North Korea announced that over 1.4 million citizens applied to join the military

• The announcement followed North Korea blowing up roads and railways at the southern border.
  • This action was in response to South Korea allegedly sending drones with anti-North Korea leaf
• Long-Standing Conflict: North and South Korea have technically been at war for over 70 years, with periodic escalations.

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Historical Context

Timeline of Key Events in Korean History

• 1910-1945:
  • Colonial Rule: Korea was under Japanese control until Japan’s defeat in World War II.
• 1945:
  • Post-WWII Division: Korea was divided at the 38th parallel after Japan’s surrender. 
    • The peninsula was split into North and South.
    • North Korea was supported by the Soviet Union and China, while the South was backed by the US.
• 1948:
  • Establishment of Governments:
    • North Korea (DPRK): Led by Kim Il Sung, established a communist regime with a focus on Juche (self-reliance).
    • South Korea: Embraced  a capitalist economy with US support.
• 1950-1953:
  • Korean War:
    • 1950: North Korea, supported by Soviet and Chinese forces, invaded South Korea.
    • 1950-1951: The US intervened, pushing North Korea back.
    • 1953: An armistice was signed, creating the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), though no peace treaty was signed.
• 1993:
  • South Korea’s Democracy: South Korea transitioned into a full democracy, with a high standard of living and a thriving industrial economy.
• Present (Post-1994):
  • North Korea’s Leadership: The dictatorship in North Korea enforced under Kim Il Sung continued under his son Kim Jong Il, and later by Kim Jong Un.
  • Followed  policies of isolationism, strict censorship, and severe punishments for dissent.

About Korean Peninsula

• Location: East Asia.
  • Juts out into the Pacific Rim from northwestern Asia.
• Boundaries: Bordered by the Sea of Japan (East Sea) to the east and the Yellow Sea to the west.
• Neighbours: The Korean Peninsula is bordered by several countries and bodies of water:
  • Neighbouring Countries
    • China: To the northwest, the Amnok River (Yalu River) separates Korea from China.
    • Russia: To the northeast, the Duman River (Tumen River) separates Korea from China and Russia. 
      • The Yalu and Tumen Rivers form the natural border between North Korea and China.
  • Bodies of Water:
    • Yellow Sea: To the west of the Korean Peninsula
    • Sea of Japan (East Sea): To the east of the Korean Peninsula
    • Korea Strait: Separates South Korea from Japan to the south
• Countries: Divided between North Korea (capital: Pyongyang) and South Korea (capital: Seoul).
• Islands: Around 3,000 small islands off the southern and western coasts, mostly within South Korea.

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Topography of the Korean Peninsula

• Mountainous Region: About 70% of the land is mountainous, with high demand for cultivable land.
• Four Key Regions:
• • Western Region: Extensive coastal plain, river basins, and foothills.
  • Eastern Region: High mountain ranges and a narrow coastal plain.
  • Southeastern Basin: Contains important agricultural areas.
  • Southwestern Region: Made up of mountains and valleys.