When President Yoon Seok-yeol declared martial law on Tuesday night, there had been six hours of uncertainty, chaos and political turmoil in South Korea.
The military imposed restrictions on political activities, and the South Korean military secured the National Assembly. Yol then reversed his decision within hours, but cited threats from North Korea and accused the rebels of weakening the country.
All this came after weeks of heightened political tensions and public dissatisfaction with the Yun government.
The imposition and withdrawal of martial law came in response to continuing tensions on the Korean peninsula, which remains divided along ideological and political lines. The Korean Peninsula has been divided for more than 70 years, and North and South Korea have followed vastly different paths. The origins of this division date back to the end of World War II in 1945, when world powers divided the region into two regions.
reason for the split
After Japan’s defeat in World War II, South Korea, previously under Japanese rule, faced an uncertain future. The United States and the Soviet Union intervened and divided Korea at the 38th parallel. The Soviet Union occupied the north and the United States controlled the south. This division occurred without consulting the Korean people.
As the Cold War deepened, attempts to unify Korea failed. The Soviet Union and the United States refused to relinquish control, blocking negotiations for a compromise.
In the north, the Soviet Union supported the communist regime led by Kim Il Sung, and the United States supported the anti-communist government led by Syngman Rhee in the south. In 1948, South Korea formally established a government in Seoul, followed by North Korea declaring its own state in Pyongyang. Both claimed to represent all of South Korea.
korean war
In 1950, North Korea, supported by the Soviet Union and China, invaded the south, leading to heightened tensions and the outbreak of the Korean War. The United States intervened, urging member states to send military aid to South Korea. The United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada also joined the effort and contributed troops to counter the invasion.
Peace negotiators began negotiations in July 1951, but progress remained slow. For two years, hostile forces engaged in fierce fighting while diplomatic efforts continued. On July 27, 1953, representatives from the United States, China, North Korea, and South Korea signed an armistice (not a peace treaty) at Panmunjom. This agreement ended active hostilities but maintained the division of Korea.
The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) was established along the 38th parallel, forming one of the most heavily fortified borders in the world.
The Korean War, also known as the “forgotten war,” caused devastating damage. More than 3 million people died and countless others were evacuated, making it one of the most tragic events of the Cold War era.
What is separating them?
Since the split, North Korea has maintained an isolated communist regime under the Kim dynasty, with a focus on military power and nuclear weapons. In contrast, South Korea has developed into a democratic and economically developed country with strong ties to the West.
Efforts toward unification, including talks and summits, have made little progress. Ideological divisions and mutual distrust have created a divide between the two Koreas, and North Korea’s military provocations have sometimes heightened tensions.
