In 1895, Korea stopped being a Chinese tributary state isolated from the rest of the world. For over 1000 years of being a vassal state of China, Korea was now an independent country. Not because it looks for independence, but because independence was thrust upon by the Japanese. Therefore 1895 is such an important year in Korean history and became an independent Korea. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Powerful Neighbors <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This Korea was surrounded by countries that were far more powerful than itself. So, Korea had to learn to survive between the various powers. The most powerful countries were:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
• The Soviet Union<\/li>\n\n\n\n
• The Republic of China<\/li>\n\n\n\n
• Japan<\/li>\n\n\n\n
• The United States<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

  Independent Korea faced many difficulties. To the west, it was declining China. North, it was an emboldened Russia that sought greater influence in East Asia. East, it was the empire of Japan, an empire which itself was surrounded by more powerful and more advanced European countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  So, what did Korea do?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

  Korea decided to modernize and westernize using Japan as a model on how to do so. Korea recognized its military to be more western, receiving modern training and weapons from Russia. It improved its educational system by opening public schools, colleges, and universities in the year 1904. Many of the universities in Korea today were founded in the time of this Korean empire. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  The government promoted industrialization by low-cost silk spinning and weaving machines with which it could out-compete high-cost manufacturing abroad and make a lot of profit by exporting cheap silk to rich nations. It builds new infrastructure such as electric stretchers, water companies, telephone lines, and a power grid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  In 1897, it even changed its name. For a century the nation inhabiting the Korean peninsula was called Joseon but was renamed the Korean empire. Korea had moved away from China and was now moving towards closer ties with Russia. It hoped that Russia could not only help Korea to industrialize but also to help secure Korean independence. The reason for Korea to seek close ties with Russia is that Japan had been discussed invading Korea for decades. Japan had already decided that it would invade Korea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Japanese Occupation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

  Japan argued that Korea was an inferior nation that failed to modernize. Therefore ought to be conquered by the superior Japanese nation. This point of view is comparable to how European nations viewed African and Asian nations at that time. And so, with both Russia and Japan wanting control over Korea to gain more influence in East Asia. The two sides fought a war in the year 1904, which Japan won.<\/p>\n\n\n

  \n

  <\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

  As a result, Korea was forced to become a protectorate of Japan in 1905. But Korea was too weak to hold off the Japanese. So, in 1910, Korea became a colony of the empire of Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Involvement & Influence<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

  In this period of history, China lost its position as the dominant power in East Asia is called the \u201ccentury of humiliation in China\u201d. But while China was humiliated, Korea was used, abused, and subdued. Japan treated Korea as its colony. This meant that Japan sought to civilize the Koreans by banning the Korean language, customs, and traditions in favor of the Japanese language, customs, and traditions. For example, the Koreans were forced to change their Korean names to Japanese names. Korean laborers were exploited to harvest resources. Korean infrastructure was built to transport those resources to Japan. Those resources were turned into a product, used for Japanese control over Korea and other areas of East Asia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  The effect of the Japanese occupation on Korea was so severe. When Japan lost world war2, it had to end its occupation of Korea. By then, the Koreans lacked almost all administrative and technical expertise to run their own country. This is because the Japanese empire almost exclusively used the Japanese to administer its Korean colony. Meaning there were almost no Koreans left anymore who had experience in running a country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  How was Korea divided?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

  And so now it’s 1945 and the Japanese were leaving. But while they were leaving the soviet army was arriving. And so once again, Korea was fought over by larger, more powerful nations this time the Soviet Union and the United States of America. Because the cold war was beginning and in the cold war the main weapons used were ideology and proxy wars. With the Soviet Union turning towards Soviet-style communism and the USA turning towards capitalism. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Cold War Impact<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

  Each side wanted control over Korea for its strategic position in East Asia and the USA became afraid with the Soviets would occupy all of Korea. So, the USA tasked two young officers to come up with a proposal on how to split Korea between the Soviets and the US. Without much knowledge of Korea and without consulting experts on Korea, they took a national geographic map and decided that a line on that map, called the 38^{th<\/sup> parallel, would be a good way to divide Korea so that each side would have approximately half the Korean territory.<\/p>\n\n\n}

  \n

  <\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

  To the surprise of the USA, the Soviets immediately accepted the division, unaware that the Russian empire discussed sharing Korea along the same line with Japan and they were giving the soviets exactly what they wanted. This split was meant to last 5 years, after which Korea would be turned back to the Koreans in a united Korean state. Most Koreans demanded immediate independence, but their voices were ignored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Discussions between US & USSR<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

  The USSR and USA met several times to discuss how Korea will be united. The soviets proposed Liu won Hyung as the leader of a united Korea, but this was rejected by the USA. The soviets proposed both sides withdraw and let the Korean people from their united government, but this too was rejected by the USA. So, the US brought the problem to the United Nations which declared that both sides should withdraw, and free elections are held. But the Soviets boycotted this resolution, arguing that the UN couldn\u2019t guarantee fair elections. As time went on the two nations diverged and over time the Soviet Union and the USA each established a different national government in the Korean territory they controlled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Two Governments<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

  In the North, a provisional government was created by the USSR in 1946, under the leadership of Kim-ul-sung, he was chosen by the Soviets to lead North Korea for his close ties with the Soviet government. When talking about NK it is important to note that there is very little information about this country. The closer we are to the present, the less information we have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  About North Korea<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

  North Korea faced many of the same issues previous Korean entities faced it was surrounded by the powerful Soviet Union to the north and a powerful united states to its south. North Korea, therefore, needed to become a useful client state of the Soviet Union and quickly adopted soviet style governance. It instituted land reforms where land owned by Japanese citizens, Korean collaborators, and landlords were redistributed among poor farmers. The government took control over many businesses and gave women more equality compared to men. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  As a result of these reforms, the elites lost most of their power. Many of these collaborators, Japanese, and allies fled south. And just like the Soviet Union, North Korea removed domestic opposition and implemented a one-party state. Where the government only has a single political party, the workers’ party of Korea. Over time Kim-ul-sung became the nation\u2019s absolute ruler and to keep the people from rebelling, a cult of personality was formed around him and his dynasty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  In today\u2019s world, South Korea is the preferred Korea to live in. But in the 1960s, North Korea was a serious contender for Korean leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  How did this happen? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

  North in Comparison to South<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

  The North Korean economy after the Korean war performed better than its southern counterpart. This is in large part because North Korea had almost everything it needed within its borders to create industry. It is rich in magnesite, zinc, iron, tungsten, anthracite, and gold. It had many factories to run those raw materials into goods, and it had plenty of coal and forests to generate electricity for those factories and its people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Militarization<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

  Over time the North Korean economy became more and more intertwined with the military, where many industries were under army control. Such as infrastructure, construction, and logistics. North Koreans are allowed to join the military at the age of 17 years and almost all men join the army out of tradition. It is to gain opportunities in life or out of a sense of duty to the country. The army and the economy are nearly synonymous in North Korean society, where the government promotes unity of soldiers and the people. <\/p>\n\n\n

  \n

  <\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

  This is in large part because of Korea\u2019s history. It was used by Japan to invade China twice. It was used by the Mongolians to invade Japan twice and it was occupied by foreign powers twice and so North Korea built a strong defensive military, where nearly all men received military training and where the country had a large arsenal of weapons it could use for offensive and defensive actions should North Korea ever get invaded, it would have millions of soldiers able to fight a guerilla war until the occupation of North Korea became too costly and their enemy would have to retreat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  North Korean actions are in many ways shaped by its history of foreign invasion and the fear that history will repeat itself from the beginning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Propaganda<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

  The government implemented a vast propaganda program that permeates nearly all parts of North Korean society to keep its people in line and promote national unity. For example, it communicates to people that no matter how mundane your job may be, that you are an important part of the country and that therefore the country with taking care of you. This is not only a way to prevent the people from rebelling by giving them a sense of belonging, but also to motivate workers to be as productive as they can be to support the greater good. <\/p>\n\n\n

  \n

  <\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

  And while North Korea lacks the soil to produce enough food and refuses to import sufficient food from abroad, often leading to famine<\/a>, that this struggle is shared amongst all the people of North Korea. And this propaganda is omnipresent in the nation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Propaganda was equipped with large speakers playing music, news and propaganda are present at construction sites, coal mines, and other large working sites. While I would like to give a more chronological event of North Korean propaganda, there isn\u2019t that much information on it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Slogans <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

  Their common slogans are \u201cMy country is the best\u201d, which is also the name of a popular North Korean song. You can find these slogans on the busses of North Korea. Many forms of North Korean art, film, and literature are focused on the youth focusing on the heroism of their nation. A popular North Korean band named Moratory with themes such as loyalty, patriotism, the military, science, and technology. <\/p>\n\n\n

  \n

  <\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

  Now, it is important to state that North Koreans aren\u2019t any different from anybody else. After all, they go to work, play sports, and care for their children just like everywhere else in the world. Outdoor barbeques in parks, singing, dancing, and group saunas are all popular pastime activities in North Korea. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Lagging Behind<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

  By the year 1970, North Korean technology started lagging behind that of the rest of the world. It was aware of this. In the \u201960s and \u201970s North Korea refurbished the energy grid with the help of the soviets. It modernized its military and tried mechanizing its agricultural sector but that mostly failed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Debts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

  However, North Korea didn\u2019t have the money to pay for all of this and so it borrowed the money. So much in fact that by 1975 it couldn\u2019t repay these loans. After all, it\u2019s not like somebody could force North Korea to repay its debt. But this left the country with a major problem. Nobody trusted North Korea anymore to lend them any money. And so, it needed to look for a new source of finance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  North Korea\u2019s isolation gave it one very important advantage which most other countries didn\u2019t have at that time is secrecy. And while we don\u2019t know exactly when it is thought that around the 1980s. North Korea started exporting missiles and over the years their customers included Iran, Syria, Iraq, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Egypt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Impact of USSR Collapse<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

  Throughout this time North Korea had been a close ally of the Soviet Union. But in 1991, the USSR collapsed. As a result, North Korea lost a large amount of foreign aid which they used to get from the soviets. Thus it lost its largest trading partner. Furthermore, China no longer had to worry about North Korea becoming a soviet puppet state. So it reduced the amount of funding it was giving North Korea. As a result, North Korea once again ran out of money. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Policy Shift<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

  Not only that, in 1994 the leader of North Korea, Kim ul-sung died. He was replaced by his son, Kim Jong-ul. As a result, the 90s was a major shift for North Korea. When Kim Jong-ul ascended to power in North Korea, he took over a nation with a struggling economy and facing a famine. To solve these problems, the new leadership adopted a new policy. It is the Songun policy in which the economy and military are of equal priority. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Songun means \u201cmilitary first\u201d. In it, the military would lead the recovery of the North Korean nation. To secure national independence, the military began developing nuclear weapons. And when North Korea had problems generating enough electricity in the \u201990s, the military helped build dozens of new dams along the many rivers. So many in fact that today hydroelectric power accounts for 2\/3 of North Korea\u2019s energy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Attempt of Diplomatic ties<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

  North Korea even started to replace the \u2018Juche\u2019 policy of self-determination and self-reliance. Because North Korean soil isn\u2019t well suited to agriculture, the government sought to change the country\u2019s policy of isolationism by attempting to improve diplomatic ties with other countries. For example, North Korea agreed to pause its nuclear weapon program in return for arranging the construction of two nuclear reactors by mainly south Korean contractors in 1994, halted testing of a long-range missile in 1999, decreased the amount of violent rhetoric, stopped incursions into the DMZ, and the leaders of North and South Korea met in the year 2000 to discuss taking steps towards unification. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Relations between North Korea and countries in Europe and Asia were improving. But even though North Korea had improved relationships, it did not receive financial and economic aid. North Korea likely hoped for companies were unwilling to provide more than food aid and businesses didn\u2019t see North Korea as a stable country to do businesses in. This was probably far too little for North Korea and relations worsened shorter after, when North Korea became reluctant to dismantle its nuclear program and the USA\u2019s president called North Korea an \u201cAxis of evil\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Return to Isolation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

  In 2003, North Korea pulled out the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and continued developing nuclear weapons for self-defense. After all, if you have a nuke that can destroy entire cities people tend to be a lot less willing to invade you. By 2006, the country conducted underground tests and it is widely thought that as of this moment North Korea had access to nuclear bombs. And so North Korea returned to its policy of isolation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  From their perspective, there was little to gain from the outside world while the outside world could incite civil unrest like what happened in the Soviet Union. North Korea might look like a nation that arbitrarily opens, only to then break all ties again. But the North Korean perspective is one of fear and suspension. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  It knows that South Korea, Japan, Europe, and the United States would like nothing more for North Korea to become part of a united Korea led by the southern government, like how a united Germany was dominated by West Germany. North Korea\u2019s leaders know they are balancing a starving population with the few resources available to them and do not want to end up like the Soviet Union who liberalized its economy, broke apart, and where Russia is now a shell of its former self with the European Union and us turning former soviet territories towards the west, while a resurgent China operates itself into the politics of Central Asia which had been in the Russian sphere of influence for centuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

  In a world where nuclear weapons deter invasion, where liberalism invites rebellion, and where power is exercised from a strong economy, North Korea is deeply distrustful of anyone who might upset the balance its leaders have built. North Korea is not some irrational actor on the world stage like it is often depicted, not at all. The North Korean government is consumed by fear. Fear of its own people who might rebel, fear of its allies who might install a new government, and fear of its enemies who might reunify Korea under the south\u2019s rule. South that was becoming more and more powerful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Also check out PCOD\/PCOS : Difference, Causes, Symptoms, Cure!<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  You may be interested in Union Budget 2023-24 : Explained!<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Ever wondered why North Korea is an unfriendly nation? There are a lot of factors that contributed. Most important part is its history. Let’s dive in. In 1895, Korea stopped being a Chinese tributary state isolated from the rest of the world. For over 1000 years of being a vassal […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":2979,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[108,126],"tags":[70],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\n