The Cold War: Country Trends--Korea

Figure 1.--Civilians suffered terribly, an estimated 2.5 million civilans perished during the 3 years of fighting. These boys were photographed by an American soldier attached to the 322 Field Artillery Combat unit. Germany and Korea were geographic and economic bookends of the Cold War. Germany provided a test case for capitalism and Communism in an insustrial state. Korea provide the same test case of an underdeveloped country. South Korea after the War developed into one of the Asian Tigers and today living and economic stanndards are approaching European standards. North Korea is the most repressive countries in the world and an economic basket case, unable to even feed itself.

Germany and Korea were geographic and economic bookends of the Cold War. Germany provided a test case for capitalism and Communism in an insustrial state. Korea provide the same test case of an underdeveloped country. Korea was seized by Japan and made into a colony (1909). The Japanese improved the ifrastructure, but brutally suppressed Korean nationalism. The schools were taught in Japan. At the end of the Pacific War, the Soviet Union declared war on Japan and swept through Manchuria, seizing northern Korea. The United States seized control in the south. Two competing regimes were organized and vied for control of the country. The Soviet Union armed North Korea to the teeth. The United States provided modest military assistance. They withdrew their troops (1949). The United States turned its authority over to an elected South Korea government--the Republic of Korea (1948). The United States withdrew its miklitary except for a small military advisory group. Stalin stepped basck from military action in Europe over Berlin (1949). Apparently enboldened by development of an atomic bomb and the Communist victory in China, he decided to try military action using North Korean proxies. The North Koreans Army crossed the 38th parallel on June 25, 1950 to forcibly unify Korea. The result was ther bloody 3-year Korean War which China entered. An armistic was signed (1953). As a result, as in Germany, capitalism and socialism competed economically while separated by a heavily armed border. Communism in Korea proved to be an even greater failure than in Germany. North Korea had been the more properous, indusdtrialized area of the country with important natural resources. But under Communism, the economy declined and by the 1970s, North Korea was not even able to feed itself. South korea on the other hand, despite lacking notable resources emerged as one of the Asian Tigers--economic power centers. South Korea trough capitalism developed not only a vibrant modern economy, but a democratic political system. North Korea under Communism developed as the most repressive country in the world and an economic disaster case. Sattelite imagery offer stark testimony of the differences between the two Koreas.

Created: 10:09 PM 7/6/2011
Last updated: 10:09 PM 7/6/2011