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[Big John Stud]

[quote="ohahakehte] can u give any details or sources for that? japan wanting to stop korean civil war?


I have to look through my books! I did this research while living in Korea and that was over two years ago.


[quote="ohahakehte]
its not that simple. "north and south" didnt exactly exist a century ago as it does now. traditionally there were the three kingdoms of shilla, goguryo and baekche but those were done by 1905.


Yea you are completely right here. Remember I learned about Korean history while in Korea and that was over two years ago. I forget which group created a large beautiful city and which group destoried the city.


[quote="ohahakehte]
yes and no. the "all-out" war started with northern forces pouring across the 38th parallel, however there was basically a low-scale war going on since the two korea's declared statehood in 1948. the leadership of both korea's wanted a full scale war so they could reunify the peninsula by force. syngman rhee the first president of south korea wanted to provoke the north into war and acted on that repeatedly. from what ive read, the major difference b/w north and south in the war was that, of the "great powers", stalin was the first to give the green light to war to kim il-sung. syngman rhee wanted a green light from the americans just as badly.


I think the low scale war was going on during Japan's occupation, it just escalated after Korea became independent.
The North was more against the occupation than the south.

[quote="ohahakehte]
the root of the korean war was the american decision in 1945 to divide the peninsula at the 38th parallel. it was originally intended as a means of japanese troop withdrawl but the soviets agreed with the americans to exercise a "trusteeship" over their respective half. the soviets got the north, the americans the south. that should never have happened. after the japanese left most koreans wanted a unified korea but the 38th parallel fiasco and the geostrategic interests of the "great powers" screwed that all up. once the japanese left the americans and soviets should've butted out and let korea become the independent country the japanese brutally tried to suppress. some koreans of course are guilty of screwing things up but its simplistic and incomplete to say that "korean greed and hatred" started the war.[/quote]


I do agree with you the U.S. and Soviets should of gotten out of Korea after the Japanese troops left. However, Koreans lack of ability to get along with their neighbour was a main reason for their war. And was why the U.S. and Soviets were able to divide Korea.


If you disagree with anything I write please let me know. It has been a long time since I have talked or did research about Korea so this little discussion is interesting. You are probably more informed than me so please do not think I am trying to argue. If anything I am trying to check my facts.

[ohahakehte]

[Big John Stud]

[quote="ohahakehte"]wars rarely start because "neighbours cant get along"...theres always something more fundamental going on. i mean, you can vaguely say that thats why the korean war started, but then you could say that about any war and it still wouldnt explain much. korean dissension happened after the division of the peninsula and was caused by it, it didnt precede it.
sure, many things that koreans were doing on the ground was their own doing and responsibility, but you have to look at the broader factors to really understand what was happening. i dont think its fair to say that it was all their fault. the americans groomed a south korean elite headed by syngman rhee who were viciously 'anti-communist' (keep in mind that in those days the definition of 'communist' was so narrow it could include any old unionist and even anyone who thought korea should be independent without the assistance of any great power) and who were comprised of a large number of koreans who collaborated with the japanese. that aroused and still arouses anger even among south koreans let alone "anti-imperialist" northerners.


Yea you have a point here! The korean war was during the height of Macarthur communism witch hunt era.


ohahakehte wrote:
the soviets for their part supported communist koreans on the northern half of the 38th parallel in particular kim il-sung who was a well known anti-japanese guerilla fighter. his name escapes me at the moment but in the south a former anti-anti-japanese guerilla fighter was installed as a prominent border guard at the 38th parallel. that man actually tried to track down kim il-sung himself at one period during the japanese occupation!
now of course neighbours like that wont be able to get along, but look at who's putting them in power.


I remember reading the above in some Korean history book. I am impressed you do know Korean history and express you point very well. Thanks, I enjoyed this discussion.

[goman72]

Dog boy, if you want to become part of Chinese re-unification history in 2006 go to Taiwan to teach !

CG