North Korea

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK; Korean: Chosŏn Minjujuŭi Inmin Konghwaguk; Hangul: 조선민주주의인민공화국; Hanja: 朝鮮民主主義人民共和國), also known as North Korea, is a country in East Asia, covering the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Locally and in mainland China, it is more commonly called Pukchosŏn ("North Chosŏn"; 북조선; 北朝鮮), a name that associates the country with the Joseon Dynasty. Bukhan ("North Han"; 북한; 北韓) is commonly used in South Korea.

History

Japanese rule of Korea ended after World War II in 1945. Korea was occupied by the Soviet Union north of the 38th Parallel and by the United States south of the 38th parallel, but the United States and the Soviet Union were unable to agree on implementation of Joint Trusteeship over Korea. This led in 1948 to the establishment of separate governments in the north and south, each claiming to be the legitimate government over all of Korea.

Related Topics:
Japan - Korea - World War II - 1945 - Soviet Union - United States - 1948

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Growing tensions between the governments in the north and south eventually led to the Korean War, when on June 25 1950 the (North) Korean People's Army crossed the 38th Parallel and attacked in force. The war continued until July 27 1953, when William Harrison Jr., United Nations Command, and Nam Il, Delegation of Korean People's Army and the Chinese People's Volunteers, signed the Korean War Armistice Agreement. The demilitarized zone, or DMZ, was established to separate the two countries.

Related Topics:
Korean War - June 25 - 1950 - Korean People's Army - July 27 - 1953 - Demilitarized zone

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North Korea was governed from 1948 by Kim Il-sung until his death on July 8, 1994. After the death of Kim Il Sung, his son Kim Jong-il was named General Secretary of the Korean Workers' Party on October 8, 1997. In 1998, the legislature reconfirmed him as Chairman of the National Defence Commission and declared that position as the "highest office of state." International relations generally improved, and there was a historic North-South summit in June 2000. However, tensions recently increased when North Korea resumed its nuclear weapons program.

Related Topics:
Kim Il-sung - July 8 - 1994 - Kim Jong-il - General Secretary - October 8 - 1997 - 1998 - Chairman of the National Defence Commission - 2000 - Nuclear weapons program

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During Kim Jong Il's rule in the mid to late 1990s, the country's economy declined significantly, and food shortages developed in many areas. According to aid groups, millions of people in rural areas starved to death due to famine, exacerbated by a collapse in the food distribution system http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engasa240032004. Large numbers of North Koreans illegally entered the People's Republic of China in search of food.

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North Korea announced on February 10, 2005 that it has nuclear weapons. The DPRK withdrew from the six-party talks because the North Koreans claimed that the United States had "hostile intentions" towards their country.

Related Topics:
February 10 - 2005 - Nuclear weapons

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On May 7, 2005 the USA announced its spy satellites had discovered preparations for a possible underground test of a nuclear weapon, which would be North Korea's first. In response to its failing economy, however, Kim Jong-il, the leader of North Korea, proposed the signing of a peace treaty with the U.S in late July 2005. North Korea also agreed to again attend the stalled six-party talks over its nuclear weapons program.

Related Topics:
May 7 - 2005 - Spy satellites - Kim Jong-il - July

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See also: Division of Korea

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