preview

Causes Of The Korean War

Decent Essays

The roots of the Korean War go as far as the eve of World War Two, where two hegemons split the Korean peninsula along the 38th Parallel. The United States governed the southern half, while the Soviet Union occupied the north. In an effort to reunite Korea, North Korea invaded its southern neighbor in 1950. This prompted a swift response from the international community. This war of aggressive Communist expansion ended in an armistice, a cease-fire that never conclusively ended the war. In more recent events, the reunification of Korea was pushed by former president Park Geun Hye before her impeachment. This effort materialized in the form of propaganda as well as generating international support. Although a reunification of Korea is possible, the probability of a successful transition is largely hinged on North Korean willingness to cooperate - which is hard to gauge. United States involvement in the region is a source of stability. American troops are stationed in various parts of South East Asia, making it very clear where American interests lie. The western world greatly benefits from Japan’s contributions, one of the world’s largest economies. South Korea is definitely a source of American interest, if not only for the troops stationed there. Hypothetically, if Korea were to unify, what would happen to the region? A key concern would be China’s reaction to such an incident. China has been very protective of its borders historically, preferring to keep western influence at arm’s bay. It is not certain how Beijing would react to a democratic nation on its borders, let alone one it used to trade with heavily. If tensions with China were to increase due to this event, it could have a ripple effect in trade agreements and partnerships, shifting the world’s key players and alliances once again. When we discuss Korean reunification an aspect to consider is what reunification actually means in context. Reunification via absorption would mean South Korea taking over the problems, people and political issues of the former Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The most practical opposition to this idea is almost too obvious – North Korean leadership. Autocratic leadership in the DPRK tends towards

Get Access