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

經過12個世紀的獨立後，人們發展出了很強的國家自我意識

distinct from China and Japan

有別於中國以及日本

in 1910, Japan colonizes Korea ending their independence

在1910年，日本殖民韓國，結束了他們的獨立

Koeran nationalist groups arise hoping to regain their independence

韓國的國家主義團體便發聲，希望可以拿回獨立自治的權利

Some associate with Chinese and soviet communists

有些團體和中國以及蘇維埃共產有關聯

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

其他則是希望可以沾到西方國家，像是美國的一些光

Kim Il-sung aligns with the Chinese communists

金日成和中國共產黨聯合

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

領導小游擊隊去對抗在滿州的日本人

Syngman Rhee goes to the U.S.

李承晚則是去美國

1945. End of world war II

在1945年，第二次大戰結束後

Japan has defeated and their 36 year occupation of Korea ends

日本打了敗仗，結束了36年以來佔領韓國的日子

A rushed agreement is reached to fill the power vacuum

為了要填補權力中空，簽訂了一個貿然的協定

Soviet forces control the northern half of the peninsula

蘇維埃政權控制了朝鮮半島的北半部

installing communist Kim Il-sung as the leader

扶植金日成為共產首領

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

而美國軍事力量則是控制了半島的南半部，扶植了李承晚為反共產的首領

creating a de facto divide at the 38th parallel

創造了一個事實上分裂的38度平行線

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

雙邊的不信任加上冷戰的來臨，阻擋了雙邊要舉行全國選舉的合作

that would keep Korea unified

讓韓國可以統一

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

在1948年8月15號，李承晚在首爾宣布南韓這個國家的成立

claiming jurisdiction over all of Korea

主張對於韓國的管轄權

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

25天之後，金日成在平壤宣布北韓的成立

also claiming jurisdiction over all of Korea

主張對韓國的管轄權

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

1950年6月25號，因有信心可以快速地拿到勝利加上想要掌控全韓國的渴望

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

有共產中國以及蘇維埃撐腰的金日成對南韓發動了攻擊

and the Korean war begins

而韓戰就開始了

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

美國因此干預韓戰，幫忙南韓的勢力往北推回

the war devastates the entire peninsula, tearing famlies apart

這個戰爭破壞了整個朝鮮半島，撕裂了許多家庭

and taking the lives of millions

也奪走了許多人的生命。

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

在1953年7月27號，他們簽訂休戰書，要結束敵對關係

however to this day the Korean peninsula remains technically at war

然而，朝鮮半島現在還是維持著對戰的狀態

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

南韓跟北韓的分界只有2.5里的非軍事化區域

the most heavily fortified border in the world

全世界防守最重的邊界

over the next few decades both Koreas rebuild

幾十年後，韓國重建了

North Korea's development is initially faster than the south

北韓在一開始發展得比南韓還快

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

強大的宣傳活動神話了金日成

their eternal president

他們永久的總統

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

北韓意識的核心深植了自立自強的態度

in order to resist foreign invasion and guard against outside intervention

為了要抵抗外國的侵略，和抵抗外面的干預

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

在1960年代，北韓提供了醫療的照顧，全面性的教育，食物，住宿給人民

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

南方經歷過短暫的獨裁，快速的經濟發展和民主化

later emerging as one of the most successful democracies in Asia

之後成為在亞洲最成功的民主國家之一

communism collapses in eastern europe and the Soviet Union

共產權力在東歐以及蘇維埃崩塌後

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

北韓大部分的援助資源都消失了

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

1994年7月8號，金日成的死亡引起強烈的國悼

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

他的兒子金正日為了接位準備了幾十年，取代金日成成為領袖

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

在金正日的軍事政策之下，珍貴的資源從北韓被分割

and massive efforts go into developing nuclear weapons

也致力於發展核子武器

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

確保政權的存在跟穩定，使這個政權可以蒸蒸日上