Why we use ‘Korea’ to refer only to South Korea? The Korean peninsula includes North Korea as well.

This 2020 was fulfilled 70 years of the war that split in two the ‘original’ Korea. Korea War. and it’s common using ‘Korea’ to referencing South Korea only. A conflict far from resolved despite the armistice that both parts signed on July 27, 1953. The political ideology of North Korea, juche, or zuche philosophy, attributed to president Kill Il-Sung, (the supreme leader of North Korea since its creation until he dies in 1994) was the beginning of the hermetic develop for North Korea. The human being as the owner of his destiny in a country of prohibitions? 

A brief review from the Japanese-Chinese War to the Korean War.-  The Korean peninsula is a region of East Asia, divided into two countries, North Korea and South Korea since 1949. Before that, there was only ‘Korea’. Long before, in 1894, back then, the Qing Dynasty of China and the Empire of Japan were too much interested in this territory. The first war Chinese-Japanese for the control and influence over Korea was fought between the Qing dynasty and the nascent Empire of Japan, between 1894 and 1895. A war that Japan won, and for the next 10 years, Japan continued to take over the Korean territory. Then, in 1904 until 1905, Russia faces Japan, with their interests, to defend the Koreans, a war without victors, but Russians began to influence a group of guerrillas, indoctrinating them into communism and their start to fight against the colonizers. 

During the Second World War, while Europe was the scene of the most important battles, Japan became a powerful and ruthless empire. They took the opportunity to submit the weakest territories and, in Korea, they killed or enslaved men and, they raped women. They were so cruel, they forbade them from speaking their language, they subjugated their culture and traditions. In 1945, the nuclear bombs that the United States throw in Hiroshima and Nagasaki completely defeated Japan and put an end to the Second World War. As happened with Germany and the famous division between East Germany, influenced by the ex-Soviet Union and West Germany influenced by the United States, they had to decide who would keep the Korean peninsula after taking it from the Japanese.

The Russians were installed in the northern part, so, in 1947 the UN-led by the UEA proposed to vote democratically for a president to all Korea, the South, and the North but the Soviet Union wasn’t interested and the elections were held only in South Korea and in 1948, Syngman Rhee became the first president-elect of South Korea. On the other hand, the URSS popularized the Kim Il-Sung image as a hero of the Nation and in September of 1948, Kim Il- Sung creates the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. In addition to institutions, the political party, and the army. Also, the art and literature federation with which the Government could control and keep the influence about its inhabitants. 

The time passed out and in 1950, and on July 25 exploited the Korea War that had a place in the Korean peninsula, sea of Japan, and Korea strait. Five years later after the finish of the Second World War.  Little is known about the relationship between the two warfares. The division over the 38th parallel caused continuous tensions and attempts to reconquer the remaining half of the peninsula. The rivalry was such that it sparked one of the bloodiest wars and it almost unleashed a third world war. 

About the North.- During the years of Kim Il-Sung - 1948 until 1994 -  as the supreme and total leader of North Korea through art, literature, and the media a cult of his person was created to religious and sacred dimensions. This helps us understand North Korea today. Life there seems perfectly diagrammed, but what we know about life inside North Korea? and important than that, how we know it? DW - Documental, by the hand of Gregor Möllers and Anne Lewald special report, who entered as tourists previously signing that they had no intention of photographing or filming for journalistic purposes. They camouflaged the flashing camera light filming ignoring the possible consequences of violating the previous contract, two tour guides were waiting for them. 

Pyongyang, North Korea has 3 million inhabitants and only two foreign people’s hotels. To move within the city, they do not need their passports as in usually in most countries, being accompanied by their tour guides is enough. North Korea has the help of the UN World Food Program but it is not a topic that can be discussed with the guides. They are required to write reports on interaction with foreigners to verify that there are no differences in the story and it is an effective way to apply self-censorship. 

The question is; how people from two completed different cultures imagine the reunification? One based on socialism and the other on capitalism. The North Korean guide said ‘sovereignty, peaceful unification, diffusion of the entire Nation. One Nation, one State, two systems, capitalism, and communism’

In the south part.-  South Korea or The Republic of Korea with Seoul where live half of their population. Since 1950, South Korea’s economy grew rapidly, currently positioning itself in the 13th economy in the world and it is classified as a developed country by the UN, the World Bank, and the World Monetary Fund. It is also among the most technologically advanced and best-communicated countries; 11 is the third country with the highest number of broadband Internet users among OECD countries, also being one of the global leaders in the production of electronic devices, devices semiconductors, and mobile phones. -In 2012, 11.1 million foreign tourists visited South Korea, making it the 20th most visited country in the world, and the 6th most visited in Asia. -

-Reunification arch-

Tourism in North Korea? Yes, ten travel companies are allowed to enter North Korea, all authorized and controlled by the Government. The tour guides are also selected by the Government, entries are allowed only in groups, and under no circumstances can the group disperse or have contact with the locals. Many Chinese people use these services to live an adventure, but it doesn't always go well. In 2017, Otto Warmbier died at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center in Ohio, United States. After being handed over by North Korea in the weak of various negotiations and diplomatic meetings. He was arrested and accused in January of 2016 to the robber of the North Korean propaganda poster in the hotel lobby where he was staying for his vacation, his judgment had been dragged away and sentenced to fifteen years in prison and forced labor. 

To be a tourist in North Korea, you have to take into account discreet clothing, not photograph local, much less military, and be willing to disconnect from the internet for the duration of your stay.- 

What happens at parallel 38? Parallel 38 is the border between North and South Korea. 

The reference point that was taken for the territorial division of the peninsula, an agreement between the ex-Soviet Union and the United States, and the demilitarized zone is a fringe of 2 KM on each side of an imaginary demarcation line that is a fringe of 4 KM in total wide that extends 250 KM from cost to cost, and in principle ensures a 'cease-fire'. Is de facto, the inter-Korean border. This demilitarized zone allowed that an armistice is signed, which is still in force today. This armistice was created to ensure the complete cessation of hostilities and acts of armed force on the Korean peninsula until a final peace agreement is reached - which to date has not yet been reached and therefore both nations are technically at war. 

 

   Por Agostina Torres Ochoa