Sneak+Peak+of+History

File No.2: Historical Problems media type="youtube" key="0ADTVE741KQ" height="344" width="425"  Japanese imperialism, flourished before and during World War II, was the start of foreign influence. Korean peninsula was colonized under Japanese for about 36 years. World War II ended after Hiroshima and Nagasaki were launched with powerful A-bombs. Then, Allies settled in Korea Peninsula. USA and the Soviet Union, together, disarmed Japan. But that wasn't the aim; Korea was another country, Soviet Union and USA "used" to fight off the Cold War. Cold war was named the "cold war," due to America and Soviet’s “in”direct fights. These cunning actions lead Korean to a civil war. Democratic ideas of Americans influence southern Koreans while Soviet Union influenced the north; confrontation between the two countries begins. As opposed to each other, Soviet Union helps North to set up it's own government with Kim Il Sung in power. Lee Sung Man creates South Korea's government and promises there won’t be any more general elections of Korean Peninsula. Than, on June 25 1950, North Korean's surprisingly invades South Korea. Kim Il Sung’s power hungry plan, influenced from the Soviets, was to transform the whole peninsula into a communist party. However, soon the United States aid of military intervention, which were planned, helps South Korea to stop the aggression, and make the two different countries, in armistice, till' today.

media type="custom" key="3907595" (Korea Civil War history – Yahoo! Encyclopedia)

=To end war? Brutal Truth of Allies (U.S./Soviet) = = Damage: = South: Major materials were damaged during the brutal civil war. About 20 billion dollars worth were damaged, which were over the yearly National income. Manufactures, Chemical, machinery, coal-mining saw a big damage. 80% of the Power Sector was lost. With the 100% damage cost, roughly 40% were on private houses, 20.2% on private industrial, and 20% in education sector.

The year before the War, 1949, national income of Korean Peninsula were 9.7%, but after a year, in 1950 South Korea alone had a negative income of -15.1%, followed by 1951 -6.1%, 1952 8.0%, 1953 25.7%. Thanks to the aid of United States, Korea's economics grew rapidly. However, it wasn't until 1957 we started recovering to the level before the Civil war. (Effect of Civil War in Korea video)

North Korea: North Korea wore more damage than South Korea; even after the truce talks began, the U.S. didn't stop bombing in North Korea.

North Korea had severely damaged the industries. Total 8007 businesses have been destroyed, and industrial production fell 64% than before the war. 74% of power production, 89% of the coal production, 90% of the metal production and 77% of the chemical industry fell. More than a quarter of the bombing damage contributed to destroy farmland (total 90,000 cultivation was reduced), 250,000 cattle and 380,000 pigs were killed, and agricultural production during the war dropped to 76%. In contrast, North Korea's per capital income in 1953 reduced 30% than 1949.

The reason for this severe damage is the outcome of United States indiscriminate bombardment. 430,000 bombs were dropped in Pyongyang, alone. By the end of 1953, U.S. military dropped of the 26 large bombs, 400,000 rocket bombs, approximately 1500,000 of Napalm bomb and used 200 million bullets. This was over total bomb usage in Pacific War and the created Korean peninsula to move in to the ruins, especially in North Korea. (The American Experience | Race for the Super bomb &Korean History- Civil War and the U.S. military)

In addition, United States has created genocide in North Korea. In the 52 days U.S. military occupied Sincheon, they killed adults and children from different ages indiscriminately; in total 3,5383 people out of the 140,000 people were gone. (Articles on Keongnam-do – Before and After Korean War Genocide & North, end ties with America and South Korea? - current events IN)

Like I have mentioned before, US and Soviets were in non contact war. But did North Koreans deserve this treatment in the first place? Today, US, says and helps Southern and Northern Korea for unification. They also demand the Northern Korean's to open up and blend into the Society. But, North Korea denies this offer and is behind the dictator, Kim Jung Il. US, lost it's trust from North Korea, and after 60 years of irresponsibility of this massacre, the hole between the two nations relationship grew bigger.   Political impact The war of measuring each other's armory, left destruction of land and society in Korea Peninsula. After the tragedy anti-communism swept South Koreans, while North Koreans believed in anti-US. "Destruction of communism unification, "victory over communism unification," anti-communism government policy," dominate the South Korean Society. While, 'to reject the enemies of the nation, anti-Americanism' was the foundation of all philosophy in North Korea, and hasn't changed until today.

However, speaking today, USA is the most powerful country in the world. And with out USA's economical support, it is nearly impossible for the South and North to be unified. However, North Korea's mistrust on US is so big, South Korea would have to, if unified, handle all the economical and social challenges the North. However, with the Economical and social status today, it is nearly impossible for North and South to be unified. Not only Korea's economics will fall, after minutes, there are a lot of nations that oppose to this unification. (Hanlon, Michael O. __Crisis Korean Peninsula__. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2003.)   Economic, and military influence South Korea depended hugely on America and Japan's (America's Eastern Asia Strategies) economics shortly after the Civil War. Yet, South Korea depends too much on the foreign power that they lost its ability on leadership and the army. Meanwhile, North Korea, with independent national economy and Juche idea that strengthen self-reliance, were strong until a certain stage before fundamental limits challenged them.

This forms the unique strength of North Koreans and the strong wall between the two countries. It is a fact, that Southern Korea has a better economic status than the North, but it is another fact that the North has a better military strength and Strategies when compared with out the US aid. And if, Southern Korea had far better economic status than today, the only challenge that will stop are the opposing nations. If South and North Korea unify, South Korea will no longer need military aid from the US, and will slowly climb up to have one of the strong military forces. Therefore, today US especially afraid, disagrees to the unification with South Korea's economical status as an excuse. (Hill, Valerie. __Korea__. Broomall, Pa: Mason Crest, 2003) 