NORTH KOREAN TIMELINE
1900-1990

By: Michael O’Dell

THE EARLY YEARS

•By 1900 Russia, China and Japan had economic interests throughout Korea.

•1900 U.S. declared open door policy and recognized Japan as possessing paramount rights in Korea.

•Japan exploited Korea until 1945, establishing bureaucracies and zaibatsu’s to generate Japanese growth.

•Despite economic growth and industrialized change, most Koreans resented Japanese interference.

•Anti-colonial protests were put down violently creating even stronger nationalistic desires.

•Korean Communist Party founded in Seoul, 1925.

A COUNTRY DIVIDING

•Japan invaded Manchuria creating an uprising of 200,000 guerilla fighters from China and Korea.

•Resistance against China became primary focus for North Korea.

•Japan declared war against China in 1937 and against the U.S. in 1941.

•1930’s-1945, Japan attempted to eliminate Korean language, art, culture.

•Japan’s harsh colonial rule came to an abrupt end in 1945 leaving a complex industrialized society to 2 main powers.

•Despite Japanese evacuation, the U.S.S.R. and the U.S. increased military throughout Korea, angering Korean people that wanted to resolve problems internally.

•1946, Interim People’s Committee became first centralized government in Korea.

•Young guerilla fighter, Kim Il Song became leader of North Korean political party in 1946, he was supported by others with military resources and was not challenged.

•The term chuch’e became widely used meaning keep neighbors at arm’s length and saw many revert to Confucianism ways.

•The Soviet Union attempted to increase trade relations in hopes of establishing bases and facilities.

KOREAN WAR

•June 25, 1950 North Korean forces occupied Seoul, North Korea aided by supplies from Soviet Union and China.

•Stubborn fighting and support from the U.S. held Kim’s troops and Gen. MacArthur surprised the North by air attacks and forced the retreat and collapse of Kim Il Song’s army.

•China, unhappy with U.S. involvement sent Chinese People’s Volunteer Army and drove U.S. forces out of N. Korea within a month.

•Armistice signed in 1953 after 3 years of fighting stalemate.

•The industrialized cities set up by Japan were destroyed much as most of North and South Korea.

POST WAR ECONOMY

•North Korea established a socialist command economy which at first appeared to reduce war debts.

•Post-war progress throughout South Korea has been greater than in North Korea.

•Kim Il Song’s political platform recognizes a three alliance system of peasants, workers, and intellectuals.

•Kim Il Song became the acting body and spirit of North Korea and was seen by many as the “respected and beloved Great Leader”.

•Sentiments regarding the benevolence of the leader were especially present at the inauguration of Kim Jong Il in 1980.

•The term national solipsism can be used to describe the isolationism attitude shared by many North Koreans towards westerners and the idea that it is the center of the world’s attention.

•Nixon and Carter administrations attempted to strengthen ties between North and South Korea through the removal of U.S. troops and diplomatic sanctions but plans have failed due to uncooperative measures from both sides.

•Mid 1980’s, China took a more active role to reduce tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

•North Korea’s communist dictatorship survived in the early 1990’s when other communist countries were separating due to the strong nationalistic ties the Kim dynasty has left behind for the active ruling member.