One North And South Korea example essay topic

Korea Death, destruction, loved ones lost, and separation are all phrases commonly heard in North and South Korea for over the last fifty years. The division of this Asian peninsula into the independent nations of North Korea and South Korea brought terror and torment to the people living there. But now in a new era, words like hope, peace, and reunification can be heard from these same people. Reunification seems to be the most logical course of action to heal the rift at the 38th parallel. The healing process will take time, but it has begun. However knowing the process of how it may be resolved will do no good without knowing how it all went wrong.

Japan's interest in Korea led them to attack the Russians at Port Arthur on February 8th, 1904. This was the start of the Russo-Japanese War. Russia lost the war in 1905. Japans victory over Russia proved to the world that Japan was a world power and allowed them to gain control of Korea in 1910 (web). The Japanese "began exploiting its resources, while also attempting to eliminate the Korean language, names and national identity" (web). The treatment of the Koreans by the Japanese was comparable to the treatment of African Americans during the pre-Civil War era.

In 1919 Japan's abuse of the Koreans led to the "March First Movement", a demonstration that ended with the death of thousands of innocent Koreans. During World War II, Koreans were forced into labor by their Japanese oppressors. Japan's downfall in WWII allowed the United States of America and the U.S.S.R. to occupy Korea (web). The US located troops in the south and U.S.S.R. did so in the north.

The cold war split the peninsula of Korea in two, with the U.S.S.R. establishing a communist government in the north, and the United States establishing a capitalistic democratic government in the south. On August 15th 1945 Korea was divided at the 38th parallel of north latitude (Loyd). This caused the separation of many families. In 1947 The UN General Assembly declared that a single government would be elected for the entire nation. The Soviet Union would not allow elections in the north, but the south elected to have somewhat democratic national assembly and became the Republic of Korea. Later the communist north declared themselves the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and is led by Kim Il Sung.

Both the north and south believed that the whole peninsula was their own which caused skirmishes to break out along the 38th parallel. The United States removed its military support from Korea in 1949 giving the communists a chance to strike. (Loyd). This full force strike took place in 1950 when the north invaded the south.

This was June 25th 1950. This was the beginning of the Korean War. UN troops from the U.S., England, Turkey, Australia and the Philippines helped repulse the North Koreans and drove them all the way to the Chinese border. The Chinese counterattacked in support of the North Koreans, and over the next three years Seoul changed hands four times. The war finally ended in July 1953, with nearly 3 million dead and the Koreas separated by the most heavily guarded border in the world (web). Today the boarder is heavily guarded by thousands of American troops.

After the war the north and south's relations were still quite bad. Much like the Russian leader Stalin, Kim Il Sung, leader of North Korea who to the North Koreans was more of a god than political leader, eliminated his political rivals and proceeded to build one of the worlds greatest armies. North Korea became very close, politically, with China. They "relied heavily on the Soviets and Chinese for economic and military support" (web). North Korea opted for a "closed-door policy" towards all nations except those with Communist governments" (web). Needless to say their relations with the US decreased drastically.

Kim Il Sung poured twenty five percent of his countries gross national product into this military machine (web). The United States and South Korea have been allies for many years. They fought along side each other in the Korean War. The US holds much gratitude for South Korea because of the gracious help they received when trying to prevent communism to spread in the 1950's. To this day there is over 37,000 US soldiers stationed in South Korea (web). The increasing tensions did not halt.

The North Koreans continued to attack South Korea by explosive hit and run assignations of political members and civilians. Burma, 1983, a bomb planted by North Korean agents killed eleven South Korean delegates. Another in 1987 destroyed an airliner carrying one-hundred and fifteen South Koreans (web). None survived. Thirteen South Korean soldiers and twenty-four North Korean commandos were killed in 1996 during a man hunt for the crew of a North Korean spy submarine that beached in Southern territory. Despite the step back in relations, North Korea got off with only the need for apology.

Three years later in 1999 there was a skirmish between North and South Korean ships. The skirmish was minor, but still did no good (web). Easing the pain of both countries has occurred by decreasing the tension. Many of these events have occurred more recently, and their effectiveness has shown in the increasing positive relationship between the north and south.

In 1988 there was a major economic breakthrough. Trade between North and South Korea was finally permitted (web). This boosted North Korea's economy a great deal, and was one of the first steps in the long hard healing process. Kim Dae-Jung has improved relations more in the last four years then anyone has in the last fifty years. "Elected president of South Korea in 1998 [he] promised economic reforms, more democracy and a conciliatory line with North Korea" (web).

These began with the "Sunshine Policy", a policy made to establish a ground in which North and South Korea can interact. Summer [of 200], Kim Dae-jung made a historic trip to Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea. He embraced North Korean President Kim Jong-il. Reunions for families divided by the war's Demilitarized Zone have been allowed. And in Sydney, Australia, the two Koreas marched together in the Olympic Games' opening ceremonies (globalization. about. com).

Kim Dae-jung was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for the wonderful work he achieved by mending the wound between the north and south (globalization. about. com). If any other countries were influenced more by the cold war then the United States and Russia it was North and South Korea. Because of Russia's occupancy and influence in North Korea, and the United States occupancy and influence in South Korea, the status, ideas, and views of the North and South differ greatly. Before the Korean War the communist North wanted the reunification of the North and South, which is what is trying to be accomplished today. But their idea was slightly different then the one commonly heard of in the west today.

They wanted to take over the south and force them to rejoin the new communist Korea. North Korea refers to their first leader, Kim Il Sung, as the "Great Leader". His home, now a mausoleum for him, was fit for a king. It has fifty-foot-high ceilings, columns, and marble floors.

A colossal, bronze statue of the "Great Leader" sits in the center of the countries capitol, Pyongyang (web). The fall of the Soviet Union brought North Korea with it. "North Korea today is a communist dictatorship, isolated, destitute country cut off from modern technology and struggling with severe food shortages" (web). Its primary objective is to get help from South Korea. Whether it is economic, medical, or technological, North Korea needs it all. They see the reunification with South Korea as an opportunity to achieve all of these.

They also want US soldiers out of South Korea. This is a relatively new demand. North Korea's acceptance of the idea of unification is evident in their acceptance of South Korea's help, agreeing to connect a railroad between the two countries, and allowing families separated in the conflict to reunite. But although their life-line could very well be their neighbor to the south, North Korea has still recently been caught spying on South Korea.

South Korea seems to almost be a big brother to the north. After being attacked again and again they still offer help. South Koreans say that they are glad to help, but although relations have improved greatly they still hold a lack of trust for the people who have attacked their country, time after time, without warning. The South's prime directive is to mend the relationship between the north and south.

Another huge step they wish to achieve is unification. South Korea has aided the north many times and no recession of compliance has been foreseen. The steps for reunification have already been set. Progress has been moving along slowly but without major complications. At this point two different paths can be taken for the good of the countries. One: They may remain separate nations but positive relations would continue to improve.

This option would require South Korea to continue to aid North Korea until they could prosper on their own. Two: The countries could unite. But because of North Koreas poor conditions and the great political difference, this would not work anytime in the near future. The first thing you learn about pet fish is that you cannot put them straight from the bag of water you get them into your fish tank because of the different conditions in the water. So a hybrid idea is now put out on the table. South Korea continues to very publicly aid the north until almost an equilibrium is reached in conditions.

This improves relations between the people of both countries. All this time South Korea will inject its government into that of the North's. When all is done, the two countries can once again be one. This can easily be achieved peacefully, though it may take a very long time. Another idea would be to use the reunification of Eastern and Western Germany as a template. That scenario greatly resembles the one North and South Korea is in today.

One side was semi-communistic, East, and the other was semi-democratic, West. East Germany was also economically depressed, like North Korea. Negotiations were made, benefits and downsides were weighted against each other, and a peaceful unification of Germany occurred. Applying this to North and South Korea, both countries would notice that the benefits would outweigh the downsides. North Korea would be brought out of its depression in turn for adopting a democratic government (already set up and working quite well in the South). South Korea would gain the fifth most powerful army in the world in turn for helping North Korea get back on its feet.

Many decades of Korean history have been dark, but now the people of North and South Korea are beginning to see light. The light is an improving relationship between the countries. This can be accomplished by a process of negotiations ending with unification. Many families were separated by war, but now some of these families have reunited. Many people of both North and South Korea wish to see the family of Korea to be united.

This is quite possible, and it can be done without blood. Work Cited "Crossing the Great Divide". Cable News Network. 2001.10 Nov. 2001.. "History of N-S Relations". 10 Jan. 2002 web.

"Kim Dae-jung Wins Nobel Peace Prize". 10 Jan. 2002 web. Lloyd C. Gardner. "Korean War".

Discovery Channel School. original content provided by World Book Online, 10 Jan. 2002 web. Russo-Japanese War Research Society. 1999.10 Jan. 2002 web.