The “Korean conflict” was based on the major divisions between the Republic of Korea in the South and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in the North. Both of these States claimed that they were the Government of the entire headland. In the Cold War, South Korea was backed by the United States and its allies, while North Korea was backed by China and the Soviet Union, among other socialist nations. This division of Korea took place immediately at the culmination of the Second World War in 1945, and these tensions erupted into the Korean War in the 1950s (Gomàà 870). By the time the war came to an end, Korea was devastated, but unfortunately, the division still remained. The South and the North parts of Korea still had military impasses with intermittent clangs. This paper shall, therefore, discuss the “Korean Conflict.”
The main source of the conflict was that Korea was a region of crucial strategic interest to the Russian Empire previously and subsequently to the Soviet Union at the end of the 19th century. The main intention of the Soviets during World War II was to dominate Korea. Stalin had maximum control over the northern segment, and at a minimum, he was able to create large influence within Korea through the strong Socialist Party (Kim n.p). During that time, Korea was more vulnerable, and it appeared as a minor issue during wartime when it was initially yielded to Soviet control. Hence, the final decision to divide Korea into two sectors, the American and Soviet sectors of occupation, was undertaken in a hit-or-miss manner. This is because there was a lack of trusteeship agreement and an inability to acreage in Korea as a result of the abruptness of the Japanese retreat.
The Soviet and American positions in Korea became unclear, and this was because they were anxious about the swift movements of the events within the Middle East, most specifically, Europe. Both the Soviet Union and the United States resided in Korea, with none of them willing to withdraw, and this was due to fear that others might not withdraw. Order was restored once the superpowers settled on despots (Seth n.p). The Soviets came into Korea more prepared as compared to the United States. That is, they administered the strongly nationalistic land. As the war continued, the close relationship with the Indigenous Korean Communists and in all their operations, they respected the native Korean practices, and they bore with the existing regime.
In conclusion, therefore, the understanding of the Korean divisions helps to illustrate North Korea’s post-war developments and the characteristics of the intractable conflicts. Consequently, the role of the Soviets in the Korean conflict is examined in more detail. It ascertains that the part of the Soviets was more ambiguous and nuanced than perceived at the moment Gomàà 870). The governance of the Soviets exemplified strong and pragmatic thinking on issues of national interest. It also approved the conflict, and in the long run, it encouraged prolonged wars during the intermediation stage. Correspondingly, the Soviets attempted to look for various methods that could stop the war, especially when it became a burden for the post-Stalinist external dogma. Lastly, after the demise of Stalin, the remaining Soviet leaders decided that developing their relations with the Western nations was of more importance rather than proceeding with the Korean Conflict.
Works Cited
Gomàà, Daniel. “The Chinese-Korean border issue: an analysis of a contested frontier.” Asian Survey 46.6 (2006): 867-880.
Kim, Jinwung. A history of Korea: from” Land of the Morning Calm” to states in conflict. Indiana University Press, 2012.
Seth, Michael J. A concise history of modern Korea: From the late nineteenth century to the present. Vol. 2. Rowman & Littlefield, 2016. Stueck, William. The Korean War: an international history. Princeton University Press, 1997.
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