1. History of North Korea

2. Korean Peninsula
Mountains cover 70% of the peninsula; northern portion more mountainous than southern portion
Dramatic climate differences between northern and southern peninsula
South: warmer and wetter, similar climate to Japan
North: colder and drier, similar climate to Manchuria
Arable land is limited
76 million people on peninsula: 25 in North, 51 in South

3. Korea Under Japanese Rule, 1910-1945
Caught between Japan, China, and Russia
“Conquered” by Japanese in 1910
Japanese attempt to suppress Korean culture and traditions: Korean language banned, artifacts destroyed

4. 1945: Japanese Surrender, WWII
US controls southern portion of peninsula (16 mil); Soviet Union the north (9 mil)
38th parallel
US, USSR, UK, and China were to arrange a single unified government
Cold War: USA takes the Korea problem to United Nations
USSR does not cooperate with UN resolution
US and USSR establish Korean governments based on their own models

5. 1945-1948: US Military Government
Fearing Soviet takeover, Gen. McArthur orders military rule in US-controlled southern Korea
Refused to recognize either the Provisional Government in China or the People’s Republic of Korea, an assembly formed by influential Koreans
USMG limits political action, resulting in violence: protests, deaths
1948: first elections in southern Korea, establishment of Republic of Korea
1949: US troops withdraw

6. : Korean War
June 25: North Korean forces cross the 38th parallel, catch South Koreans unprepared
Seoul captured in 3 days, southern forces routed
July 5: US enters Korean War with UN forces, suffers losses
North Korean forces capture most of penninsula
North Korean forces driven back deep into their own territory

7. 1950-1953: Korean War US army stalls over Soviet concerns
Chinese army enters North Korea
Stalemate around the 38th parallel from
27 July 1953: North and South Korea sign armistice agreement
Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) dividing two countries
1.2 million deaths

8. History of North Korea: Establishment
Limited exposure to Western ideals in northern part of peninsula
Many Koreans from the northern part of the peninsula fought to assist Chinese independence against Japan
Soviet control of northern penninsula: Soviets worked with local committees and introduced communist ideals
1946: Workers Party of North Korea, led by Kim Il-Sung
Received material support from Soviets

9. Kim Il-Sung (ruled 1948-1994) Established with Soviet support
Eliminated political opponents
Developed a ‘cult of personality’
Juche: self-reliance (i.e., drive for Korean independence)

10. History of North Korea: 1953-1994
By 1960s, North Korea drifts away from the communist bloc
Soviets express concerns
North Koreans eject Chinese troops, prefer Soviets to Chinese
North Korea develops much faster than South Korea
1991: collapse of Soviet Union ends economic aid
Jimmy Carter visits North Korea
1994: Kim Il-Sung dies, King Jong-Il assumes leadership

11. Kim Jong-Il (ruled 1994-2011) Son of Kim Il-Sung
Maintains father’s cult of personality; establishes his own
Weak economy, flooding, failed crops and famine
: foreign trade cut in half
Songun: military-first politics; development of missiles, show of strength

12. The Rogue State
Multiple statements of intent to withdraw from armistice
1958: North Korean agents hijack a South Korean airliner
1968: North Korea attempts to assassinate South Korean president
1968: USS Pueblo captured; currently on display in Pyongyang
1976: multiple tunnels under DMZ, North Korean soldiers kill US officers

13. The Rogue State 2006: North Korea tests first nuclear warhead
2010: North Korea torpedoes a South Korean warship
2012: North Korean soldiers attack Chinese fishermen
2017: ICBM missile test
Current generation of North Koreans have never known life outside the current regime