North Korea

Warmup When you think of “North Korea”, what are some words or phrases that immediately come to mind?

Agenda Warmup Brief history of North Korea “A State of Mind” video notes “North Korean defectors” video

Pre- and Post-World War II In 1905, after the Russo-Japanese War, Korea became a protectorate of Japan Japan ruled Korea from 1910 – 1945 Brutal suppression of Korean culture, heritage, currency, lifestyle, etc. 7,000 Koreans murdered by Japanese police during independence rallies After the Sino-Japanese War in 1937, and during World War II, Japan tried to completely eliminate Korea as a nation Mass murders Sexual slavery (“comfort women”) Elimination of Korean language and culture After World War II, Korea was divided into two separate states by the UK, the US, the Soviet Union, and China North Korea = controlled by the Soviets South Korea = controlled by the United States Divided along the 38th Parallel Supposed to be temporary!

Korean War In June 1950, communist North Korea broke through the 38th Parallel to invade pro-US South Korea So much for a temporary division The UN and the US sent troops to support South Korea (capital city = Seoul) China and the Soviet Union sent troops to support the Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea (DPRK) (capital city = Pyongyang) Massive casualties on both sides

38th Parallel (line of latitude

North and South Korea Today

Kim Il-Sung He was born in 1912 to a poor Presbyterian family His parents were very active in the resistance against Japanese occupation They fled Korea and settled in China (safety) He became interested in Communist ideologies when he was a teenager Joined the Communist Party of China in 1931 He joined the military to fight the Japanese invasion of Manchuria The Soviets installed Kim as the chairman of the North Korean branch of the Korean Communist Party Kim Il-Sung came to power after the Japanese were overthrown in World War II with the blessing, military and financial aid of Joseph Stalin

Cult of Personality In order to solidify Kim’s power, the Soviet Union formally recognized his right to rule People who worked for Kim, the Soviets, China, etc. began to spread stories about his “amazing accomplishments in the fight against Japan” The rumors grew into “Kim Il-Sung is a god who created the world in seven days millions of years ago and descended to Earth as a human in 1912 He became a messianic figure in North Korean society Cult of personality = when an individual uses mass media, propaganda, and other methods to create an idealized, heroic, and at times worshipful image Unquestioning flattery and praise Kim Il-Sung became the Supreme Leader from 1946 until his death in 1994 Nicknamed “The Great Leader”

Kim Jong-Il Nicknamed “the Dear Leader” or “the General” to distinguish himself from his father Supreme Leader of the DPRK from 1994 until his death in 2011 He grew the size of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) until it has become the fourth largest army in the world Massive and extremely long-term famines and massive human rights abuses characterized his regime

Kim Jong-un Nicknamed “Dear One” or “the Marshal” Before he took power, he was rarely seen in public, so very little is truly known about him He went to school in Switzerland under an assumed name

2017 North Korean Defectors A State of Mind