The Korean War: A History

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The Origins of the Korean War, Volume I:
Liberation and the Emergence of Separate Regimes, 1945–1947

 

The Origins of the Korean War, Volume II:
The Roaring of the Cataract, 1947–1950

 

Korea’s Place in the Sun: A Modern History

 

Parallax Visions: Making Sense of American–East Asian Relations

 

Dominion from Sea to Sea: Pacific Ascendancy and American Power

 

C
HRONOLOGY

 

2333  B.C .	Mythical founding of the Korean nation by Tangun and his bear wife.
A.D. 668–918	Silla kingdom rules a Korea unified up to the Taedong River flowing through Pyongyang.
918–1392	Koryo dynasty governs Korea from its capital at Kaesong and produces the world’s most exquisite celadon pottery.
1231	Mongols sweep through China and invade Korea.
1392	Establishment of the Choson dynasty by Gen. Yi Song-gye, who makes Seoul the capital.
1443	Invention of hangul, Korea’s unique alphabet, by scholars working for King Sejong.
1592–1598	Japanese invasions under the warlord Hideyoshi devastate Korea, but are turned back by Adm. Yi Sun-shin’s forces; Hideyoshi dies.
1876	Japanese gunboats open Korea’s ports to foreign trade and impose the first unequal treaty.
1882	United States and Korea sign a similarly unequal treaty.
1894	Tonghak peasant uprising defeated.
1894–1895	Japan defeats China in Sino-Japanese War.
1894	Slavery abolished.
1904–1905	Japan wins Russo-Japanese War; Korea becomes a Japanese protectorate.
1910	Japan annexes Korea as its colony and abolishes the Choson dynasty.
1919	Independence movement against Japanese rule begins on March 1, and after many months of nationwide protest is crushed.
1932	Japanese establish the puppet state of Manchukuo on March 1, comprising three northeastern provinces of China.
1937	Japan provokes Sino-Japanese War.
1941	Japan attacks the United States at Pearl Harbor.
1945	Korea liberated following the surrender of Japanese forces to the Allies.
1945–1948	U.S. Army Military Government in Korea.
1948	Republic of Korea and Democratic People’s Republic of Korea established.
1950–1953	Korean War.
1961	General Park Chung Hee leads the first military coup.
1980	General Chun Doo Hwan crushes the Kwangju rebellion and leads the second military coup.
1987	Nationwide protests force the military dictatorship to hold presidential elections.
1992	Kim Young Sam elected president and ushers in a more democratic political era.
1994	Kim Il Sung dies and his son, Kim Jong Il, becomes top leader in the North.
1997	Kim Dae Jung becomes the first member of the opposition to win the presidency in the South.
2000	First summit between Korean heads of state held in Pyongyang; Kim Dae Jung awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
2002	Roh Moo Hyun elected.
2007	Lee Myung Bak elected.

G
LOSSARY

 

AMG	U.S. Army Military Government
CIC	Counter-Intelligence Corps (American)
DPRK	Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North)
G-2	U.S. Military Intelligence
JCS	Joint Chiefs of Staff (American)
KCIA	Korean Central Intelligence Agency
KMAG	Korean Military Advisory Group (American)
KNP	Korean National Police (South)
KPA	Korean People’s Army (North)
KTRC	Korean Truth and Reconciliation Commission (South)
KWP	Korean Workers’ Party (North)
NSC	National Security Council
NWY	Northwest Youth Corps (South)
OSS	Office of Strategic Services
PLA	People’s Liberation Army (China)
PRC	People’s Republic of China
RAF	Royal Air Force (British)
ROK	Republic of Korea (South)
ROKA	Republic of Korea Army
SCAP	Supreme Command, Allied Powers
SKWP	South Korean Workers’ Party
UNC	United Nations Command (1950–present)
UNCOK	UN Commission on Korea
UNCURK	UN Commission on the Unification and Reconstruction of Korea
USAF	U.S. Air Force
USAMGIK	U.S. Army Military Government in Korea (1945–48)