North and South Korea Korea Japan annexed Korea

North and South Korea

Korea Japan annexed Korea in 1910 WWII Japan on side of Germany Korea - Japanese territory = caught in the middle

Cold War Korea Both the US and the Soviet Union (USSR) stationed troops in Korea to help buffer them from their neighbors. Post WWII - the US and USSR begin the cold war. Their troops remained in Korea to help them in the aftermath of the war. It turned into 2 nations occupying the same place and disagreeing…

Korean War 1949 - 1953 Cold War conflict US supports democracy in the south USSR - supports communism in the north.

North and South Korea 1953 - cease fire was signed, but there is still no peace treaty. The 2 nations have agreed to a division between them at the 38 th parallel Separated by the DMZ (demilitarized zone) = a strip of land where no troops or weapons are allowed. The US still has troops there.

North Korea - Today North Korea – a military dictatorship and communist economy. Controlled by of Kim Jong Il. After the end of the USSR in 1991, they lost their main economic support Kim Jong Il has isolated his nation, resulting in poverty and famine.

North Korea - Today Totalitarian Dictatorship Kim Jong Il In power 1994 – 2011 His son, Kim Jong Un is now in power. Severe restriction on political and economic freedoms. October 6, 2006 demonstrated that they have nuclear weapons. Kim Jong Un Believed that they do not have the capacity to send a nuke via missile, would have to rely on aircraft.

South Korea - Today Constitutional republic Mixed Market Economy 11 th largest economy in the world. South Korea is also one of the world's most technologically advanced and digitally connected countries; global leader in electronics, digital displays, and mobile phones.