OPPOSING ALLIES
The Korean War was the result of major ideological differences between the two superpowers, the Soviets and the Americans, who occupied the peninsula after the fall of Imperial Japan. The Soviets and Americans were working in union to remove the Japanese imperialist from the Korean peninsula. North of the 38th parallel, the Soviets were in charge of the Japanese removal, and south of the parallel, the Americans were in charge. On August 15, 1945, the Japanese surrendered. Some 600,000 Japanese soldiers withdrew from the peninsula. Korea was now freed from 35 years of Japanese ruling. Although they were now free from a foreign ruler, the Koreans were now tasked with setting up a government for themselves. Their ability to do so on their own terms was impeded by the two remaining superpowers.
The occupation of the Soviets and Americans meant that the Koreans themselves unfortunately had very little, if any, true impact on the outcome of the state of their nation. This was mainly due to the stubbornness of the Soviet backed North and their refusal to cooperate with the United Nations. In 1948, the UN prepared to have the Koreans vote on which side they wanted to stay with. Their vote would decided which direction the nation would go. Their choice was either to stay with the Soviets to form a communist government, or with the US, to form a capitalist society. The North, however, never agreed to the vote. The two sides of Korea would remain divided. Two governments were promptly set up by the backers of each side of the peninsula. Each resembled their own. In the South, the Republic of Korea, headed by Syngman Rhee, was established with the help of the Americans at the new capital, Seoul. Likewise, the Soviets in the north established a communist government, known ironically as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, at their new capital, Pyongyang. They quickly had Kim Il-Sung assume power in order to show that they too had a leader. Both of these governments considered themselves to be the just ruler the entire peninsula, and not simply ruler of one side of the 38th Parallel. After the establishment of these governments, the Soviets and Americans withdrew the majority of their forces. |
Kim Il Sung (left) and Syngman Rhee (right)
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