during 12 centuries of independence the Korean people develop a strong sense of identity

distinct from China and Japan

in 1910, Japan colonizes Korea ending their independence

Koeran nationalist groups arise hoping to regain their independence

Some associate with Chinese and soviet communists

others hope to gain favor with western nations like the United States

Kim Il-sung aligns with the Chinese communists

and leads small guerrilla forces fighting the japenese in the wilderness of Manchuria

Syngman Rhee goes to the U.S.

1945. End of world war II

Japan has defeated and their 36 year occupation of Korea ends

A rushed agreement is reached to fill the power vacuum

Soviet forces control the northern half of the peninsula

installing communist Kim Il-sung as the leader

and U.S. forces control the southern half installing anti-communist Syngman Rhee in the south

creating a de facto divide at the 38th parallel

mistrust on both sides and the emergent cold war prevents cooperation on country wide elections

that would keep Korea unified

August 15th, 1948. Syngman Rhee declares the formation of the Republic of Korea in Seoul

claiming jurisdiction over all of Korea

25 days later. Kim Il-sung declares the formation of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, in Pyongyang

also claiming jurisdiction over all of Korea

June 25th, 1950. Confident of a quick victory and driven by the desire to control all of Korea

Kim Il-sung backed by communist China and the Soviet Union launches an attack on the south

and the Korean war begins

the U.S. intervenes helping to push the north back

the war devastates the entire peninsula, tearing famlies apart

and taking the lives of millions

July 27th, 1953. An armistice assigned to end major hostilities

however to this day the Korean peninsula remains technically at war

the only separation between north & south is a 2.5 mile wide demilitarized zone

the most heavily fortified border in the world

over the next few decades both Koreas rebuild

North Korea's development is initially faster than the south

massive effort is put into propaganda campaigns to create a personality cult around Kim Il-sung

their eternal president

Juche the heart of north korean ideology ingrains the attitude of self-reliance

in order to resist foreign invasion and guard against outside intervention

by the 1960s, the north provides medical care, universal education, food, and housing to the people

the south experiences periods of dictatorship, rapid economic development, and democratization

later emerging as one of the most successful democracies in Asia

communism collapses in eastern europe and the Soviet Union

major sources of aid and trading partners for North Korea are eliminated

July 8th, 1994. Kim Il-sung's death triggers intense national mourning.

his son Kim Jong-il prepared for power decades in advance replaces him as leader

under Kim Jong-il's military first policy precious resources are diverted away from the North Korean people

and massive efforts go into developing nuclear weapons

ensuring the security and survival of the regime continues to be the top priority