and USSR supported North Korea during the Korean war, the US supplied mujahideen with weapons to weaken Soviet presence in Afghanistan, so it's basically another catfight between US and USSR.
Going along with Rachel's comment,
When the US aided South Korea, it reminded me of how USSR aided both Afghanistan and when they also helped out Joseph Mobutu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
For more info on the Democratic Republic of the Congo... Check out my blog here! :
http://drocindependence.blogspot.com/
Although both US and USSR seem to be very different, they sure help out other countries (only to hope for the spread of their government style. i.e. communism/capitalism)
Proxy Wars!
US and the USSR used other countries to fight their own war.
It resembles the Afghan war. US helped South Korea while USSR assisted North Korea and during the Afghan war, US supplied the "strugglers" with weapons trying to suppress the Soviet troops control in Afghanistan.
The US and USSR persuaded countries to be on their side.
In proxy wars, not only did the U.S. government use other countries to fight its wars, but it also intervened and changed the course of those countries' governments. Namely, the U.S. attempted to move those countries away from communism. In Korea, Guatemala, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Afghanistan, the U.S. typically tried to drive out communist leaders and place its own leaders in charge, while the communist leaders of those countries would seek the aid of the Soviet Union.
One specific commonality is that in both Korea and the Afghan War, the U.S. openly provided military aid to the anti-communist group, whereas in other cases such as Guatemala and the Congo, the U.S. government used the CIA to overthrow the communist leaders.
It is kinda sad Korea had to go through another war right after struggling with Japanese for independence. Although the war lasted from 1950 to 1953(not that long compared to other wars, right?) it still affects Koreans' lives all the time. Many people lost their family members across the border and they can't find them anymore unless they meet in the middle coincidently with help of a tour group. It is interesting how US and USSR used other countries for fighting their wars - because of their their own conflict, so many countries had to suffer from it. To the governement, it might just be a 'proxy war.' But for the people, it is 'losing a family' or 'lost of nation.'
Just like in Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Guatemala, the United States saw communism as a huge threat that they had to jump on by making sure that no other countries came under its rule. To ensure this, the US sent troops and financially backed South Korea who was opposing the communist party. During these conflicts, the US not only interferes in international governments, but also changes the course of that countries' government to be what they want, which is not always in the best interest of that country. For example when the United States interfered in Guatemala by driving its new leader out and replacing him with their own approved ruler, he instead “bled his country dry” leaving it in “a state of wreckage from which it has not yet recovered.”
Post a Comment