38 parallel Korea. North and South Korea: A History of Separation. The split of society and the annexation of Korea

08:00 - REGNUM

The world has reached the 65th anniversary of graduation Korean War- the unresolved confrontation between the North and the South - without having a final answer to the question: will the Koreans become one people again, or will the Western curators of Seoul continue to deal with their future at their discretion?

Alexander Gorbarukov © IA REGNUM

It is to be hoped that the reunification of the North and the South is a matter of the future. And this hope lives on, despite the habit of Americans to dispose of the "loyal East" as at home. Their policy has gone so far and led to such consequences that now before the Korean Peninsula, and hence the Korean War (1950-1953), "there is a matter" for everyone - both in the East and in the West.

The three-year war, which began on June 25, 1950, drew such a bold line across the Korean Peninsula that just a year ago it was difficult to even think of any resolution to this long-standing conflict. But history is not the yellowed pages of a textbook. It continues, forcing you to rethink what happened and make a choice.

Today - war or peace?

Today, the situation on the Korean Peninsula is one of the most discussed international topics. After all, the socialist republic offered a rapprochement to its pro-Western neighbor, its old enemy. The May high-level talks between Seoul and Pyongyang, held for the first time in 65 years, were so successful that a peace treaty is expected to be signed as early as 2018. By the way, the behavior of the American side against this background deserves special attention.

Why did the Koreans, who ended the fratricidal war in 1953, take so many years to decide on a peace treaty? And why is this possible right now? In order to understand at least something in the "subtle deeds of the East", let's turn to history.

From what and why?

The Korean War is not unreasonably considered an indirect confrontation between two geopolitical poles - the socialist camp represented by Moscow and Beijing (the arena is part of Korea above the 38th parallel) and capitalist countries - the USA, Great Britain and 14 other states (below the 38th parallel).

As a result of World War II, Korea, a former Japanese colony, was temporarily divided into North and South. However, the reunification desired by the Koreans turned out to be impossible due to the cold war. And although the 1948 North Korean Constitution designated Seoul as the center of the country, and Pyongyang was considered only a temporary capital, there was no peace between brothers and neighbors. Why?

Because the West did not want peace, or rather, not the world in which the Koreans would be an independent, free and united people. The West wanted to have its own territory near China with its bases, or at least hot spot, but certainly not a country friendly to Beijing.

The Chinese leader saw that Washington intends to prevent him from breaking up the forces Chiang Kai-shek- head of the Kuomintang government in Taiwan.

Question: Did Mao worry for nothing? Answer: Definitely not.

The capitalist West feared the USSR, but even more feared the union of Moscow and Beijing. After the victory of the communist revolution in China, Mao proclaimed the People's Republic of China. The Americans believed that the agreement between China and the USSR created a deep communist alliance, thus opening a "second front of the Cold War."

According to the widespread version, the Americans did not believe that the North could attack the South and, when this happened, "were not ready." This question seems to me doubtful, because ...

Because the “cold” war was clearly heating up and both world “poles” were “sharpening their sabers” and “polishing their armor”, because the South, at the suggestion of the West, provoked the North, although the Koreans themselves wanted to be one people. Recall that the Korean War (1950-1953) was preceded by the so-called Little War - numerous provocations from the South.

Thus, after the withdrawal of Soviet troops from North Korea and American troops from South Korea in 1949, South Korean military units and police units carried out 2,617 armed incursions into the DPRK. During the year, 71 air border violations and 42 intrusions into the territorial waters of North Korea were committed.

What were the sabotage of the South if not provocations for war, if not pressure on China? If this is obvious here and now, then it was even more understood in Beijing. Against this backdrop, how could Washington “not expect” a response from the North?

The final decision on the deployment of troops to the south of Pyongyang was made after a meeting of the leader of North Korea Kim Il Sung with the head of the USSR Joseph Stalin in the spring of 1950. Kim hoped that the southerners would be delighted with the introduction of troops and themselves remove the president of South Korea from power Lee Seungman (Singman Ri).

Kim asked Stalin to provide full-scale assistance to North Korea in its invasion of the South. There could be no question of any participation of the USSR in the war - the next step would be an exchange of nuclear strikes - it is also the last battle in history. After all, by that time both superpowers had nuclear weapons, and the United States proved that they were ready to bomb the far East.

Moscow provided Pyongyang with a large amount of military-technical assistance, thanks to which North Korea formed powerful army. By the beginning of 1950, Stalin agreed to a military operation.

So, the answer, “which was not expected,” followed: on June 25, 1950, the northern troops crossed the 38th parallel.

At the start

The army of the North, in the preparation and equipping of which the USSR participated, significantly outnumbered the southern army: 175,000 northerners versus 93,000 southerners. As part of the North Korean troops, there were 150 T-34 tanks, 172 combat aircraft. The Army of the South, supported by the US, was not only smaller in number, but also worse equipped: there were almost no armored vehicles, only light aircraft were available from combat.

Advance of the North

Therefore, in the first days of the war, the northerners successfully advanced through the territory of their neighbor. Seoul was taken on June 28, South Korean President Lee and many of his associates fled. By mid-August, the northerners captured 90% of the territory of South Korea.

Immediately after the invasion of the North, the 33rd President of the United States Harry Truman(Democratic Party) ordered the evacuation of American citizens from the country and ordered the Seventh Fleet to provide the defense of Taiwan, although the government of Chiang Kai-shek was denied military assistance.

How did the whole “honest world” react to this? The reaction that followed speaks volumes and raises new questions.

The Korean crisis arose at the moment when the USSR refused to participate in the UN Security Council vote because of the non-recognition of communist China by the “world”. Thus, the North Korean offensive "coincided" with the absence of Moscow's voice in the UN Security Council. The US seized the opportunity and, with the help of the UN, condemned North Korea's aggression. The American Ambassador to the UN said at the meeting:

"This is regarded as an attack on the UN."

The American position was supported by 16 countries. After that, Truman addressed his fellow citizens with the following speech:

“Korea is a small country thousands of miles away. But what happens there is important for every American. The very fact of the invasion of the communist forces into Korea indicates that a similar act of aggression can happen in any other part of the world.

Something familiar emanates from these words ...

Mobilization began in the USA. The Americans expected to overcome the North quickly, in a few weeks. Moreover, the troops were commanded by the legendary (as he was considered by the "loyal East") General Douglas MacArthur.

“It was believed that the Asians, seeing our power, would quickly get back - beyond the 38th parallel” , - said the American lieutenant colonel Charles Bussy in the documentary Cold War: Korea, 1949 - 1953 ».

But the war turned out to be protracted and bloody. Who would have thought…

Until the end of the summer, the North Korean army carried out two successful offensive operations - Taejon (from July 3 to 25) and Naktong (from July 26 to August 20), during which South Korean troops and the UN contingent lost 32,000 troops and many military equipment and armaments.

By August, the American contingent had been driven deep south into the Pusan ​​area. The troops of Seoul and the allies were unable to go beyond the Pusan ​​perimeter, an encirclement organized by the North. The front line was fixed along the Naktong River. At this stage, the offensive of the North Korean troops was stopped.

Counteroffensive of the South

MacArthur decided to pull the allied forces to Pusan ​​in order to strike at the North from the rear: on September 15, an assault was landed in Inchon. Operation Chromite, aimed at taking Seoul, lasted two weeks. In September, the southerners and the Americans were able to break through the Busan perimeter. Seoul, during the battles for which 50,000 civilians died under crossfire, was taken on September 28.

The counteroffensive of the South continued: on October 8, the troops reached the 38th parallel, and on October 11, the southerners crossed the border. The north continued to lose ground, and on October 20 the coalition occupied Pyongyang. The Americans thought the war was already won. No matter how…

Chinese involvement

At this stage, the threat to Beijing was already direct: MacArthur sought to move further and further north.

“In the event of the defeat of North Korea, only the Yalu River separated us from the Americans. We were very worried about this, especially the risk of US air strikes on the country's reconstructed economy. , - says an employee of the Chinese Foreign Ministry Shi Ze in the movie Cold War: Korea, 1949-1953.

Ruined North Korea asked Beijing for emergency assistance. Meanwhile, MacArthur assured his command that China would never enter the war.

The general took the next medal as permission to continue moving towards China. The UN Sheep continued to march north, and on October 19, Pyongyang fell. And it was, as they say, "already too much" for China.

On October 25, Mao, with the approval of Moscow, sent troops into North Korea. 300,000 Chinese (the so-called Chinese People's Volunteers) came to the aid of the North Koreans.

“They blew their bugles, and this sound chilled the blood in the veins of the soldiers” , - says Lieutenant Colonel Bassi.

“After China entered the war, we realized that another war had begun, a different situation had arisen” , says Lucius Battle, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, in Cold War: Korea, 1949-1953.

Using "cunning tactics" to simulate panic, the Chinese were successful: the southerners retreated. People's Volunteers occupied Pyongyang.

“Never in my life have I experienced such a feeling - to be part of a fleeing army, Bassy said. — I do not know of another example of such a mass retreat of the Americans, such a defeat. It was a rout."

American soldiers called it "flight fever". The retreating troops used scorched earth tactics. The Pentagon did not dare to use nuclear weapons: although Beijing did not have its own nuclear weapons, but there was a corresponding agreement with Moscow.

The role of Soviet MiGs

Soviet aviation joined the war in October 1950. MiG-15s were sent to the Korean Peninsula, showing their advantages over the American F-80s.

As a result, the Pentagon sent F-86s to the Korean Peninsula. The Americans constantly attacked ground targets, but the presence of Russian pilots threatened a direct conflict between the USSR and the USA.

The advance of the fortified forces of the North continued. Has come New Year, and the US did not even “smell” a victory. On January 4, 1951, the troops of the North, in alliance with China, captured Seoul.

Back to the North

The Americans, having stopped the offensive, decided to attack. The Chinese army was pushed back north across the Han River. The coalition applied the so-called meat grinder method.

On March 7, 1951, the pro-American side launched Operation Ripper, which resulted in the capture of Seoul. As a result of the counter-offensive of the North, both sides suffered heavy losses. At the end of May, the northerners were again driven back beyond the 38th parallel.

In fact, there was a Sino-American war. MacArthur was going to bomb Chinese cities in order to transfer the war to the territory of the PRC and was removed from command by Truman, who, firstly, saw the failure of a lightning victory, and secondly, did not want a nuclear response from the USSR. Mao, for his part, was also determined, not intending to at least let the Americans near his border.

The negotiation game

The critical moment of the Korean War is considered June 1951, when it became clear that neither side could win. Monthly losses in killed and wounded in the ranks of the South amounted to 2.5 thousand people. It became clear that the war could not be won.

Against the backdrop of ongoing hostilities, on July 8, 1951, armistice negotiations began in Kaesong (Hwanghae-bukto province, North Korea). Oddly enough, the North and the South had similar demands: both Seoul and Pyongyang wanted the restoration of the borders within the pre-war limits.

The talks have stalled, for which the Americans blame the North, believing that Pyongyang deliberately dragged out the process. But the Americans also wanted to get their way, in order to eventually gain control over the entire peninsula.

Formally, the problem was that it was not possible to resolve the issue of the repatriation of the military. The North was ready for voluntary repatriation on the condition that all of its military, including the Chinese, return to their homeland, but a third of the northerners refused to go home.

Continuation of the war

After the failure of the negotiations, endless bombardments began again. The Americans dropped almost as many explosives on North Korea as they did on Germany during World War II.

Yang Won Sik, a member of the North Korean forces, said in the film Cold War: Korea, 1949-1953:

“The bombers came without warning. Many people died in these bombings. Dead bodies lay everywhere. Not a single house survived. They bombed in the same way big cities, and settlements, and countryside. I saw it all with my own eyes."

truce

Hundreds of meetings have been held at the Penmunjom call center in two years. The armistice agreement was signed only after the change of power in Washington and Moscow.

On November 4, 1952, the 34th President won the US elections Dwight Eisenhower(Republican Party), declaring as its campaign slogan the promise "I'm going to Korea!" Compatriots voted for Eisenhower because he promised to end the Korean War, which ended up killing 54,000 Americans. Of the contingent of 15 other countries, 3,000 soldiers died.

Stalin died on March 5, 1953, and during the "transitional period" the Presidium of the Central Committee of the CPSU voted to end the war. Beijing agreed to the voluntary repatriation of prisoners of war. The exchange of the first prisoners began on April 20, 1953.

On July 27, 1953, an armistice agreement was finally signed. China, North Korea and the UN supported this agreement. But the puppet South Korean President Lee refused to put his signature on it, demanding the continuation of the war.

Under the treaty, 75,000 North Koreans and 12,000 UN prisoners of war were released.

Around the front line, fixed in the area of ​​the 38th parallel, a demilitarized zone was proclaimed. The territory of the DMZ is still guarded by North Korean troops from the north and US-Korean troops from the south.

As we know, the peace treaty has not yet been signed. Until 2018, the North's proposals for a peace treaty were rejected. In addition, in January 1958, the Pentagon, in violation of clause 13d of the Armistice Treaty, deployed nuclear weapons in South Korea. True, in 1991, nuclear weapons were completely removed from South Korea. But the North began to work on its nuclear program.

The results of the war

The main result of the Korean War must be recognized as huge human losses and the final isolation of North Korea, which eventually ended in the creation and testing of nuclear weapons in 2017. None of the former allies in the anti-Hitler coalition, neither the United States nor China, managed to gain full control over the peninsula.

The Korean War is called the first outbreak of the Cold War, launched against the socialist camp in 1946. According to official figures, as a result of this campaign, 138,000 people died in South Korea, and 112,000 people in North Korea. At the same time, the unification that the Koreans wanted did not work out.

Koreans needed long years and gigantic efforts to rebuild destroyed cities and businesses. And the moment has not yet come when all Koreans finally admit that peace on the peninsula is more valuable than approval " the mighty of the world this."

In the summer of 1950, the Korean War broke out. To this day, it is considered aggression from the north, but in fact it was aggression from the south.

After the appearance of the demarcation line along the 38th parallel, the American military provoked military clashes on this line.

Before the start of the war, Lee Syngman, led by a group of American military advisers in South Korea, carried out more than 5,150 military provocations there, rousing a total of over 84,000 soldiers to their feet. This is evidenced by the head of the group of American military advisers, Roberts, who in October 1949 at a meeting of divisional commanders at the headquarters of the South Korean ground forces says:
“Multiple attacks on the territory north of the 38th parallel were carried out on my orders and many more attacks are foreseen in the future. However, in most cases, the troops arbitrarily went over to the attack without any success, with the expenditure of a large amount of ammunition. In addition, they suffered huge losses ... From now on, the offensive of the National Defense Army to the north of the 38th parallel should be carried out only by order of the American military mission "
Japanese book "The United States Failed", page 14.

By the time the war broke out in Korea, "Uncle Sam" circled around his finger. In many respects, of course, he counted on the surprise of hostilities. At the same time, the overseas intriguer tried very, very hard to create a situation favorable for shifting all responsibility for the fire of the war to the DPRK.

Entering the year 1950, rabid deceivers from across the ocean deliberately created a pre-war lull in the first place - they say that we are not interested in the Korean Peninsula. To divert the attention of the world community, the American Pharisees came out with a sign of the so-called. US defense lines Far East».

In early January 1950, the chairman of the US Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, Connel, issued a statement to the press, which noted that the Korean Peninsula did not represent "the most advanced line of defense" for the United States.

And then, on January 12, US Secretary of State Acheson issued a "political statement." After that, the demagogic campaign noticeably intensified.
The announcement was made by Acheson, who had been invited to a dinner hosted by the National Press Club, a press organization in Washington. It says: " The US line of defense in the Far East runs through the Aleutian Islands, the island of Honshu, and the Ryukyu archipelago in Japan.

On the Ryukyu we have the most important fortifications. We will continue to keep them. The line of defense from the Ryukyu reaches the Philippine Islands ... As for the countries located behind the named line of defense, no one guarantees their safety in the event of a military attack "
South Korean book "Secret Records of South Korean Diplomacy", Seoul Sinmun Newspaper Publishing House, 1964, pp. 210–211
After that, the American media began a major propaganda campaign, as if South Korea"is out of American custody."

However, the subsequent actions of "Uncle Sam" once again showed that the plausible advertisement of the "US defense line in the Far East" was nothing more than a deceptive mirage to provoke an aggressive war in Korea.

After this political undertaking, Washington immediately set about developing a strategic plan, code-named " NSC-68", i.e. plan " emergency action for the upcoming war in Korea.
In January 1950, the named plan was developed and coordinated by order of the American President Truman at a joint meeting of the State Department and the Committee of the Chiefs of Staff of the US Armed Forces. On April 2 of the same year, this plan to unleash the Korean War was approved by the US National Security Council (New York Times, April 13, 1964).
On January 26, 1950, the Americans concluded with their South Korean Lisynman puppets the so-called.
"South Korean-American agreement on mutual defense and assistance" and "an agreement on the presence of an American military mission in South Korea."
In February of the same year in Tokyo, MacArthur and Syngman Rhee's puppet clique agreed to make a campaign against North Korea.

Here MacArthur promised the local lackeys to provide more military assistance.
On April 3, 1950, the US State Department made public the conversation between US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian Affairs D. Rusk and Chang Meng, Syngman Rhee's special envoy.
“As before, so now,” says D. Rusk, “the United States has provided and is providing the Republic of Korea with significant financial assistance and political support. In this context, I think the assumption that the United States surrendered it to the enemy is completely unfounded.
South Korean book "Secret Records of South Korean Diplomacy", 1964, p. 212.

This already clearly indicates that the pharisaic propaganda of the “US line of defense in the Far East” was aimed at creating a smokescreen to mask the actions of unleashing the war in Korea.
Moreover, in the run-up to the Korean War, the Americans and Lee Syngman resorted to the "strange silence" tactics.
Stepping on the threshold of 1950, they launched the version of the "crisis in May-June", feverishly raising a fuss about the "campaign to the North."

Kim Il Sung

This caused concern in the world community that the war in Korea might break out on their own. And they realized that such a situation would be rather unfavorable for them in kindling a military fire. And hence the new invention - the "silence" tactic.
The "actor" playing under the dictation of the "director" of the invented script, of course, was the obedient puppet in the hands of "Uncle Sam" - Lee Syngman. The Washington boss prompted: "You shouldn't make a loud noise about the" trip to the North ". Sit, my dear, calmly, without noise, just wait for the chance to come.

Let the war break out in silence against the North. Then it will be easy for you and me to shift the blame for this to North Korea, and it will be more convenient for us to interfere in the matter. So you and I will be wise."
How did they do before?

Sin Sung Mo and other puppets of South Korea, incited by "Uncle Sam", foamed at the mouth at briefings and on the radio:
«.. .Literally, the danger of aggression from the North will burst out”
(American newspaper The New York Times, May 11, 1950). In a word, they shouted at the top of their voices about their upcoming "campaign to the North."
And suddenly, after May 10, for more than 40 days, everyone's mouth was covered up - strict censorship was introduced.
The American book "History of the Korean War" (Japanese ed., vol. 1) writes about this. On the 101st page of the book there are interesting lines:
“In Korea, called the “Land of the Morning Calm,” there are many things going on, both open and secret. Among them there is one unique, reflecting the unique changes in the situation. It's about that after the warning of the Minister of Defense on May 10 about an expected attack from the North, such statements in the pages of newspapers and other printed publications, in political circles [completely stopped.”
Another American book, The Secret History of the Korean War (Japanese ed., p. 56), writes:
“After May 11, 1950, the government of the Republic of Korea also, as if agreed among themselves, played silent - not a word about such a danger (the so-called North Korean threat) and the insufficiency of its weapons.”

However, the "quiet" tactic, contrary to the expectations of the Americans and Syngman's people, raised doubts in the country and beyond.
Western journalists, who had previously heard in South Korea about belligerent statements about a "march to the North", clearly doubted the surprise - an unexpected silence. They called it "the silence of Seoul", described South Korea in May and June as a "quiet country".
The Japanese book The Korean War (Hora Tomiyo) comments:
“The government of the Republic of Korea in the most dangerous period for it has been silent, and then for forty days. How can this be explained? Yes, it's a rather strange thing" (p. 22).

Such an assessment of the situation hints at a different goal of the US-South Korean "silence" tactics.

In the pre-war days, the Americans and the Lee Syngman puppets ostentatiously arranged weekends, travels, banquets and other events for high-ranking officials. For what? In order to thinly veil the physiognomy of the instigator of the Korean War. What really happened in America? What did American President Truman, the main architect of the Korean War, do?

On June 24, 1950, he traveled to Missouri, his hometown, for a weekend. Secretary of State Acheson too. Went to my farm in Maryland. On June 24, Dulles flew to Japan, to Kyoto for the weekend.

US Secretary of the Army Frank Feis and US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian Affairs D. Raek were invited to a dinner in Georgetown. The chief of the American military mission in South Korea, Roberts, was recalled to the United States, while the chief of staff of the same mission, Wright, was on a trip. In a word, the appearance of any movements of large figures was created.

And the American military did not forget one main thing - to kindle the flames of war in Korea.

And the commander [of the American troops in the Far East, MacArthur, the chief of staff Amond and other staff officers of the command headquarters were secretly given a special order: not to leave their place, to be in a wait-and-see position so that there would be no interference with command and control of the troops.
Moreover, US Secretary of Defense Johnson and Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Bradley, participants in the Quartet's Tokyo talks, were ordered to arrive in Washington on June 24. And on Sunday (June 25) 30 employees of the State Department were in the service.

Douglas McCarthur, U.S. Army General, Marshal of the Philippine Aria and recipient of many awards and medals.

It was he who gave the order to drop atomic bombs on peaceful Japanese cities, was distinguished by extreme cruelty and cynicism, was a supporter of the war

The facts show that the US administration managed to establish a coherent command-and-operations system in advance in order to kindle the flames of the Korean War, and that in such a situation, for other, unkind purposes, it played a farce with the movements of high-ranking officials.

As you can see, the apparently contradictory actions of "Uncle Sam" on the eve of the war could not but cause great doubt in the bowels of the public. This is evidenced by the phrases on the 14th page of the American book "The Korean War: a question without an answer."
“On the pre-war day,” writes the author of the book, “two—the president and the secretary of state, authorized to express the position of the United States—were absent.

Middle-level officials gathered in the State Department. But they were not the developers of political guidelines, but the executors of the order in the rank of ministers. Subsequently, the US stated that they took this event as a complete surprise and gasped.

However, if everything is judged by their initial actions, then it can be said that their behavior, in all likelihood, was fraught with conspiratorial mystery.
The foregoing shines through the background of the pre-war artificial gestures of the representatives of the highest echelon of the American administration.

According to the American scenario, Lysynman's team also played their role superbly. The puppets, literally before the outbreak of military fire, launched deceptive, camouflage tricks. These include, for example, the cancellation of the order for a state of emergency, the permission to spend the night outside the barracks, vacations, absences, feasts, etc. So to speak, a cheap farce was [arranged with the cover of the true face of the warmonger.

As for the said order, it came into force from the very beginning of June 1950. And suddenly, without plus or minus at zero o'clock on June 24, that is, on the eve of the war, it was canceled. Overnight stays outside the barracks, absences and vacations were allowed.

In the evening of the same day, there was an opening ceremony for a new club of officers on the territory of the headquarters of the South Korean ground forces. And they let the duck in: the commanders of the front line and major figures of the headquarters of the ground forces were invited to this solemn event.
The Japanese book The Korean War writes about such actions of the Lisynmanovites:
“The fact that the South Korean side allowed itself to declare the lifting of the state of siege, albeit temporarily, is due to its deliberate preparation for a preemptive strike” (p. 29).
Lee Song-ga, a former commander of the 8th Infantry Division of the South Korean army stationed at the turn of the 38th parallel, admitted: “As a commander on the front line, I did not know what was happening in the military units in Seoul. But we were then in state of readiness number one. Absences were prohibited. At dawn on June 25, we went into battle ”(South Korean w Sasange magazine, June 1965).

Another officer: “June 24 was just Saturday. However, the officers on the front line were forbidden to leave. They were given a directive: wait for the combat order.

On the night of the 25th ground forces A secret order was given: at dawn on the 25th, to break through the line of the 38th parallel and begin military operations against North Korea.

Eyewitness statements indicate that the Americans and the Lee Syngmanites, according to a pre-arranged schedule, accelerated the process of preparing for an attack on the North and, already before the war, in the most insidious way, set up a smoke screen for deception and disguise.

The Americans and the Lee Syngman puppets, having completed all the preparations for war against a similar background, finally, at dawn on June 25, 1950, made a surprise attack on the North.

The date of the aggression of the south was known in advance

Finally, the flames of war rose up on Korean soil. At the very beginning, the overseas Pharisee, as it were, gasped: they say, this “a completely unexpected event”, this is a “raid of the North”, etc.
It is an indisputable fact that at dawn on June 25, 1950, Syngman Lee's puppet troops, according to the American scenario, kindled the fire of the Korean War.
Despite this, the Americans plotted intrigues in an attempt to cover up their physiognomy before the truth and mislead the world community with the help of the version of the "raid of the North."

The first attempt in this direction was made in the "first report" of the American Ambassador to South Korea, Muccio, sent to the US State Department 6 hours after the start of the war.
In Seoul, Muccio waited for information about the start of the war. Then, on the basis of information from the hands of the Lisynmanovites, he wrote a telegram for the State Department. It says:
“According to reports by the Republic of Korea Army, partially confirmed by the report of field advisers from the group of American military advisers in South Korea, this morning, North Korean troops from various points invaded the territory of the Republic of Korea ...
I have consulted with representatives of the American military advisory group in South Korea and the Republic of Korea authorities about the situation. Judging by the nature and manner of the offensive, this seems to me to be an all-out attack on the Republic of Korea.”
American book "History of the Korean War", Japanese ed., vol. 1, p. 125.
There are unclear places in his telegram, which proves the lack of objectivity and fairness of the report.

The American book The Korean War: An Unanswered Question dubiously comments on the "first report" of the American Ambassador Muccio:
“There are several points in Muccio's report that attract attention.
First, his message is based on circumstantial and "partially confirmed" information. So, Muccio could not express his opinion about the situation on the demarcation line.

Secondly, his message is based on information that South Korean Ministry of Defense officials passed on to field advisers from a group of US military advisers. According to American officials, the reliability of the information provided by officials of the Republic of Korea is, as a rule, suspicious.

Thirdly, there are only a few people in the field advisers from the group of American military advisers. And they had to receive information about the situation at the front only from the South Korean army. The question arises how they managed to directly clarify the reports of the South Korean side.

Fifth, stating that North Korean troops "invaded the territory of the Republic of Korea...", he added his intention to clarify the accuracy of the information received. From this it can be seen that he slightly deviates from the original judgment. Hence the conclusion: Muccio's report was nothing more than a hypothesis.
Despite this, Washington considered Muccio's telegram to be quite "authentic".(American book The Korean War: An Unanswered Question, pp. 13–14).

And why didn't official Washington want to clarify the so far "unconfirmed" episodic data in Muccio's report? Why did they consider them quite "reliable"? His intention is clear: to deliberately release a duck - they say, "North attacked the South."

The text of Muccio's telegram was revised under the leadership of US Secretary of State Acheson. Thirty employees of the State Department joined in the alteration (more precisely, the change) of the text of Muccio's telegram, expecting a surprise in advance. Of course, taking into account the already prepared “draft UN resolution”. Acheson, throwing out the first and last phrases of the text of the telegram, invented an innovation: "Today (25th) at dawn, North Korean troops began aggression against the Republic of Korea from different points."

The alteration was handed over to Gross, the American representative to the UN. Gross, woke the sleeper Secretary General UN Trygve Lie and read him a telegram received from Acheson. And then, with the demand to convene a meeting of the UN Security Council, he handed over to him a previously prepared "draft resolution".

On the basis of the predatory demands of the American intriguers, a meeting of the UN Security Council was convened at two o'clock in the morning, at which a "resolution" of the UN Security Council was adopted. It was recorded that, alas, the armed attack of the North Korean army on South Korea is a violation of peace on Earth.

With the “adoption” of such a “resolution” at the UN, Truman simply raised enthusiastic exclamations and with comic excitement sent a “congratulatory message” to Acheson - the one who played the leading role in the execution of the Washington scenario in intrigue. Below is his message.
"Dean Acheson
We are talking about what happened from 24 to 25 June. The fact that you informed me on Saturday night of the proposal to immediately convene a meeting of the UN Security Council was an act closely related to all subsequent major issues.

If you hadn't taken such urgent action, the United States would have had to go into the Korean War alone. A series of subsequent successes has shown that you are undoubtedly a great Secretary of State and an outstanding diplomat. I am sending you a letter as a reward for your services. Harry Truman"
South Korean book "The Korean War Through the Eyes of a Chinese", p. 24.

That evening, Truman hosted a lavish dinner at the White House, at which he lifted Acheson to the skies.
The “resolution” was adopted in violation of the UN Charter, without the participation of representatives of the DPRK, the former Soviet Union and China, which caused waves of censure and ridicule in the world community.

BUT The absurdity of the version of the “North raid” spread by the Americans and the Syngman Lees was also shown in the fact that MacArthur, the direct instigator of the Korean War, was mortally confused by rumors of aggression against the North and staged a farce in a fire order with the convening of an “emergency emergency meeting”.

With the outbreak of the war in Korea, the mouthpieces of Washington and Seoul were all trumpeting about the "North attacking the South." Well, you can’t hide an awl in a bag. A truthful voice sounded in Japan: "The Republic of Korea has attacked North Korea." About this, the American book "History of the Korean War" (vol. 1, Japanese edition, p. 114) writes:
“Is MacArthur’s command in Tokyo exposed to a surprise attack? World traveler, newspaper journalist John Gunther was visiting Japan at the time. He planned to go to Nikko on Sunday, June 25, along with his wife, General Whitney and two other warrant officers from the high command.

They agreed to start the journey at 8 o'clock in the morning. And here Whitney, MacArthur's closest adviser, could not help but break his promise.

Says his name is MacArthur

The rest of the colleagues left for Nikko. And there, according to Gunther, one of the two officers got a call. After a telephone conversation, he returns to his companions and says in a whisper: “Yes, lies have short legs. The Republic of Korea attacked North Korea."

Rumor carries the air: there was talk about this everywhere - not only in MacArthur's command, but also in Tokyo and other Japanese cities. Then everything went on as usual:
“After MacArthur received a telephone message from Rhee Syngman (about the outbreak of war and appeal to him for help), a big fuss arose at the headquarters of the Allied Forces Command:
"high-ranking aides to General MacArthur were called to an emergency emergency meeting"
American book "Korean War: Unanswered Question", p. 46

Simultaneously with the outbreak of the Korean War, Syngman Lee, Muccio, Acheson, Truman, MacArthur and others came up with a plausible fiction - the version of the imaginary "raid of the North." And it is no coincidence that one of the American observers writes: “The information of June 25, 1950 that North Korea attacked South Korea came out of the arsenal of lies of Lee Syngman and MacArthur.”
American book Modern American History, Japanese ed., p. 153.
That version was, from start to finish, the invention of "Uncle Sam," the instigator of the Korean War himself. Evidence of this is the secret preparation on the eve of the war for the evacuation of the families of American servicemen from South Korea, the leakage in America itself, South Korea and other regions of the Far East of secret data about the upcoming Korean war.
What "Before the start of the war, an evacuation from South Korea was planned"(American book "History of the Korean War", vol. 1, Japanese edition, p. 118), was confirmed by the Chief of Staff of the US Forces Command in the Far East, Whitney.

Indeed it was. Before the war, the headquarters of the command of the American troops in the Far East, as one of the links in the plan to unleash a war in Korea, drew up an emergency evacuation plan for American citizens, primarily family members of servicemen from South Korea.
« The plan was pre-prepared under the code name Operation Coruler.

Japanese book "Korean War", vol. 1, publishing house "Bungei Shunju", 1981. The plan provided for the inclusion in this operation of the American 8th Army, the commands of the American Air Force and Navy in the Far East.

About the pre-war preparations for the aforementioned evacuation, The New York Times of June 26, 1950 writes:
“... First of all, I would like to note this: the attack in Korea was not a completely unexpected event.
On such a hot summer day, when the Korean War began, journalists gathered in the great hall of the Department of Defense, called the Pentagon. And then some adjutant “to prove that the aggression was not a surprise attack, gave the example that preparations were made for the distribution of ships for the evacuation of the families of American officers and other citizens from South Korea”
American book "The Secret History of the Korean War", Japanese edition, p. 17.
Moreover, it became known that already before the Korean War, the secret was leaked.
The Japanese book The Korean War (pp. 24–25) writes:
“At that time, Chinese businessmen who were in the US may have had relatively accurate knowledge of the start date of the Korean War.” The author gave two examples to prove his views.

One of them is phrases from the "publisher's preface" to the book "The Secret History of the Korean War", published by P.M.Swider, editorial chief of the Mansley Review:

“Literally on the eve of the Korean War, the Kuomintang Chinese — there were at least 51 of them — living in the United States and abroad, bought soybeans in large quantities on the American market and received huge profits in the amount of at least 30 million dollars. My guess is that the Chinese migrants in the United States were informed in advance about Syngman Rhee's plans and sought to use the information received for financial profits.
Another example is the information that “in a special issue of China catch it says:
“Two or three weeks before the start of the Korean War, the Chinese bought soybeans in the amount of 6 million 886 thousand bushels at the foreign trade market in Chicago (one bushel is equal to 35–36 liters - ed.) at $ 2.34 per bushel. ... After the invasion of South Korea, the price of one bushel of soybeans suddenly jumped to 34.5 dollars.

Interestingly, the titled book contains excerpts from The Story of Korea, co-authored by Gold Vel and Prost, who at the time were employees of the American embassy in Seoul. “Great Britain warned the British, if possible, to leave three weeks before the impending event. We learned about this late at night on the day the war broke out.

At that time, there were only 6 people in the English embassy, ​​and they were already aware of a possible outbreak of war. This example proves that already at that time the secret of the future Korean War was leaked.

The American book A Modern History of America (Japanese edition, p. 153) says that Dulles's International Nickel Corporation, which at that time appropriated 85% of the total production of nickel in the capitalist world, raised the price by 25% for two months to June 25, 1950, and that from March to May 1950, the price of rubber in the United States increased by 50%, with the result that in the second quarter of 1950 America achieved a record post-World War II rubber export.

"Except International Nickel Dulles and the speculators who bought up the soybeans were also those who were informed in advance of the upcoming war.

The Japanese book “Korean War” (Shinzimbuzu Shuraisha Publishing House, 1973, pp. 22–23) states that the 16th regiment of the 24th infantry division of the American army in Japan began active landing exercises on June 20, 1950 with the participation of tank landing ships (ST) and in this island country, American military personnel fussed to acquire Korean language dictionaries. Their unusual actions already foreshadowed the approach of the black clouds of war to the Japanese.
One of the articles in the Japanese magazine "Zosen kenkyu" (June 1966) describes the situation at the American military base Kokura, in Kyushu, Japan, where the 24th Infantry Division of the American army was stationed. The author writes that in mid-June 1950, the Americans in this city mobilized all the local painters and forced them to work all night long on new dyeing of identification marks on army jeeps. This already, the author writes, gave a hint of the upcoming war.

North answer

On June 25, as a result of well-organized and conducted artillery preparation by the KPA, the fire system of the South Korean troops was suppressed, and units of the 1st, 4th and 3rd infantry divisions and the 105th tank brigade advanced by 6-8 in the first hours of hostilities. km south of the 38th parallel, and parts of the 6th Infantry Division, two hours after the start of the offensive, captured the city of Kaisen.

The command of the South Korean troops began to hastily pull up the second echelons and reserves, and in a number of areas managed to delay the North Korean offensive. By the end of the day, the 6th Infantry Division reached the Hangang River in the Yongchonni sector, Baikoku; By the end of the day, the 4th and 3rd infantry divisions started fighting for Donduchen and Sinypni. The troops advancing on the eastern sector of the front were less fortunate, and they advanced only 2-5 km in a day.

On June 26, intense fighting began. The 6th Infantry Division, with the help of three battalions, captured a bridgehead on the left bank of the Hangang River up to 3 km deep, and until June 28 transferred its forces across the river despite strong enemy resistance.

The 1st Infantry Division was able to break the enemy's resistance only in the evening, and by 1600 on June 27 captured Munsan, but the South Korean troops managed to gain a foothold on the heights located southeast, and again slowed down the North Korean offensive. The 4th and 3rd Infantry Divisions, having captured Sinipni, advanced on Yidenpu, which was captured by the end of the day on June 26, and by the evening of June 27, parts of these divisions were already at a distance of 4-7 km from Seoul

The American army, having absolute air superiority, nevertheless could not stop the advance of the brave North Koreans.

In the meantime, the 2nd Infantry Division, which was delivering an auxiliary strike, after two days of fighting, occupied Chuncheng on the evening of June 27 and approached Kapyeong, and one of its battalions went around Kapyeong through the mountains and, 2 km west of the city, cut railway leading to Seoul. The 12th Infantry Division, slowly moving forward, by the end of June 27, was 14 km northeast of Khonchen.
In an effort to halt the KPA offensive, South Korea hastily pulled up reserves to the Seoul area. Since June 27, US aircraft began to take part in hostilities on the South Korean side, which attacked not only the KPA troops, but also targets in the territory north of the 38th parallel.

Despite the strong influence of American aircraft, on June 28, North Korean troops continued their offensive. The 6th Infantry Division attacked at the Shiomari-Suitanri line, pushed the enemy back to the Kympo area, and after a ten-hour battle captured the city; the South Korean side transferred the 18th regiment of the Capital Division to the Kympo area, and until the end of June 29 there were fierce battles for the Kympo airfield. On the morning of June 30, the 6th division again went on the offensive, and managed to cut the Seoul-Incheon road. During July 1 and 2, parts of the division defended themselves at the reached line.

On June 28, the 1st Infantry Division defeated the enemy in the Consonri area, after which it was withdrawn to the second echelon.

The 4th and 3rd Infantry Divisions and the 105th Tank Brigade launched an assault on Seoul on the morning of June 28, and occupied the city by evening. The retreating South Korean units managed to blow up the bridge across the Hangang River and organize defenses on its southern bank. At dawn on June 29, the advance detachment of the 105th Panzer Division (renamed from a brigade after the capture of Seoul) managed to cross the Hangang to seize a bridgehead, but due to the continuous influence of American aircraft, the North Korean units spent several days moving the rest of the troops across the river.

American soldiers surrender

The 2nd Infantry Division advanced very slowly. On June 30, she reached the Hangang River and, having crossed it, captured Gwangju on July 2. The 12th Infantry Division captured Wonju on 2 July. Due to the gap between the flanks of the 2nd and 12th divisions, the KPA command sent the 15th infantry division into this gap, which on July 2 reached the Hangang River in the Ipholi-Hyncholi sector and began to force it.

During the operation, the KPA defeated the troops of the South Korean army defending Seoul, but due to the lag of the units that delivered the auxiliary strike, they were unable to surround and destroy the Seoul group of troops, as planned. As a result, the South Korean units managed to put themselves in order and further retreat to the south.

Battle between US Army and North Korea
The Daejon operation is a battle between the United States and North Korean forces at the beginning of the Korean War.

American formations tried to defend the headquarters of the 24th Infantry Division, located in a large city and an important transport hub Taejon, however, were forced out by the numerically superior army of the DPRK.

To protect Taejon, the entire division was involved, taking up positions along the Kumgang River. The American troops lacked communications and were inferior to the North Koreans in terms of the number of heavy weapons, and after a few days of fighting were forced to leave the river bank. After intense three days of fighting on the streets of the city, the Americans retreated.
Although they failed to hold the city, the 24th Infantry Division scored a strategic victory, delaying the North Korean advance.

This gave enough time for the American forces to establish a defensive line around Pusan ​​further south.
Perhaps it was because of this delay that the Americans managed to hold out in the ensuing battle on the Pusan ​​Perimeter. In addition, during the defense of Daejeon, the North Koreans captured Major General William F. Dean, commander of the 24th Infantry Division, who became the highest-ranking prisoner in the entire Korean War.

First Battle of the Naktong River

The First Battle of the Nakdong River is a battle between the United States and North Korea during the period from August 5 to 19, 1950, near Yongsan (Changnyeon County) and the Naktong River between the troops of the United States and North Korea during the defense of the Busan Perimeter.

The battle was one of several battles that took place at the same time. On August 5, the North Korean People's Army's 4th Infantry Division crossed the Naktong River near Yongsan in an attempt to cut through the American supply line and secure a foothold inside the Pusan ​​Perimeter.

She was opposed by the 24th Infantry Division of the 8th American Army. Over the next two weeks, American and North Korean forces fought bloody battles, launched attacks and counterattacks, but no one managed to prevail.
After capturing Daejeon, North Korean troops began encircling the Pusan ​​perimeter from all sides, trying to cover it. The NK 4th and 6th Infantry Divisions advanced south in a wide flanking maneuver, but spread out heavily as they moved.

They advanced on the positions of the UN forces with the support of armored vehicles and with a numerical advantage, periodically pushing back American and North Korean units.

US Army General Mark Clark, who defeated Hitler's Field Marshal Kesselring, lost to North Korean leader Kim Il Sung

American troops were pushed back until they finally managed to stop the North Korean offensive in a series of battles in the southern part of the country. On July 27, the 3rd Battalion, 29th Infantry Regiment, recently arrived at the Korean Theater, was ambushed by the North Koreans near the village of Hadong and was defeated, as a result, a passage was opened for the North Koreans to the Busan area.

Shortly thereafter, North Korean forces took Jinju to the west, pushing back the US 19th Infantry Regiment and paving the way for a further advance on Busan. American units subsequently managed to defeat the North Koreans on the flank and drive them back during the Battle of the Night of August 2nd.

Suffering from mounting losses, the North Korean army forces retreated to the west, where they reformed and received reinforcements for several days. Both sides used the breather to prepare for new battles for the Pusan ​​Perimeter.

The Americans responded in their own way.

The US 24th Infantry Division, commanded by Major General John G. Church, occupied an area 26 km long along the Naktong River.

The US 34th Infantry Regiment held the southern half west of Yongsan, the US 21st Infantry Regiment held the northern half west of Changong. The 19th US Infantry Regiment was at that time re-equipping in the rear of the front. By August 5, the total combat strength of the 24th Infantry Division was 14,540 people.

She was opposed by the NK 4th Infantry Division under the command of Major General Lee Kwon Mu. The division and its commander were highly decorated for their heroic deeds during the war, especially during the First Battle of Seoul. By August 4th, the 4th Division had concentrated all of its regiments near Hopchon. Its number was 7 thousand people. 1.5 thousand people each in every regiment.

On the night of August 5-6, 800 North Korean soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 16th Regiment forded the river near the ferry at Onang, 5.6 km south of Pugong-ni and west of Yongsan, light weapons and supplies supplies were carried overhead or transported on rafts. Another crossing attempt was made further north, but was cut short by artillery and machine-gun fire, and the North Koreans retreated in confusion.

People's leader Kim Il Sung in the circle of military leaders

On 6 August at 0200 hours, the KPA engaged the 3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry Division and after a brief engagement advanced in an attempt to infiltrate through the lines at Yongsan. The North Korean infantry drove back the 3rd Battalion, which left its command post to consolidate the position. The attack came as a surprise to the American command, who assumed that the North Koreans would try to cross north.

Their crossing threatened to cut the American lines and destroy the supply route with the positions to the north. The North Koreans managed to capture a large amount of American equipment.

American counterattack

The headquarters of the 34th Infantry Regiment ordered the 1st Battalion to counterattack the North Koreans. When the 1st Battalion arrived at the former command post of the 3rd Battalion, it was ambushed by North Koreans who had taken the high ground.

Advance C Company lost half its men. Companies A and B launched a counterattack with the support of tanks and armored vehicles, they managed to rescue Company C from the encirclement.

At 2000, A Company made contact with L Company, 3rd Battalion, which was still holding positions along the river, and radioed that the eastward infiltrated North Koreans were moving north along the Yongsan-Naktong River road to Cloverleaf Hill, but had not yet crossed south at Road to Obong-ni Bridge. The North Koreans advanced 4.8 kilometers east of the Naktong River and were halfway to Yongsan

T-34-85 of the first North Korean tank brigade, lined near the river. Naktong. 1950

Some elements of the 34th began to withdraw north towards the lines of the 21st Infantry, but Church ordered them to turn back.

He also ordered the 19th Infantry Regiment to counterattack west along the northern flank of the 34th Infantry Regiment to help line up resistance against the North Korean army. Although the advance of the 24th Infantry Division was repelled near the river, 1 mile inland, the 19th Infantry Regiment bagged 300 North Koreans in a village and massacred most of them.

The 1st Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment attempted to stop the North Korean advance on Yongsan, while the 19th Infantry Regiment managed to push back the North Koreans and inflict heavy casualties on them. However, by the evening of August 6, the North Korean army firmly held its foothold. At night, the South Koreans managed to repel attempts to cross to the south, but on the night of August 6-7, an unspecified number of reinforcements crossed the river.

Between August 7 and 8, the KPA attempted to cross the river north with more than two battalions, but were repelled by the 21st Infantry Regiment, which was still holding ground. The North Korean army battalions withdrew south to cross the river in the area of ​​the bridgehead. By August 8, an estimated regiment of North Koreans had crossed the river.

American counter-attacks continued throughout the morning of August 7th, but the results were modest due to the hot weather, lack of food and water. The North Koreans were able to move forward and capture Cloverleaf Hill and Oblong-ni Bridge, an important area on both sides of the main road into the salient area.

On that day, the 9th Infantry Regiment of the US 2nd Infantry Division, fresh and well-equipped, but inexperienced and mostly composed of reservists, was sent to the area, fresh and well equipped, which had just arrived in Korea. Church ordered the regiment to immediately attack the North Korean pocket in the salient. Despite the persistent attack of the 9th Regiment, the Americans managed to occupy only part of the height of the Cloverleaf, after which the intense battle slowed down their advance.
North Korean troops began to occupy the heights along the river next to their bridgehead. On August 7, the KPA drove A Company from its position on the north bank of the river, inflicting heavy casualties. Company K in the south was also attacked but managed to hold its line, on the 10th of August Company L came to its aid.

The fighting continued for several days, both sides suffered heavy losses, the heights along the Naktong River repeatedly changed hands, neither side was able to achieve a decisive advantage.

Battle Group "Hill"

To defeat the North Korean foothold, Church singled out the Hill combat group from the personnel of the 9th, 19th, 34th Infantry Regiments, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, provided artillery and other support. The group was given the task of driving the North Koreans off the east bank of the river on August 11th. The group was led by Colonel John J. Hill, commander of the 9th Infantry.

In the meantime, the NK 4th Division built an undersea bridge out of sandbags, logs, and rocks, completing the work by August 10th. The 4th Division was able to move trucks, heavy artillery, additional infantry and some tanks across the river.

By the morning of August 10, there were already two North Korean regiments on the eastern bank of the river, which had taken up fortified positions. Supplies were transported on rafts. Battle Group Hill went on the attack, but was unable to succeed due to the newly installed North Korean artillery. The battle group, instead of attacking, had to dig in and hold their positions. By nightfall, the NK 4th Division had crossed in full strength.

On August 10, elements of the NK 4th Division began to move south, bypassing the positions of the Hill combat group. The next day, scattered North Korean units attacked Yongsan. The North Koreans periodically attacked at night, the Americans resisted, it became increasingly difficult for them.

The arrival of reinforcements

On August 12, General Walton Walker, commander of the 8th Army, detached part of the 27th Infantry Regiment of the US 25th Infantry Division to attack north from the 25th Division zone in order to drive back the forces of the NK 4th Division moving on Yongsan. At the same time, Church gathered as many non-combatants as he could into a combat unit to form roadblocks on the roads to Yongsan and stop the infiltration of North Korean units.

Additional reinforcements approached: the remaining units of the 27th Infantry Regiment and a battalion of the 23rd Infantry Regiment of the American 2nd Infantry Division. They succeeded in clearing the outskirts of Yongsan of the infiltrated North Koreans and pushing them back to their positions near Cloverleaf Hill, which they staunchly defended. 14th with artillery support battle group Hill launched a direct assault on North Korean positions. The fighting lasted all day, both sides rushed into violent attacks and counterattacks, the number of losses was great. Initially, the second attack by Kampfgruppe Hill was unsuccessful.

Losses among the officers were also high, this led to the disorganization of the units, which could no longer agree to take any large-scale action.

Light tank M24 "Chaffee" of the 25th Infantry Division. July 1950

By August 15th, the NK 4th Division and Battle Group Hill had moved into a battle of attrition, with no one able to gain the upper hand in what was at times hopeless hand-to-hand combat. Losses mounted and a frustrated Walker ordered 5,000. 1st temporary brigade marines move into the battlefield. The brigade withdrew from the Masan area in the midst of a counteroffensive led by the 25th Infantry Division.

Meanwhile, the NK 4th Division was suffering from a lack of food, equipment, ammunition and weapons due to serious supply delays. Residents of local South Korean villages were called in to compensate for the growing losses. The command of the division actually provided nothing for the wounded, the soldiers were in suspense at the sight of their suffering. Nevertheless, the division's morale remained relatively high, and General Li refused to retreat.

Destruction of the North Korean foothold

On August 17, the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade, in conjunction with the Hill Combat Team, launched a massive offensive against Cloverleaf Hill and Obong-ni.

The offensive began at 08:00 on August 17, with American troops armed with heavy weapons: artillery, mortars, M-26 Pershing tanks and air support attacked the North Korean positions.

At first, the Marines' advance became bogged down in a tenacious North Korean defense. The Marines called for artillery support, and heavy indirect fire stunned the North Koreans. First, the Marines captured Obong-ni, crushing the North Korean resistance on the slope with air strikes and tank gun fire, but suffered heavy losses caused by the staunch defense of the North Koreans and were forced to retreat.
The NK 18th launched a disastrous counterattack to regain control of the high ground and drive the Americans back.

The division's tactics based on cutting off supply lines and the advantage of surprise did not succeed with the solid numerical advantage of the Americans.

T-34-85 North Korean troops

By nightfall on August 18, the NK 4th Division was completely destroyed, weakened by a large outflow of deserters, the American troops managed to capture Obong-ni and Cloverleaf Hill. Scattered groups of North Korean soldiers retreated across the Naktong River, pursued by American aircraft and artillery fire. During their hasty retreat, they left a large number of guns and equipment that the Americans later used.

Results
As a result, American troops, reinforced by incoming reinforcements, using heavy weapons and air support, defeated the invading North Korean units, who suffered from a lack of supplies and a high level of desertion.

The battle marked a turning point in the initial period of the war, ending a streak of victories for the North Koreans, who were outnumbered and outgunned. American troops were now outnumbered and better equipped, including tanks and weapons capable of stopping North Korean T-34 tanks.

The battle ended in victory for the United States, with numerous American reinforcements coming to the rescue and defeating the attacking North Korean division.

SECOND STAGE OF THE WAR. UN COUNTEROFFENSIVE
Incheon landing operation

On June 25, 1950, the Korean War began. The Korean People's Army (KPA, Army of North Korea), rapidly advancing to the south, destroyed the main forces of the South Korean troops. From the beginning of July, American units under the UN flag began to arrive in South Korea, but they were not ready to resist the advancing forces of the North Koreans.

After a series of defeats and the actual defeat of the 24th Infantry Division, whose commander General Ding was captured, the American troops, together with the remnants of the South Korean army, retreated to the southeastern part of the Korean Peninsula, where the important seaport of Pusan ​​was located.

Kim Il Sung ordered Busan to be taken by August 15, but the fighting in the central part of the peninsula somewhat delayed the North Korean offensive, allowing the United States to transfer fresh military units to the south. Supported by aviation and navy US troops succeeded in the second half of August to stop the enemy offensive.

By this time, the KPA controlled about 95% of the territory of the peninsula. However, its supply lines were stretched and constantly subjected to attacks by American aircraft. As a result, units on the front line could not be replenished with manpower and equipment to the level necessary for the effective continuation of hostilities. The fatigue of the soldiers after an almost uninterrupted two-month offensive also had an effect.

M4AZ tank of the 1st tank battalion of the US Marine Corps in ambush. September 1950
At the same time, American forces established a defensive line north and west of Pusan ​​(known as the Pusan ​​Perimeter), constantly receiving fresh reinforcements through the port, including from allies who had entered the war.

In early September, the KPA made an unsuccessful attempt to break through the Busan perimeter, after which it became obvious that the UN forces had managed to completely stabilize the situation on the front. The commander-in-chief of the UN forces in Korea, the American General MacArthur, decided that the time had come for a counteroffensive.

On September 10-11, American aircraft (including B-29 bombers) began heavy bombardment of the Inchon area, and American forces carried out several false landings in other parts of the coast to divert the attention of the KPA.
A reconnaissance group was landed near Incheon to obtain information about the tides, shallows, and also to restore the operation of the lighthouse on Palmido Island.

On September 13, the US Navy conducted reconnaissance in combat. Six destroyers approached the island of Wolmido, located in the harbor of Incheon and connected to the coast by a dam, and began shelling it, serving as a bait for enemy coastal artillery, while aircraft detected and destroyed the discovered artillery positions. During this action, three destroyers were damaged.

The North Korean command had information about the possibility of landing american erican landing in Incheon, however, apparently, did not give them of great importance. The Incheon area was defended by a little over 3,000 North Korean soldiers, who were part of two army battalions and a marine regiment that was being formed.

A small number of anchor mines were exposed on the approach to the harbor, but they were exposed with a small depression and were easily detected at low tide. The Wolmido Island garrison suffered heavy casualties during the shelling and bombardment that preceded the landings.

On the first day, only units of the 1st Marine Division were involved in three areas - "green beach", "red beach" and "blue beach". The landing was carried out under conditions of absolute air supremacy of American aviation.

Tanks M-26 guard the perimeter of the landing of American troops. 1950

At about 6:30 a.m., one Marine battalion began landing on the "green beach" in the northern part of Wolmido Island.
The Wolmido garrison had by this point been nearly wiped out by artillery and air strikes, and the Marines met with little resistance, taking control of the island in less than an hour with 17 casualties.
In the middle of the day there was a pause caused by the ebb tide. After the beginning of the evening tide, at about 5:30 p.m., landings were landed on the mainland - two battalions each on the "red beach" (near the dam) and on the "blue beach" (southeast of Wolmido), and the soldiers overcame the high wall of the embankment using specially prepared assault stairs.

On the "red beach", the Marines faced a fairly strong enemy defense, which stopped them for several hours. For actions in this area, 1st Lieutenant Baldomero Lopez was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

By noon on September 16, the 1st Marine Division had taken control of the city of Inchon. In the port of Inchon, the landing of the 7th Infantry Division and the South Korean regiment began. At this time, the Marines were moving north towards the Kimpo airfield.

The KPA tried to organize a tank-supported counterattack in the Incheon area, but in two days lost 12 T-34 tanks and several hundred soldiers from the actions of the marines and aircraft. On the morning of September 18, the Kimpo airfield was busy Marines. The planes of the 1st Air Wing of the Marine Corps were relocated here. With their support, the 1st Marine Division continued its advance towards Seoul.

By September 21, UN troops in the Seoul direction, having concentrated all the forces of the amphibious assault, broke the resistance of scattered units and subunits of the KPA, reached the Han River and began to force it on a wide front. During September 21 and 22, the KPA troops repelled enemy attacks, but on September 23, the Americans managed to break into the city, and street fighting broke out.
Due to the fact that the troops advancing towards each other from the Incheon bridgehead and the Busan perimeter created a threat of cutting the front of the North Korean troops, the KPA High Command on September 25 decided to withdraw the troops of the 1st Army Group beyond the 38th parallel in the general direction of Taejon and Seoul.

The commander of the Seoul Group of Forces was ordered to preserve the arriving reserves, take up defenses north, east and south of Seoul and prevent the advance of the enemy in the east and southeast directions. However, these measures could no longer have a significant impact on the course of events. Troop control by the front headquarters and army groups was disrupted. The KPA troops retreated to the north in scattered groups.

On September 24 and 25, the American command transferred the 187th Airborne Regiment from Japan to the Kympo airfield to reinforce the troops advancing on Seoul from the northwest. In an effort to achieve more significant results, American aircraft carried out a powerful bombardment of the city using incendiary substances, resulting in fires that broke out in the city, destroying entire areas.

On September 27, units of the US 7th Infantry Division, advancing south through Suwon, south of Usan, met with advanced units of the 1st Cavalry Division advancing from the Taigu area. These actions completed the operational encirclement of the 1st Army Group in southern Korea. On September 28, KPA units were forced to leave Seoul, retreat to the north and take up defensive positions along the front from Consonri to Hill 638.

Effects

Unlike the landing at Inchon, the advance of the Marine Corps to Seoul and the Battle of Seoul itself were accompanied by heavy losses on the American side.

In the south, on the morning of September 16, four American divisions, in cooperation with parts of the allies, began to break through the Pusan ​​perimeter. On September 26, these forces linked up with the 7th Infantry Division in the Osan area, as a result of which several tens of thousands of North Korean soldiers were cut off from the main KPA forces; on the same day, General MacArthur announced the liberation of Seoul, although there were still enemy snipers in the city.

For North Korea, the Inchon landing operation turned into a disaster. The KPA, which, according to Soviet researchers, suffered "exceptionally heavy losses in manpower and especially in artillery and tanks," retreated north in disorder, unable to stop and organize a defensive line.

Thus Operation Chromite, thanks to excellent planning and in spite of enormous difficulties in preparation, was crowned with a strategic success and changed the course of the Korean War.

By September 28, the number of KPA divisions barely reached 20% of the staff. In the infantry regiments operating at the front, there were 100-120 soldiers and officers, sometimes without weapons and ammunition. In the current situation, the KPA High Command decided to withdraw all troops beyond the 38th parallel.

To this end, the troops of the Seoul Group were ordered to hold back the enemy’s offensive on the Konsonri, Yidenpu, Iootiri, Kansenri fronts, and by October 5 ensure the withdrawal of the 2nd Army Group to a previously prepared line of defense along the line of the 38th parallel.

Despite attacks by American and South Korean troops, the Seoul group of KPA troops managed to complete the task set by the command: UN troops managed to reach the 38th parallel only on October 8 (according to other sources, South Korean troops crossed the 38th parallel on September 30).

On September 29, at a ceremony, UN Commander Douglas MacArthur officially handed over the liberated Seoul to South Korean President Lee Syngman.
North Korea, fighting in unequal conditions with a numerically superior enemy, was on the verge of defeat. Last hope turned out to be the fraternal shoulder of the socialist countries

And the adjacent islands is the region known as Korea. Since the Middle Ages (XII century), Korea has been a single state, and there were no prerequisites for its division.

However, the 20th century is the time of confrontation between the two most powerful superpowers: the USA and the USSR. This confrontation was not expressed in open confrontation, there was a struggle of ideologies. The two camps fought for spheres of influence by creating their own puppet governments, not even shying away from unleashing wars, of course, on foreign territories.

The story of the separation of Korea and its people is the story of what happens if all means are good to achieve the goal.

The history of the emergence of a single state

Starting from the 7th century AD, the Korean people went through a long period of building their own statehood.

Its history is conditionally divided into three periods and given the following periodization:

• the period of the united Silla (VII - X centuries);
• Koryo period (X - XIV centuries);
• Joseon era (XIV - early XX century).

At the beginning of the 19th century, Korea was a monarchical country with a strict isolationist policy, but nevertheless was under the control of China.

Everything suited the Korean monarchy: there was a huge property gap between different segments of the population in the country. The existing feudal relations in society hindered the development of capitalism.

Life under the protectorate of Japan

The situation changed after 1895, when China lost its influence over Korea after the war with Japan. On the other hand, the Country triumphantly broke into this region rising sun and began to impose not only culture, but also to control economic life.

Korea actually turned into a Japanese colony, and Koreans were divided into two camps: supporters of national independence and "Minjok Kaejoron" (Koreans who approve of the lifestyle imposed by the Japanese). However, Japan did not stand on ceremony with its colony. The army and police successfully suppressed any outbreaks of discontent.

Religion, culture and language were imposed. The opposition, led by Lee Syngman, had to emigrate from the country and, having organized militant groups, fight against the Japanese.

What was Korea like in the middle of the 20th century

On the one hand, there were no prerequisites for the division of Korea. Indeed, the Koreans are one people with a common historical and spiritual heritage, close economic ties. But this is only at first glance.

The history of the separation of North and South Korea originates in the differences in the economic development of different regions of the country. The north has traditionally been industrial, and southern part countries - agricultural.

It is necessary to remember one more interesting historical condition. We are talking about the political elite. It was formed mainly from representatives of the capital's beau monde and immigrants from South Korea. These differences played a certain negative role in the division of the country. However, even these factors were not key.

The history of the separation of North and South Korea begins after the defeat of Japan and its colonies in World War II.

38 parallel

Freedom was brought by the Soviet and american soldiers on their bayonets. Koreans looked to the future with hope. However, in practice it turned out that the world superpowers have their own plans for Korea. The United States was the first to propose the introduction of guardianship. It was assumed that this measure would contribute to the optimal development of ways for the formation of "independence" of Korea. The Americans really wanted to get Seoul, so the division of Korea and the delimitation of the area of ​​​​responsibility were carried out along the 38th parallel.

This agreement was reached in August 1945. In fact, the USSR and the USA at that time were not ready to give independence to the former colony of Japan due to fears of strengthening their positions in this region their political competitors. Having thus created zones of responsibility, the victorious countries divided Korea into northern and southern parts. And now they had to decide what they were going to create in the territories they controlled. All this took place in an atmosphere of mutual hostility and mistrust.

Formation of the division of Korea into northern and southern parts

In 1946, the USSR made its decision. It was decided to create a friendly socialist state in the north of the country. And it was dictated historical realities that time. Initially, the division of Korea into areas of responsibility was dictated by purely military expediency: it was necessary to quickly and effectively disarm the Japanese army. But the activation of nationalists and right-wing radicals in the north of the country very quickly made it clear to the Soviet leadership where the wind was blowing from, and who was again trying to kindle the fire of war. Therefore, the nationalists were mercilessly suppressed.

In the south, on the contrary, there was a reverent attitude towards right-wing radicals. Those, in turn, gave the necessary guarantees of loyalty to their American masters.

The USSR did not allow the UN to hold general elections throughout the country and did not even let a special commission into the controlled territory.

The 1948 elections and the appearance on the political map of two different states, such as the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, made the division of the people of the once united country a reality.

The final division of Korea into northern and southern parts in the hearts of the Koreans themselves became possible thanks to the military adventure of Kim Il Sung. Due to the actions of this politician The Soviet Union was unwittingly drawn into this conflict. His support consisted of providing military technical assistance and sending his own military specialists as advisers.

The Americans were able to protect the south of the country, but the division of Korea and the split of one people became a problem that has not been resolved even now.

Conclusion

AT recent times the global community is increasingly concerned about the actions and general rhetoric political leadership Demonstrative, mostly unsuccessful missile launches, as well as the great desire of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to further develop its nuclear program do not add optimism. The division of Korea has given rise to global problems, on the solution of which the entire human civilization may depend.

One of the bloodiest conflicts of the 1950s. Korean War 1950-1953 turned out to be one of the bloodiest armed conflicts of the second half of the twentieth century. It began as a civil war but quickly escalated into an international confrontation between the "camp of socialism" and the "camp of imperialism". The world watched with bated breath to see if the conflict would escalate over the borders of the Korean peninsula and escalate into World War III with the use of nuclear weapons by both the US and the USSR.

Until now, there are no exact figures on the human losses suffered by the warring parties in this war. North Korea's total losses were approximately 1,131,000 killed and wounded. South Korean losses: 147,000 dead soldiers, 839,000 wounded and missing, and 245,000 civilian deaths. There is no exact data on the losses among the Chinese volunteers who participated in the war in Korea. According to rough estimates, their number was about 1 million people. Troops from the UN peacekeeping contingent lost 142,000 people killed and wounded in Korea. In particular, the losses of American troops, which amounted to 90% of the "blue helmets", are equal to 33,629 people killed and 103,284 wounded.

Background of the conflict. Korea, which lost its independence as a result Russo-Japanese War 1904-1905 and became a protectorate of Japan, retained this status until the end of World War II. Recall that for Japan it ended in defeat. The question of the future fate of post-war Korea was put on the agenda. Yalta Conference"Big Three" (USSR, America, England) in February 1945. Then US President F.D. Roosevelt suggested I.V. Stalin to take Korea under joint guardianship until democratic authorities are formed there.

Head of the Korean
People's Democratic
Republic of Kim Il Sung

In the future, plans for the peaceful development of Korea were reflected in the decisions of the Potsdam Conference (July-August 1945). There the question arose of who would liberate Korea. The Soviet delegation proposed the following plan: the peninsula is liberated by units of the Soviet Army, and sea and air operations are carried out by American troops.

However, on August 14, 1945, American President G. Truman proposed a different option: Soviet troops liberate the peninsula from the north to the 38th parallel, and american army approaches this line from the south. The proposal of the Americans was accepted by the Soviet side. Thus, the notorious “38th parallel” arose, which in fact became the border between the North and South of the country.

According to the agreements, units of the Soviet army liberated the northern part of the peninsula from the Japanese and reached the 38th parallel on August 16, 1945. The American units approached it from the south only on September 7.

Moscow conference. The liberation of Korea from Japanese occupation led to the emergence of different points of view regarding the future of its development. In December 1945, at the next, now Moscow, conference of foreign ministers of the allied countries, it was decided to form a Provisional Democratic Government of Korea. It was supposed to help the Soviet-American commission develop measures to establish quadripartite guardianship (USSR, USA, China and Great Britain) over Korea for a period of five years. However, this decision of the great powers led to a violent and indignant reaction from various Korean political groups. Only the Communists came out in support of the decisions of this conference, declaring that the Korean question should be resolved "in the spirit of strengthening international cooperation and democracy."

The resonance caused by the decisions of the Moscow Conference allowed the Soviet delegation at the beginning of 1946 to declare the need to negotiate the creation of a Provisional Government only with those who support the agreements reached. This, in turn, caused the disagreement of the Americans, who were afraid of the establishment of a communist regime in Korea.

Moscow, the UN and elections in Korea. In February 1946, Moscow unilaterally set about creating Soviet authorities in North Korea. November 14, 1947, despite the protests of the USSR, General Assembly The UN formed the UN Commission on Korea, which was supposed to oversee free elections. Since the USSR did not allow UN observers to northern zone, elections in May 1948 were held only in the South. Lee Syngman, a former professor at the University of Washington, was elected to the post of head of state. The South Korean government proclaimed the formation of the Republic of Korea (RK) on August 15, 1948, consisting of both the South and the North.

However, neither Moscow nor Pyongyang recognized these elections as legitimate. Here, in the summer of 1948, alternative elections were held for the Supreme People's Assembly of Korea, which on September 9 of the same year proclaimed the formation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). Kim Il Sung, a protege of Moscow, a former officer of the Soviet army, became the chairman of the cabinet of ministers and the head of state. Thus, there was a split of Korea into two states, and each government considered itself legal on the territory of the whole of Korea, accusing the other side of seizing power.

Two regimes in one Korea. In December 1948, Soviet troops were withdrawn from the DPRK, and in the summer of the following year, American troops also left South Korea. The two regimes, based on different principles and ideas, remained face to face on the 38th parallel. Both Korean leaders, interested in preserving their regimes, did everything in their power to maintain the presence of the countries that patronize them. At their request, a large corps of advisers remained in both states.

Both Kim Il Sung and Lee Syngman were interested in whipping up tension along the 38th parallel, intimidating each other with the facts of preparing aggression. Warlike statements were heard from both sides. Lee Syngman said in October 1949 in his speech at a rally in Seoul: “We have the opportunity to return the territory of North Korea. I am very worried that if such an event is not carried out in time, then it will be very difficult to carry it out later. Delaying the resolution of any issues benefits the communists.” He further stated bluntly that ROK troops were "ready to invade North Korea" and that "a plan had already been drawn up to strike at the communists in Pyongyang."

Kim Il Sung did not remain in debt, disguising plans for an attack on the South under various proposals for the "peaceful unification of the country", which were obviously unrealistic. Thus, in August 1949, he declared that “if the imperialists and the puppet clique of Syngman Rhee are against the peaceful unification of the homeland and, in the end, take the path of civil strife, we must deal a decisive blow to the enemies, destroy them to the last and unite our homeland."

The only thing that kept the parties from attacking each other was the lack of a combat-ready army and a sufficient amount of modern weapons. To some extent, the presence of military advisers compensated for the lack of professional personnel in the training of the army. But the unwillingness of the USSR and the USA to supply their protégés with heavy and offensive weapons kept the parties from direct hostilities, although small border skirmishes occurred along the 38th parallel all the time.

Directive SNB-68. Only changes in the international situation led to a revision of the situation around Korea. The fact is that in China the Communist Party won the war with the Kuomintang. In October 1949, the People's Republic of China was proclaimed. She was seen in Washington as a growing threat. national interest United States in the region, and in the world as a whole. In March 1950, the US National Security Council issued NSC-68, which recommended that the government firmly contain communism throughout the world. Those zones of the world were singled out where there was a direct threat of "Soviet expansion": South Korea, Japan and the Middle East.

The position of the Soviet side also changed radically. The formation in 1949 of the NATO military bloc and the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) forced Stalin to reconsider his point of view regarding military assistance to the North Korean regime. Kim Il Sung asked for it repeatedly. As a result of negotiations in April-May 1950, Moscow supplied Pyongyang with weapons and military equipment to create a mechanized tank brigade (66 T-34 and IS tanks), as well as an artillery regiment of 24 guns and aviation division out of 86 aircraft.

Korea is the geographic name of the region that is located on the Korean Peninsula and adjacent islands. Since the 7th century, Korea has developed as a single state. But a series of events in the middle of the 20th century led to the fact that the country was divided into two territories - the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) and the Republic of Korea (South Korea). Today, the two Korean states live in different political, economic and cultural conditions, considering each other as occupiers of their original territory.

The Republic of Korea is a democratic state with a multi-party system, developing on the principles of a market economy. At present, the conservatives (Sanuridan Party) are in power, whose political ideology is in general terms has an anti-communist, anti-North Korean orientation. This ideology as such was formed by right-wing Korean nationalists in the process of creating an independent South Korean statehood. Initially, the radical right South Korean nationalists did not recognize North Korea as a state, but communism as an ideology that has the right to exist. According to the "National Security Law" of 1948, any form of North Korean and communist propaganda is prohibited in South Korea. This anti-communist rhetoric forms the basis of the state ideology of the Republic of Korea, and to one degree or another it determines its development so far.

Spring Festival in South Korea 2014 (flickr // koreanet)

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is developing along the socialist path, based on the principles of the national ideology of Juche. The political regime of the DPRK is stable. Formally, there are several parties in the country, but in fact the Workers' Party of Korea rules, the leading role of which is enshrined in the current Constitution of the DPRK. There is no real political opposition, power is passed from father to son.

Portraits of Kim Il Sung and his son Kim Jong Il at the Arirang Festival in Pyongyang (Wikipedia.org)

On the this moment Korea is two states with different cultures and destinies. They are united by one nation, which initially had no cultural prerequisites for separation, but today it represents two different nations. The people of Korea are divided between two states with different systems and national ideologies, despite the fact that they have a common historical past and belong to the same ethnic community.

The split of society and the annexation of Korea

Until the middle of the 7th century, there were three large states on the territory of the Korean Peninsula - Silla, Baekche, Goguryeo, as well as small state communities in the southeast of the Korean Peninsula (the so-called confederation of Kaya polities). By the 7th century, Korea had developed as a single state. The period of Korean statehood from the 7th to the 20th century is divided into three eras: the Unified Silla era (7th–10th centuries), the Goryeo era (10th–14th centuries), and the Joseon era (14th - early 20th centuries).

Before late XIX century, Korea was formally a vassalage of China. Any new Korean king (wang) received approval from the Chinese emperor. At a certain historical stage, Korea paid tribute to China, there was a constant exchange of embassies. The situation changed after the Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895), when China and Japan entered into an open military conflict in Korea. As a result of the war in 1895, the countries signed the Treaty of Shimonoseki, according to which vassal relations between Korea and China were terminated. Thus, China formally lost influence on Korea. At the end of the 19th century, Korea was absolute monarchy feudal type with a high proportion of large owners and underdeveloped elements of the capitalist economy. For a long time, Korea pursued a tough isolationist policy - it was a closed state with little interest in the outside world.

Korea's geographic position was attractive to Japan, which sought to advance to the continent. By 1910, when the so-called merger agreement, or rather the annexation of Korea, was signed, Japan successfully integrated into the Korean economy and began to exert not only economic, but also cultural influence. Korea was given the status of a Japanese colony. For many representatives of the Korean intellectual elite of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Japan represented a progressive civilization from which it was necessary to adopt the experience of development. Despite the growing anti-Japanese national liberation movement, a specific direction arose in its midst in the 1920s, called national reformism. Representatives of the Korean intelligentsia, who were educated in Japan, developed the concept of national reformism, or the theory of reforming the nation ("Minjok Kaejoron"). According to this theory, the Koreans are a weak nation that still needs to learn a lot from the Japanese before they can govern their own state. In fact, they encouraged Japanese colonialism.

In parallel with this, the left wing of the national liberation movement developed. The October Revolution took place in Russia in 1917. The new socialist state was interested in promoting its ideas to Asia. Quite quickly, socialist ideas captured the progressive minds in China and Korea. The left wing of the national liberation movement appeared on the Korean peninsula.

The right (nationalists) and the left (communists) launched actions for the national liberation movement. They had one common goal under the colonial regime - the achievement of national independence and the restoration of statehood. But now the fighters for independence sought not to restore the monarchy, but to create a democratic republic. In the late 1920s, a united front was created - the nationalists united with the socialists in the framework of the Shinganhwe organization (1927–1931). But this union lasted 4 years, and then the organization dissolved itself. At the same time, the Korean left groups were strongly attached to the policies of the Comintern, which in the late 1920s withdrew from cooperation with the nationalist parties (the 6th Congress of the Comintern in 1928). This course of the Comintern was also reflected in the alliance of the left and right in Korea.

Prerequisites for the division of Korea

There were no cultural prerequisites for the division of the ethnic group. Throughout its history from the 7th to the 20th century, Korea was a state with unified cultural property. There was no separation between north and south. But from the point of view of the formation of the political elite, aristocrats from the northern provinces were more discredited than from the central and southern ones. As a rule, the political elite was formed from representatives of the aristocratic class of the yangban of the capital and southern provinces of Korea.

During the years of the colony economic development Korea formed a very clear division along geographical lines: the northern provinces were industrial regions, and the southern provinces were landowners. This uneven development during the years of Japanese colonialism had a very negative impact after the separation. Korea as a colony was very closely connected with the mother country. In one place, machine tool components were produced, in another they were assembled, and in a third they were sold. Therefore, the southern and northern provinces of Korea were economically strongly connected both with each other and with the mother country. After the division of the country and before the creation of the ROK and the DPRK, trade relations between the south and the north were not very intense. The foreign policy factor played a huge role in the division of Korea, but not the cultural one.

Guardianship regime of the USSR and the USA

In 1945, after Japan's defeat in World War II, Koreans expected a national independence to be declared. But the problem was that the Koreans did not participate in the liberation of their country. All ground operations in Korea were carried out by Soviet army(25th Army of the 1st Far Eastern Front), while American troops were conducting operations at sea. The Koreans freed themselves from colonial dependence, but they did not have real power. As a former colony of the Japanese Empire that lost the war, Korea could not determine its own fate. The USSR and the USA, together with the Korean political parties, were to determine the political future of the country. The United States has proposed introducing a trusteeship regime in Korea similar to that of the Philippines. By decision of the Moscow meeting in 1945, it was assumed that Korea would be under the patronage of the states that are members of the international trusteeship council for 5 years, and only then would it receive full independence.

In August 1945, it was decided to delimit the spheres of military responsibility on the Korean Peninsula along the 38th parallel. This line was not chosen by chance. The thirty-eighth parallel was the dividing line between the parts of the Japanese army: the troops located north of the 38th parallel were subordinate to the command of the Kwantung Army, and to the south - the 17th Army. The Americans were interested in the fact that the capital of Korea, Seoul, was included in their zone of responsibility. Therefore, the US State Department insisted that the entire territory south of the 38th parallel, including the capital, become part of the American zone of military responsibility. Stalin did not make any amendments to the proposal of the American side on the demarcation along the 38th parallel, and there were no discussions on this topic.

Even before the liberation of Korea, an exile government settled in Shanghai, and on September 4, 1945, the People's Republic of Korea was proclaimed. But none of these "governments" were recognized by either the Soviet Union or the United States. The USSR and the USA were not in the mood to really give the Koreans independence. At the Moscow meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the USA, USSR and Great Britain in December 1945, it was decided to apply the trusteeship regime in relation to Korea. With the gradual increase in tension between the Soviet Union and the United States, the situation became clearer.

In 1946, the USSR headed for the creation of a friendly socialist state in the north of the Korean Peninsula. Korean nationalists located in the north of Korea were against the guardianship regime and advocated for the immediate independence of Korea (however, as in the south). But the USSR quickly suppressed all right-wing movement in the north. In the south of Korea, right-wing nationalists were politically more successful - many of them were integrated into the management system of the American military administration (1945-1948) and oriented towards the United States from a cultural and political point of view.

Kim Il Sung at a meeting of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of North Korea in 1946 (Wikipedia.org)

Formation of the DPRK and the Republic of Korea

In August 1946, the Workers' Party of North Korea was created as a result of the merger of several parties. She became the main political force in the north of Korea at the stage of formation of the North Korean statehood. The right-wing movement was very quickly neutralized in the north, while in the south of Korea, a serious political struggle between the right and left continued until the elections to the National Assembly. In November 1947, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution calling for elections to the National Assembly of Korea. It was supposed to be a unified election, but the Soviet Union boycotted this decision. The UN set up a commission on Korea to help Koreans organize elections. The Soviet Union did not allow this commission to go north. As a result, in February 1948, at the UN Small Assembly, it was decided that the elections would be held in areas accessible to them. As a result, elections to the National Assembly were held only in southern Korea.

Left and center parties in South Korea have boycotted parliamentary elections. They considered the elections to be separate, and this was true in the conditions of that political situation. In fact, only right-wing and radical-right groups took part in the elections. Lee Syngman, a staunch anti-communist, was elected President of the Republic of Korea.

Initially, the division of Korea was carried out for military purposes during the disarmament of the Japanese army. But from the very beginning of the military occupation, right-wing Korean nationalists were oriented towards the United States. For the centrists and the left, it was obvious that holding separate elections was the final division of the country. The unification became a ghostly prospect. After the elections to the Supreme People's Assembly of Korea in September 1948, the establishment of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea was proclaimed. Two states arose on the territory of the once united Korea. In the Constitutions of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the DPRK of 1948, the entire territory of the Korean Peninsula belonged to the state territory. But this clause is no longer in the modern Constitution of the DPRK, while it still remains in the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and, accordingly, the regime existing in the north is formally considered illegal.

Korean War

By the early 1950s, North Korean leader Kim Il Sung was actively promoting the idea of ​​a military takeover of southern Korea. For this, in his opinion, there were certain grounds - the growth of the revolutionary situation in the south of the Korean Peninsula. The elections to the National Assembly in May 1948 were actually held under conditions civil war on South. Thousands of demonstrations, terrorist attacks with undermining rails, telegraph lines, police stations - all this took place in conditions of terrible social conflict, rejection of separate elections. Leftist groups, that is, the Korean communists, were behind the organization of all these actions. One after another, incidents occurred that testified to the rejection of the existing political regime in South Korea: the Jeju uprising in April 1948, the uprising of soldiers in Yeosu in October 1948, and others. All these events caused anti-communist hysteria on the part of the central government, represented by the President of the Republic of Korea, Lee Syngman: the National Security Law was passed, prohibiting any form of communist and North Korean propaganda. A mass purge of communists began in the country. Syngman Rhee's regime surpassed the measures of the American military administration in cruelty - the Americans did not fight the left as hard as the Koreans themselves did.

The Soviet Union intervened in the conflict for the unification of Korea on the side of the DPRK, although it did not openly support it. But the Chinese army (Chinese people's volunteers) was involved directly. The South took advantage of US military assistance, which actually lobbied for the sending of UN peacekeeping forces to South Korea. If the Americans and UN troops had not helped the southerners in time, South Korea would not exist today. North Korean forces pushed deep into South Korea within weeks, pushing Syngman Rhee's government into the southern port city of Busan. And only the Americans saved the regime from collapse and kept the south of the Korean Peninsula under their control.

Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington DC (flickr // roberteaston)

Kim Il Sung's attempt to unite Korea by military means was unsuccessful. The war of 1950-1953 fully consolidated the division of the Korean Peninsula into two states - the DPRK and the Republic of Korea. Moreover, the war increased the dependence of the Republic of Korea on the United States. South Korea's right-wing political elite began to feel indebted to the Americans because they had saved it from collapse. The South Korean army is still partially controlled by the American General Staff: in wartime, the Americans control the movement of troops of the South Korean army on the territory of the Republic of Korea. And even the issue of transferring control of their army in wartime to the Korean General Staff is not approved by right-wing politicians in Korea, because they feel insecure or incapable of governing.

Problems of a divided ethnos

Today, the 38th parallel, along which Korea is divided, is a demarcation line, on both sides of which lies a 4 km wide demilitarized zone. Crossing such a border is almost impossible. There are no diplomatic relations between North and South Korea today. The countries do not recognize each other. Each country views the other as an occupier of its territory. When North Korea launched another satellite into orbit, South Korea, represented by President Park Geun-hye, decided to close the Kaesong industrial complex, which is located on the border of North and South Korea. Both South Korean companies and North Korean workers were involved in this complex - they had a joint business.

Korean border demarcation zone (flickr // whoisthatfreakwiththecamera)

The situation was aggravated by the nuclear program of the DPRK. Two states on the same peninsula are actually in a state of cold war with each other. Most likely, they will remain separated, but they still need to look for common ground, build relationships, because this is related to their stability, national security and development. To do this, both countries must achieve consistency in their behavior. To a greater extent, this applies to South Korea. North Korea clearly follows the earlier statements. Politically, nothing changes there: one party, one leader. And in the south, there is constant political turbulence. With the advent of each new leader in the Republic of Kazakhstan, relations with the north either improve or worsen.

There is a problem of separated families. As soon as an improvement in relations is planned, these families meet. The two countries do not implement joint projects, southerners are not allowed official access to the north, and northerners to the south, there is no cultural, academic exchange, and economic ties are not developing.

The youth of South Korea has been brought up in an atmosphere of anti-communist, anti-North Korean hysteria. For residents of the south, North Korea is an occupier that launches ballistic missiles, develops a nuclear bomb, and arranges provocations on the border. The generation of the 1980s and 1990s grew up with the idea that the DPRK is another state that is really dangerous and alien to them. At the same time, the idea of ​​unification remains one of the main national ideas of both South Korea and North Korea. South Korea was once called the Asian tiger, an economic miracle on the Hangang River, but the pace GDP growth, which were under Park Chung-hee in the 1960s and 1970s, have decreased significantly. Now the situation is getting worse high level unemployment in South Korea.