Liberation and the AftermathLiberation and the AftermathOn August 15th, 1945, Emperor Hirohito announced on the radio that Japan had surrendered and that the long war in the Pacific was finally overwar in the Pacific was finally over. The news of the Japanese capitulation was welcomed with a great deal of relief and joy in Korea. The Japanese surrenderJapanese surrender to the Allies meant meant that forty years of harsh colonialforty years of harsh colonial rule would come to an endend. The 15th of August, the day that WW II was officially over, was also the Day of Liberation in Korea. Unfortunately, liberation from the Japanese would not spell the end for Korea's misfortunes. The division of Korea into two separate states loomed just beyond the horizon. And perhaps the greatest tragedy of all, the Korean War, lingered not too far behind. The events that would occur between Liberation Day and August 25th (the day that there were two official governments in the Korean peninsula) would set the stage for the tragedy of the Korean War.

To learn more about the liberation of Korea, the American & Soviet occupation of Korea,

or the emergence of separate states in Korea just "click " on one of the following choices:

Liberation and the division Liberation and the division of Koreaof Korea

Allied Plans for Korea

The Americans enter Korea

The Emergence of Two Koreas

Consolidation and Confrontation

Timeline of main events

"schooled" their theories and forms of democracy prior to being granted national independence.

19431943

Roosevelt Anthony Edenmet with

British foreign minister

Discussed what to do with

Manchuria Formosa Korea

after the war

agreedshould be

governed

by an

international trusteeship

For a period of

30-40 yearsthey

numerous holes that would later foster conflict between the former war-time allies.

"the aforesaid three great powers, mindful of the enslavement of the people of Korea are determined that in due course Korea shall become free and independent."

19419433Roosevelt

Churchill

Chiang Kai-shek

announced the "Cairo Declaration"

Which

proclaimed

that

19441944Roosevelt

Churchill

Stalin

Ask

for

"some period of apprenticeship before full "some period of apprenticeship before full independence might be attained."independence might be attained."

19451945 Potsdam Conference

Truman

Churchill

Stalin

left ageneral agreement on trusteeship

which possessed

Expecting a long and difficult campaign to drive the Japanese out of the Asian mainland and to invade Japan itself, U.S. military planners General Douglas MacArthur sought Soviet assistance in ending the Pacific War. The American State Department was willing to "swallow" The American State Department was willing to "swallow" Soviet control of Manchuria and Korea as the price to be paid for the Soviet entrance into the war Soviet control of Manchuria and Korea as the price to be paid for the Soviet entrance into the war against Japanagainst Japan. The sudden Japanese collapseThe sudden Japanese collapse meant that nothing was in the way of Soviet control of the entire Korean peninsula. The State department now devised a plan which would divide the peninsula in half, leaving the Soviets to occupy Korea north of the 38th parallel and an American occupation south of the line. The State Department proposal, otherwise known as General Order #1, was drafted by two young colonels, Dean Rusk and Charles Bonesteel.

Depending how one looks at it, the Soviet decisionSoviet decision to go along with General Order #1 and halt at the 38th parallel was simultaneously both predictable and an utter surprise. The Soviet halt was surprising because

nothing was in the way of Soviet domination of the whole of Korea. Japanese forces, were in a state of disintegration in the face of the Soviet juggernaut.American forces were in Okinawa and too far away to meet, much less challenge, the Soviet rush southward down the peninsula.

This hastily drafted division of Korea along the 38th parallel still remains to this day.

Korea was now occupied militarily by two foreign nations with separate and conflicting agendas. Their influence on the hapless nation and its people would soon be felt.

The The AmericanAmerican proposalproposal

was predictable because

it was construed by the Soviets as an American test of Soviet intentions in the post-war era.

a direct Soviet challenge to the United States in Korea was deemed too "expensive" and risky, given the Soviet need to come to terms with the Americans in the post-war order of Europe, an area that was of greater strategic importance to the Soviet Union.

The Soviets conclusion

that the possible gains in seizing the whole of Korea were not worth inherent risks.

The Soviets moved to occupyP'yongyang

Hamhung

all the major cities north of the 38th parallel.The Americans arrived in

Inchon Harbor on September 8th

a full month after the Soviets crossed the border into Korea.

The American military quickly occupied

Seoulthe southern half of the peninsula

suggested a

U.S.U.S. a multi-lateral conference

inv o

lvin

g China

Britain

U.S

Soviet Union

It was not agreed at the Moscow Conference.

favored

because swayed to follow the American line

could be

rejected American proposal

be

cau

se

before the United Nations

watchdog national elections to be scheduled sometime before March 31st 1948.

19471947

United Nations passed a resolution

"United Nations Temporary Committee on Korea"

UNTCOK

American Occupational Zone Soviet Zonedenied entrancein

The Committee opted for separate elections to be held in the Southso

The Emergence of Two KoreasThe Emergence of Two KoreasThe Emergence of Two KoreasThe Emergence of Two Koreas

Only a South Korean government would be able to raise a South Korean Army to repel an invasion from the north.

some

Koreansrejected the

U.N. plan

Be

cau

se t

he

y

be

lieve

d t

ha

t

separate elections would lead to a permanent partition of the country

Syngman Rhee approved of the U.N. plan for separate elections

because

the U.S. military government in Korea decided to implement the U.N. plan.

Rightist leader Kim Ku leftist leader Kim Kyu Sik

broke with Rhee over the issue of separate elections for South Korea

Both attended a

"unity conference"in

P'yongyangvoiced opposition against

the idea of separate elections that transcended all political faiths

ButBut

the formation of quasi-governmental bodies that possessed some administrativethe formation of quasi-governmental bodies that possessed some administrative

19481948 elections were held in the South UNTCOK

declared them"a valid expression of the free will of the electorate in those parts of Korea which were accessible

to the Commission"

"a valid expression of the free will of the electorate in those parts of Korea which were accessible

to the Commission"

The new RepresentativesThe new Representativesestablished the

Republic of Koreain the

southern end of the peninsula

Three months later National Assemblythe

elected Syngman Rhee

to become thepresident of the ROK

autumnautumn ofof 19481948Elections were in held in the North

Democratic People's Republic of Koreaborn

Kim Il Sung

elected as its first premier

The creation of two separate regimeswas due to

With these elections the division of Korea had an air of permanence

Consolidation and ConfrontationConsolidation and Confrontation

domestic opposition that seriously endangered the consolidation of one-man rule.

such as

the Interim People's Committeein the

North

the Interim Legislative Assemblyin the

South

Both regimes faced similar challenges

The first challengeThe first challenge

attaining legitimacy the existence of the "other" state was an obstacle in achieving it

competition for the allegiance of the nationROK led by Syngman Rhee

DPRK led by Kim Il Sung

The second challengeThe second challenge

Syngman Rhee

ha

d t

o contend with the politically powerful southern landlords that grew suspicious of Rhee's growing autocratic ways

confront what was left of the Left in South Korea who began threatening his rule by engaging in armed

rebellions and mass demonstrations throughout the country

he use all the autocratic means at his disposal

to insure his position at the top.

soso

Kim Il Sung

As head of the Korean Worker's Party

a union of various communist groupings

was faced with a party that had four different "voices".

The first "voiceThe first "voice was accented by Russian headed by Ho Kai-I

leader of the Soviet faction

The second "voice“The second "voice“ led by Pak Hon yong which had a southern Korean accent

leader of the Yenan factionThe third "voice"The third "voice" led by Kim Tu Bong had a heavy Chinese accent

The last "voice"The last "voice" was Kim Il Sung's own Kapsin "guerrilla" faction

Kim Il Sung & the Consolidation of the NorthKim Il Sung & the Consolidation of the North

an intense drive towards political consolidation on the part of the two regimes and its rulers.

sosoHe embark on a campaign to systematically wipe out all the other voices leaving the party and the state united under the only voice of Kim Il Sung.

1948-19501948-1950

was marked by

Kim Il SungKim Il Sung wason the road to socialism

was able to nationalize nine-tenths of the nation's industrial production

with Soviet assistance and advice, embarked on a two-year economic plan

placed on heavy industry19501950

the economic life of the country was firmly in the hands of the government.

strove for political consolidation of his own rule

when he became chairman of the Korean Worker's Party

leader of the Chinese "Yenan" faction

Kim Il SungKim Il Sungwas able to

remove potential challengers from "center stage"

Pak was delegated as vice-chairman of the party

erstwhile leader of the South Korean Communists

prestige Kim's own image in the south

yet contained and enclosed enough so that Kim was able to pull the reins in on Pak if it ever proved necessary

leader of the "Soviet" faction within the Korean Worker's party

Ho Kai-I

co vice- chairman with Pak Hon Yong.

remove most Soviet-Koreans from positions of power

Kim Il Sung was the lone master of North Korea.

relegating

Was the

Kim Tu Bong

become chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly

The Central issue of North Korean regimeThe Central issue of North Korean regimeWas of

unification

The DPRK considered itself as the sole legitimate government in Korea

wanted to extend their rule southward to Pusanbecause

the southern regime did not have the support of the populace

Syngman Rhee & the Consolidation of the Syngman Rhee & the Consolidation of the SouthSouth

the large amounts of military equipment

June 1949June 1949 Kim Il Sungdeclared that unification was

"the most important and immediate task of the party and the people".

made the fateful decision that he would have to call on the military to unify the nation

Later than

Korean People's Army,(KPA)Strength ened by

the presence of Soviet military advisors

Rhee's hunger for the enlargement of executive authorityRhee's hunger for the enlargement of executive authority soon ran into conflict with the legislative body.soon ran into conflict with the legislative body.

expand the mandate of the National Security Law (NSL),

When he

designed to

crack down on alleged communist inspired seditionSyngman RheeSyngman Rhee

suppress any political opposition to his authority

used the

to

against members of the National Assembly who called for the dismissal of Rhee's cabinet

the purging of former Japanese collaborators in the Rhee bureaucracy Rhee's main base of political support

to the

strengthening support of farmersRhee

pushed through aland reform bill

weakening the influence of Korean landlords. Those who objected to

jailed by invoking the NSL

were

Communist inspired insurrections threatened Rhee's bid for political consolidationCommunist inspired insurrections threatened Rhee's bid for political consolidation

Cheju-do uprising1948 a rebellion of communist guerrillas and peasants that

challenged the authority of the new regimeresponse was a

severe crackdown in Cheju-do

In other areaswhere

guerrillas broke out Rhee succeeded in squashing these internal threats to his power

Syngman Rheecalled for a

"march north"to

overthrow the communist regime in P'yongyang

replace it with that of his own. 1949 and 19501949 and 1950

stepped up his rhetoric to a feverish pitch

The Republic of Korea was incapable of launching a major military campaign to unify the peninsula.

Despite the intensity of his

much inferiormuch inferiorThe South Korea Army

Korean People's Army

was

The border separating the two Korea was often the scene of violent clashes and routine cross-border raids.

Towards ConfrontationTowards Confrontation

The Belligerent rhetoricThe Belligerent rhetoric ofboth sides

created a

high levelof

tension

anxiety

along the

38th parallel.38th parallel.

MacArthur’s ampphibious attackUntil

Rhee was born in Kaesong in 1875, the son of a poverty-stricken Yangban(Korean Gentry) family.

As a young adult, Rhee studied English. In 1896, Rhee played a minor role in forming the

Independence Club. By 1897, Rhee was imprisoned for various political activities. In 1905, a year

after his release from prison, Rhee went to the United States to study. After receiving his Ph.D from

Princeton University in International Law, Rhee went back to Korea for just a short while before

returning to the U.S. where he remained until 1945 as a Korean nationalist in

exile laboring and lobbying for Korean independence. While in exile, Rhee

became the President of the Korean Provisional Government for a short

stint. He maneuvered to position himself as the principal spokesman for the

Korean Right. By 1947, Syngman Rhee, had received the unofficial "blessing" of

the U.S. to lead the Koreans after the withdrawal of the American presence in Korea. Syngman

Rhee was chosen by the National Assembly to become the first President of the Republic of Korea

in 1948. As President, Rhee cracked down on political opponents and coerced the press to print

news more favorable to the government.

Rhee's rhetoric about a "march north" to unify the Peninsula under his rule did not lessen a bit.

During the war, Rhee helped to stir controversy by encouraging General Douglas MacArthur and

the U.N. forces under his command to liberate the north. He led Korea until the age of 85 when a

student uprising toppled his government in April of 1960. From there Rhee left

for theUnited States where he remained in exile until his death in 1965.

Kim Il Sung (Kim Song Ju) was born in P'yongi in 1912. Kim and his family emigrated to Manchuria

in the 1920's where he attended a Chinese school. At the age of fifteen, Kim was arrested and

imprisoned for a year for having been a founding member of a Communist Youth League. After his

release from jail in 1930, Kim founded the Korean Revolutionary Army. In 1931, Kim join a Chinese

Communist guerrilla group, fighting the Japanese military in Manchuria. Kim swiftly rose up the

ranks of the Chinese Communist Army. Between the years 1932-

1941, Kim led a band of Korean guerrillas against Japanese

positions and personnel in Manchuria. In 1941, Japanese

counterinsurgency forces forced Kim to leave Manchuria for the

Soviet Union. There he remained until he "hitched" a ride with the

Soviet Army into Korea in 1945. Kim strove to unify Korea under the

banner of communism. After the creation of the Democratic

People's Republic of Korea in 1948, Kim became not only the head of the Korean Workers' Party,

but premier of the new communist state as well. In late 1949, Kim made the fateful decision to

launch a major military campaign to unify Korea under force of arms. After the war, Kim continued

the trend towards one-man rule. He succeeded in constructing a cult of personality with himself as

the main icon for adoration .In the post-Korean War years, Kim developed the idea of juche, an

ideology of self-reliance blended with Marxism, thus creating a distinct "native" Korean communism.

At the age of 82, Kim Il Sung died.

15 Aug Korea divided into US and Soviet occupation zones along 38th parallel

26 July President Truman's National Security Act creates US Department of Defense

15 Aug After supervised elections, US military government turns over power to Republic of Korea

25 - North Korean People's Army invades South Korea - UN calls for an end of aggression27 - UN asks member countries to aid Republic of Korea - US announces intervention. North Korea attacks Seoul airfield.28 - US bombers attack troops in Han River area - North Korean army captures Seoul30 - President Truman orders ground forces into Korea and authorizes Air Force to bomb North Korea

5 - Near Osan, Task Force Smith troops fight for the first time and suffer heavy casualties18 - US Cavalry lands at Pohangdong - US aircraft destroy key oil refinery in Wonsan22 - Battle for Taejon ends with heavy US losses and retreat

4 - Pusan perimeter established in southeastern Korea13 - First UN counterattack collapses15 - Four-day battle of "the Bowling Alley" - UN forces hold back North Korean offensive

15 - Inchon landing of UN forces

29 - UN troops complete recapture of Seoul

11 - End of Chinese strike against marine and army divisions at Chosin Reservoir - marines retreat

7 - UN forces cross 38th parallel - UN sanctions defeat of North Korea and attempted reunification14 - Chinese Communist troops cross Yalu River into Korea19 - UN captures P'yongyang, the North Korean capital

1 - Chinese attack in force near Unsan

24 - General Douglas MacArthur's final "Home by Christmas" offensive begins

4 - Seoul captured by Chinese

25 - UN forces resume offensive f

11- Chinese counteroffensive begins north of Hoengsong

1 - UN line reaches between the 37th and 38th Parallels

18 - UN forces retake Seoul

11 - MacArthur recalled - General Matthew Ridgway given command

27 - Truce talks resume at Panmunjom

13 - UN forces dig in on the 38th Parallel

f

10 - Truce talks begin at Kaesong - Communists break off talks six weeks later f

23 - UN forces take Heartbreak Ridge after 18-day battle d

28 - North Korean and Chinese leaders agree to POW exchange

s

18 - Three-day battle of Pork Chop Hill ends in victory for UN forces

26 - Full peace talks resume at Panmunjom f

14 - Communist offensive pushes Republic of Korea troops south

18 - South Koreans release 27,000 North Korean POWs, who refuse repatriation

25 - "Little Truce Talks" secure Republic of Korea's acceptance of armistice. Chinese launch massive attacks against South Korean divisions.

4 - Processing of POWs for repatriation begins at Freedom Village, Panmunjom

10 - Communists return to negotiations

27 - Cease fire signed - fighting ends 12 hours later

Bibliography Bibliography

•Alexander, Bevin, Korea, The First War We Lost. New York, New York. Hippocrene Books, 1986. Fehrenbach, T. R., This Kind of War, A Study in Unpreparedness, New York, New York.•Presidio Press, 1990. Paschall, Rod, Witness to War, Korea, New York, New York. •Bruce Cumings' "The Origins of the Korean War" Volumes I & 2. •"Political Change in South Korea" edited by Ilpyong J. Kim and Young Whan Kihl. •"The Failure of Democracy in South Korea" by the former Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea, Han Sung Joo. •George E. Ogle's "SOUTH KOREA-Dissent Within The Economic Miracle"