Korean conflict

The Korean conflict is based on the division between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the north and the Republic of Korea in the south, both of which claim to be the government of the whole country. Historically, North Korea has been backed by the Soviet Union and China, and South Korea has been backed by the United States and its allies. The division of Korea occurred at the end of World War Two in 1945. Tensions erupted into the Korean War in 1950. When the war ended, the country was devastated, but the division remained. North and South Korea continued a military standoff with periodic clashes. Originally associated with the Cold War, the conflict has survived the end of that confrontation and continues to be seen as an international flashpoint. In 1997, US President Bill Clinton described the division of Korea as the "Cold War's last divide". In 2002, US President George W Bush described North Korea as a member of an "Axis of Evil".

Background

Korea was annexed by the Empire of Japan in 1910, and the Korean king Gojong was removed. In the following decades, nationalist and radical groups emerged, mostly in exile, to struggle for independence. Divergent in their outlooks and approaches, these groups failed to unite in one national movement. The Korean Provisional Government in China failed to obtain widespread recognition. Among the many leaders were the conservative Syngman Rhee, who lobbied the government in the US, and the Communist Kim Il-sung, who fought a guerrilla war against the Japanese from neighboring Manchuria. Koreans who remained in their homeland were subject to harsh political repression and forced to assimilate to Japanese culture. Subsequently, many high-ranking Koreans were accused of collaborating with Japanese imperialism. After Japan's defeat, there was an intense struggle between aspiring leaders, and many were assassinated or repressed.

2013 in North Korea

The following lists events that happened in 2013 in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Incumbents

Events

January

Seikanron

The Seikanron (Japanese: 征韓論; Korean: 정한론; literally "Advocacy of a punitive expedition to Korea") debate was a major political debate in Japan in 1873 regarding the immediate invasion of Korea. It was decided that no action was to be taken against Korea.

Historical Background

After the Meiji Restoration and the overthrow of the Shogunate in 1868, the newly formed Meiji government embarked on reforms to centralize and modernize Japan. In foreign affairs, the government had taken steps to establish a foreign affairs bureau to take over Japan's external relations which was previously conducted by the bakufu.

Meiji Politics and tensions with the Samurai

Serious divisions emerged in the restoration coalition that had overthrown the Shogunate. Reforms enacted by the Meiji government such as the abolition of the domains led to resentment.

Japanese attempts to establish relations with Korea

During the Edo period Japan's relationship and trade with Korea were conducted through intermediaries with the Sō family in Tsushima, A Japanese outpost, called the waegwan, was allowed to be maintained in Tongnae near Pusan. The traders were confined to the outpost and no Japanese were allowed to travel to the Korean capital at Seoul. The bureau of foreign affairs wanted to change these arrangements to one based on modern state-to-state relations. In late 1868, a member of the Sō daimyō informed the Korean authorities that a new government had been established and an envoy would be sent from Japan.