1. Korean War &
Korea Today

2. Korea’s History
 Korea has a long history
of being dominated or
influenced by other
countries.
 During the middle ages
China had a lot of
control over Korea.
 Korea had a period of
freedom, independence,
and peace from 1600s –
1850s.

3. Russo – Japanese War
 Russia was trying to
expand their empire and
gain power over Korea.
 Newly industrialized
Japan wanted to become
an imperial power in the
Pacific, and control
Korea.
 This led to a fight
between Russia and
Japan over control of
Korea.

4. World Through Korea’s Eyes
What does this
image show about
how Korea views
themselves and the
outside world?
How does this make
Korea look to other
countries?

5. Japanese Occupation
 By 1910 Japan brutally
occupied Korea.
 They forced Koreans to
attend Japanese
schools, and learn
Japanese history and
traditions.
 The Korean people and
government had little or
no power.

6. Korea & World War II
 During WWII the
Japanese continued
their occupation of
Korea.
 At the end of WWII
Soviets invaded the
northern part of Korea
to and America invaded
the southern part to
push the Japanese out.

7. Soviet/Chinese Influence
 The Soviets occupation in
the northern part of Korea
greatly influenced the
people and government.
 China becoming communist
in 1949 led to it becoming
free of foreign influence.
 The idea of communism
and freedom of foreign
occupation greatly appealed
to the people in the north.

8. North Invades the South
 In 1950 with financial
support from the Soviet
Union, North Korea
crossed the 38th parallel
and invaded South Korea.
38
 South Korea asked the US
& UN for help.
 General Douglas
MacArthur led the joint
US/UN troops in South
Korea.

9. South Fights Back
 The US/UN army pushed
the North Koreans back
across the 38th parallel
and almost to the Chinese
border with Korea.
 China was feeling
threatened by the close
US presence.
 In October 1950 they sent
300,000 troops and aid
to the North Korea.

10. MacArthur vs. Truman
 General MacArthur thought
we had to be tough on
communism and wanted to
use nuclear weapons on
China.
 Truman wanted to be tough
on communism, but he
didn’t feel nuclear weapons
were necessary, and that
they’d lead to another world
war.
 Their disagreement led to
MacArthur being fired.

11. War Ends – NOT
 The war continued for
several years back and forth
across in the 38th parallel.
 In July 1953 UN forces and
North Korea agreed to a
cease fire.
 The border/demilitarization
zone (DMZ) was set up at the
38th parallel.
 North Korea and South
Korea were two separate
countries.

12. Before and After
Before Korean War After Korean War

13. Demilitarization Zone (DMZ)
 The DMZ is the divide
between the north and
south at the 38th parallel.
 It is heavily guarded by
both sides.

14. Korea After the War
 After the Korean War, American troops remained in
South Korea to help rebuild and protect the DMZ.
 Today South Korea is a free and democratic country.
The US still maintains a large military presence
along the DMZ.
 North Korea isolated itself from the world under
leadership of Kim Il Sung. They received financial
support from the Soviet Union and China.
 North Korea remains the only dynastic communist
dictatorship in the world.

15. Concerns About North Korea
 After the Soviet Union fell
in 1991 North Korea lost
financial support from
them.
 Most of North Korea does
not have regular
electricity, access to clean
water, or medical attention.
 They often suffer food
shortages, but refuse to
accept help from the south.

16. Leaders of North Korea
 Kim Il Sung was the first
leader of the Democratic
Republic of North Korea
(DPRK), and was a
communist dictator.
 When he died his son Kim
Jong Il took over.
 This is the first dynastic
communist dictatorship in
history.
 When Kim Jong Il died last
year his son Kim Jong Un
took over.

17. After Kim Il Sung died in 1994 his son Kim Jong Il took over.
Kim Jong Il died in December 2011, and his son Kim Jong Un
became leader of North Korea. Not much is known about his
son.

18. What is life like in North Korea?
 North Koreans are
completely cut off from
the outside world, and
only hear information
the government wants
them to.
 All the textbooks in
schools are written by
Kim Il Sung or Kim Jong
Il.

19. Propaganda
Most of the propaganda
North Koreans are
exposed to portrays the
leaders in a God-like
manner, and Americans as
imperialists who want to
destroy them.
The portray
Americans/capitalists as
corrupt and evil.

22. Prison Camps
 The usage of extreme
censorship and
propaganda keeps most
citizens loyal to the
government.
 When this does not
work the North Korean
government uses prison
camps as a punishment.
 They deny that these
camps exist.

23. Nuclear Weapons and Threats of War
 It is no secret that North
Korea is actively working on
developing nuclear
weapons.
 In February 2013 they
conducted their third
known nuclear test.
 South Korea feels
threatened by North Korea
ramping up their nuclear
program and many are
calling for the US to provide
them with nuclear weapons.