North and South Korea
South Korean Flag
North Korean Flag
At the end of World War II, the Korean
peninsula was divided into a northern zone
occupied by Soviet forces and a southern
zone occupied by US forces.
In 1948 these zones became the Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea)
and the Republic of Korea (South Korea).
The boundary between the two zones was
formed at the 38th parallel.
In 1950 North Korea invaded South Korea in
an effort to unite the two countries into one
country under communist rule. The invasion
resulted in a war which involved the United
States. The war lasted until 1953 and ended
in a stalemate (no winner).
The boundary between the two countries
remains at the 38th parallel is now a
demilitarized zone.
DMZ – Demilitarized Zone
an area where military equipment and activity are prohibited
After the Korean War (June 25 1950 – July 27 1953), South Korea and North Korea established a border
that cut the Korean peninsula roughly in half. The border is the Korean DMZ. Because the Korean war
ended in a stalemate and of hostility between the North and the South, large numbers of troops are still
stationed along both sides of the line, each side guarding against potential aggression from the other side.
The DMZ is 155 miles long and 1.5 miles wide.
Sporadic outbreaks of violence due to North Korean hostilities killed over 500 South Korean soldiers and
50 U.S. soldiers along the DMZ between 1953 and 1999. However, despite the fact that this is the most
heavily armed border in the world, it is extremely rare that any fighting takes place.
Pictures of the DMZ (scroll down & note there are a few pages of pictures)
Korean DMZ Pictures
Post War
South Korea has a thriving economy and ranks in the top for producers of Asia.
South Korea exports goods such as automobiles, textiles, and electronics and has
a skilled work force.
North Korea is a closed society under a communist dictatorship and the country is
not as urbanized or industrialized as South Korea. In such a restrictive society, it is
difficult - if not impossible - for residents to get news of the outside world, and
for the outside world to see in.
Click on at least one of the following link sto look at photos from North Korea:
Pictures from North Korea - Part 1
Pictures from North Korea Part 2
Pictures from North Korea - Part 3
CLICK ON THIS LINK TO VIEW A POWERPOINT OF SOUTH KOREA
Pictures of South Korea 1
Pictures of South Korea 2
Pictures of South Korea 3
Pictures of South Korea 4