Issues Between North and South Before the War
During WWII Korea was split into two parts, the 38th parallel split the peninsula both politically and economically into a Communist industrial north and a primarily agricultural south, which was dependent on U.S aid. During WWII the Soviet and U.S occupied the opposite ends of the country, the Soviets were in the north while the U.S was in the south, this was seen as a transition period ahead of democratic elections[1]. With the end of WWII Korea was liberated from the Japanese occupation, and the country started to seek independence, also with the end of WWII the wartime co-operation between the Soviet Union and the U.S completely deteriorated. This caused two very different countries to emerge, the U.S backed Republic of Korea in the south and the Communist Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in the north. John Everard, United Kingdom’s former ambassador to North Korea believed that North Korea was ‘born a monster’, because ‘it was created by Soviet Army officers who seemed to have little idea of country creation’[2]. Kim Il Sung, North Korea’s leader, was trained by the Soviet Army and served as a Communist soldier before he became the leader[3]. The Soviets created a Communist regime in the north that refused to permit a United Nations supervised election to attempt to unify Korea[4]. When South Korea elected Syngman Rhee as their president threats and promises were made. North Korea had the bulk of Korea’s heavy industry, mining, and electricity plants. In the early days of the countries divide, Pyongyang, a city in North Korea would often cut Seoul’s, South Korea’s capital, electricity[5]. By June 1949, both Soviet and American troops had withdrawn from the Korean peninsula[6]. Each Korean government was on their own, and each side claimed the whole of the peninsula and each was willing to fight for it[7]. What made matters worse for South Korea was a speech made by the then Secretary of State Dean Acheson in January 1950. This speech led Kim Il Sung to believe that American support for South Korea would be limited[8]. A mere few months later North Korea crossed the 38th parallel and began a brutal assault on South Korea.
[1] Shah, Dhruti. North Korea – A Country Never at Peace. BBC: April, 13/2014. www.bbc.co.uk/history/0/22033825 ,1.
[2] Ibid, 1.
[3] Ibid, 1.
[4] Madision, James. Understanding the Korean War, 1950-53. Umn.edu: April, 12/2014. www.Igs.cla.umn.edu/pdf/PressConferenceBackgroundInfo.pdf , 1.
[5] PBS. North Korea and the Korean War: 1945 – 1949 Background. PBS: April, 12/2014. www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/episodes/a-state-of-mind/north-korea-and-the-korean-war/1945-1949-background/1347/ ,1.
[6] Ibid, 1.
[7] Madision. Op.Cit, 1.
[8] Paul, James. Background to the Korean War. Britainsmallwars: April, 27/2014. www.britians-small wars.com/Korea/bg.html ,1.