2. Korea: A Brief Pre-War History The kingdom of Korea was unified in 668 Although subject to frequent invasion, Korea maintained a distinct identity under the Koryo and Choson dynasties. Korea was annexed by Japan in 1910, and remained a Japanese colony until the end of World War II in 1945.
3. The Korean War After the war, Korea was divided into zones of occupation by its liberators: the North went to the Soviet Union and the South went to the United States. In 1950, North Korea invaded the South in hopes of reunifying the nation. Fearing the spread of communism, the United Nations intervened, led by the United States. The war lasted for three years, from 1950 to 1953.
4. Divided Korea: War’s Aftermath American troops advanced far into the North, but were pushed back by the Chinese, who allied themselves with their fellow communists. An armistice line was drawn at the 38th parallel (see right) that divides the Korean peninsula in two. Although the two nations have agreed to a cessation of hostilities, the war was never officially ended!!! Tensions remain high to this day.
5. The DMZ The best physical representation of current relations between North Korea and South Korea is the DMZ (demilitarized zone). The DMZ is a 151 foot long, 2.5 mile wide zone filled with minefields and surrounded by barbed wire. It is under constant surveillance by both sides, and is the most heavily armed border on Earth.
6. Korea Today With North Korea aspiring to become a nuclear power, the tension between North and South Korea is a relevant international issue. The recent sinking of a South Korean ship by North Korea is only one example of an international incident that could touch off a war.
7. Diplomacy Many countries, including China, the United States, and Japan have been attempting to mediate between the North and South in order to find a diplomatic solution Conflict between the two Koreas is highly undesirable for many reasons, including economic destabilization, the massive amount of refugees it would create, and the death toll.
8. The DMZ Forum One particularly interesting organization is the DMZ Forum, which proposes Korean reunification and the transformation of the DMZ into a peace park. Having been uninhabited for many decades, the DMZ has become a nature reserve home to many endangered species such as the red-crowned crane (see right.)
9. What You Can Do Contact your representative and express your concern about the issue. The DMZ Forum is a licensed charitable organization and takes donations. You can donate online at their website: http://www.dmzforum.org/getinvolved/donateonline.php
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12. Tran, Mark. "How likely is a war between North and South Korea?" guardian.co.uk. The Guardian, 25 May 2010. Web. 30 May 2010.
13. Weisman, Alan. The World Without Us. New York: Picador, 2007. Print.
