(1200s) conquered by the mongols after wwii—korea divided into 2 parts along the 38 th parallel
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Korea
A Brief History
heavily influenced by neighboring China (but developed own writing system)
served as a bridge for cultural diffusion between China and Japan
(1200s) conquered by the Mongols
(late 1800s/early 1900s) Russia, Japan & China fought for control of Korea
The Korean
War
after WWII—Korea divided into 2 parts along the 38th Parallel
North Korea = communist (occupied by Soviet Union)
South Korea = democracy/capitalist (occupied by US)
(1950) North Korea attacked South Korea hoping to unite the 2 as communist country
United Nations forces (led by US) drove North Koreans back to Chinese border
Chinese forces entered war and pushed UN forces south
US Troops
North Korean
Prisoners
Yalu
River
China
Chinese Forces Crossing Yalu River
The Korean War
A Military See- Saw
(1953) an armistice signed—leaving border at Korean DMZ
the demilitarized zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea remains tense to this day
A Tale of Two Koreas
JapanChina
South
Korea
North
Korea
East Asia at Night
(by 1990s) South Korea an economic powerhouse
Kore
an W
ar
Seoul (Capital), South Korea one of most modern, largest cities in world
(hosted 1988 Summer Olympic Games)
North Korea a communist dictatorship (under Kim Jong-
Un)
• 3 Members of the Kim family have ruled North Korea.- Kim il - Sung-Kim Jong – il-Kim Jong – un
people of North Korea very poor (little contact with the outside world
= “The Hermit Kingdom”)
Downtown Pyongyang at
Noon
A cyclist wearing the uniform mandated by
the national dress code
Propaganda vs. Reality
(2006) North Korea became a nuclear power
North Korea in
the cartoons
China is North Korea’s closest ally and are essential with all negotiations with North Korea
North Korea has been experiencing a famine since the 1990s.
Caused by lack of economic activity in the country.
Over 2.5 million North Koreans have starved to death.
