War and Conflict Journal

New page on Korean History now online at: http://www.historyguy.com/wars_of_korea.htm

Wars of Korea

 Donghak Peasant Revolution (1894)–This rebellion caused the Korean governement to request Chinese military intervention. This caused Japan and China to fight a war in Korea.

First Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895)–Japan defeated China. Many battles fought on Korean soil. The war resulted in Japan gaining increased influence in Korea.

Japanese Annexation of Korea (1910)–Though Japan retained effective control over Korea from 1905 on, the annexation was formalized in a 1910 treaty.

Anti-Japanese Resistance (1919-1945)–Many different groups and rebel forces resisted Japanese rule over Korea.

World War Two (1939-1945)–Many Koreans were drafted into Japanese forces during World War Two. The war ended with Japan defeated, and Japanese occupation of Korea ended.

Jeju Rebellion (1948-1949)–Communist rebellion on the South Korean island of Jeju

The Korean War (1950-1953)

The escalating crisis in Korea is summarized at http://www.historyguy.com/korean_crisis_2010.htm

While the the fighting of Korean War of 1950-1953 ended with an armistice nearly 60 years ago, North and South Korea are still technically at war. Their ongoing hostilities have resulted in many incidents of violence over the years, with two particular incidents in 2010 pushing the two Koreas (and their allies), close to the brink of war. Those incidents of violence between North and South Korea in 2010, were the recent attacks on a South Korean warship and the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong.  The  details on these two incidents, as well as the events of 2009 that led up to the current crisis and the Yeonpyeong Island naval battle of 2002 are at http://www.historyguy.com/korean_crisis_2010.htm

Korean Border Conflicts page updated to reflect recent North Korean Attack on Yeonpyeong Island.
http://www.historyguy.com/korean_border_conflicts.htm

Korean tensions increase over South Korean ship attack by North Korea. The U.S. has 28,500 troops defending South Korea and a treaty obligation to aid the South in the event of war with North Korea.  This one could get very, very, bad!  North Korea’s military capabilities, especially with their active nuclear weapons arsenal, make the worries over Iran’s nukes look like a tempest at a tea party (no pun intended!)
http://www.historyguy.com/korean_border_conflicts.htm

On November 09, 2009, a North Korean naval vessel entered South Korean waters, refused to return to the North, and then was brought under fire by the South Korean navy. The North Korean ship was partially destroyed, and managed to escape back across the Naval Limit Line, which is the sea-border between the Koreas. Perhaps not coincidentally, the Northern incursion came only days before U.S. President Barack Obama was due to visite East Asia. It is common for the Pyongyang regime to seek attention from the U.S. and from the world as a whole in order to put it’s own agenda on the table and to force other nations to deal with North Korea.
The naval battle took place near the South Korean-held island of Daecheong-do, 125 miles west of the South Korean capital of Seoul. The island is located ja mere 18 miles from the North Korean coast.

http://www.historyguy.com/korean_naval_battle_2009.htm

North Korea launched five short-range missiles into the sea and declared a “no-sail zone” for the week of October 12.  The missile launches came as South Korea called for more talks on the Korean Nuclear Issue.

See also:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8302841.stm

http://www.historyguy.com/korean_nuclear_crisis.htm

In a possible sign that North Korea is more willing to work with the international community on several pressing issues, Pyongyang released four South Korean fishermen and their boat, which the North seized on July 30, after the fishing boat strayed into Northern waters.

Earlier this month, the Communist North freed two American journalists after a visit from former President Bill Clinton, and later  freed a South Korean worker after more than four months of captivity. On Friday the two Koreas agreed to resume reunions of families divided by the Korean War (1950-1953).

See also:

http://warandconflictjournal.com/2009/07/north-korea-captures-south-korean-fishing-boat//

July 29, 2009- North Korean naval forces seized a South Korean fishing vessel early on the morning of July 29, 2009, after it accidentally strayed into North Korean waters. The South Korean governement asked the Pyongyang regime to release the fishing boat and to return the four crewmen. The captured ship is 29 tons and is called the “800 Yeonan.” The South claims the ship strayed into North Korean waters due to a satellite navigation system error or malfunction.

http://www.historyguy.com/korean_border_conflicts.htm

On July 2, 2009, North Korea launched four more short-range missiles into the Sea of Japan.  Fears abound that the North Koreans may launch a ballistic missile toward Hawaii over the July 4th weekend.

http://www.historyguy.com/korean_nuclear_crisis.htm

On May 28, the Chief of Staff of the United States Army declared that the U.S. has the ability to successfully fight a new war in Korea, despite fighting counter-insurgency wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  See the full article at:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_pentagon_nkorea

Also, Chinese fishing boats fled the waters off of Korea in response to the ongoing crisis between North Korea and the U.S., and South Korea.

See the full article at:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090529/ap_on_re_as/as_koreas_nuclear