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South Korea - Living with
North Korea

Overview

North Korea has been in the news many times in the last decade and most recently there has been a threat aimed at South Korea in conjunction with a missile test. North and South Korea have been on edge and at a heightened state of alert since North Korea announced in 2005 that North Korea has nuclear weapons. This lesson will look at the continuing threat and tension that South Korean people live with every day. The world is watching North Korea and their actions very closely, but no one is more aware of what lies to the north than the South Koreans. The South Korean people and its economy prosper and have become one of the major manufacturing centers in the world in spite of the the looming threats from their neighbors. How does this country continue to move forward and cope with this threat?

Background Activities

To better understand the underlying issues that S. Korea has to live with daily there needs to be a clearer picture of what is in place to keep their people and country prepared and safe.

Geographic Location:

Using this interactive map see if students can identify the surrounding countries of the Korean Peninsula.
Using this map resource for printable maps and test their knowledge after reviewing the region.
How did all of this tension begin? The Korean Peninsula was under control of Japan from 1910 until the end of WWII. The peninsula was then divided along the 38th parallel (later to become DMZ - see next item). The US occupied the south with their troops and the Soviets occupied the north. In 1948 several incursions over that dividing line led to a major attack on the south from the north with the Korean War starting in 1950. This link gives more detail if needed for discussion on the Korean War

One of the most significant areas on the Korean Peninsula is the DMZ (De-militarized Zone) this is the most concentrated military area in the world. In 1953 the Korean Armistice Agreement created this zone in which both North and South Korea agreed to create a buffer zone that is 4 km wide (2.5 miles) and move their troops back 2,200 yds from the line.

This link will give more detailed information regarding the DMZ

Current Events Related to the Korean Peninsula

There is a volatile history between N. Korea and S. Korea. The following items also include links to video footage related to the incident.

In May of 2010 - the ROKS Cheonan, a S. Korean Navy ship, sank off the coast of Korea in the Yellow sea. There were 46 navy personnel killed and an investigation led to the conclusion that it was attacked and hit with torpedo from a N. Korean mini-sub. N. Korea denies this and it has definitely increased tensions between the two countries.

In November of 2010 - N. Korea attacked an island in S. Korea in an area of disputed waters. The attack was justified bu N. Korea because they stated S. Korea sent artillery shells into their waters during military exercises. This link will give the details regarding this incident

In early June 2011, N. Korea tested a short range missile for the first time since 2009 drawing criticism from the UN and many other countries

South Korea - Living with North Korea

Overview

Background Activities

Current Events Related to the Korean Peninsula

South Korea - Living with
North Korea