Be Mains Ready

Approach

• Briefly explain the decolonization of the Korean Peninsula.
• Explain the role of superpowers.
• Explain its significance in contemporary geopolitics.
• Give a conclusion.

Introduction

• The timeline of decolonization of the Korean peninsula consists of a struggle by the Koreans against the Japanese occupation of Korean Peninsula (1910-1945), followed by the dispute to retain influence in the East Asian region between the Cold War rivals—US and the Soviet Union in the aftermath of the Second World War and defeat of Japan.
  
  

Body

• Japan occupied Korea in 1910 and continued till 1945. The era witnessed cultural, political and economic subjugation of Korea by the Japanese.
• The resistance movements for e.g. March 1st movement, were ruthlessly crushed.
• It led to the emergence of several guerilla groups based in neighbouring countries of China and Soviet Russia which were seen sympathetic to Korean cause and were themselves antagonised with Japanese. For e.g., the provisional government of Korea was set up after the March 1st movement in Shanghai and Kim Il Sung emerged as a military leader of another guerilla group.
• With the surrender of Japan, northern Korea was occupied by Soviet forces while Americans occupied the Southern part.
• The Soviets and Americans failed to reach an agreement on a unified Korean government, and in 1948 two separate governments were established, each claiming to be the legitimate government of all Korea: the Republic of Korea in Seoul, in the American zone, and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in Pyongyang, in the Soviet zone.
• On June 25, 1950, North Korean forces invaded the South. The Korean War drew in the Americans in support of South Korea and the Chinese in support of the North. Ultimately, the Korean War ended in a truce with Korea still divided into two mutually antagonistic states, separated by a heavily fortified “De-Militarized Zone” (DMZ).
• Thus decolonization of the Korean peninsula was achieved. But still the governments of the North and the South continue to toe different ideological paradigms.  Furthermore, as a result of this dichotomy, the security of East Asia continues to remain vulnerable and the countries situated there, particularly Japan and South Korea find it prudent to continue with their military alliance with the US and at the same time create advanced defence capabilities for themselves.
• The US on the other hand, though situated across the Pacific is not likely to directly face the heat of this struggle, but surely is profoundly interested to maintain the power balance in the region. At present, reeling under heavy economic sanctions of the US, the North is threatening the world with its nuclear weapons, but the US is not willing to concede anything unless the North agrees on complete denuclearization. In such a deadlock situation, China is trying to take advantage by engaging with the North to increase its influence in East Asia and create a challenge for US dominance in the region.
• China already has a strong presence in the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea and any military alliance with North Korea is going to extend its presence into the Sea of Japan creating a challenge for the Japanese—the US ally in that region. Though China has always tried to project, that its relations with the North are more economic rather than military, any military alliance cannot be ruled out.

Conclusion

• Thus, despite decolonization, the Korean peninsula continues to remain a theatre of a power game between the existing and emerging superpowers of the world. The manner in which these powers deal with the geopolitics in the Korean peninsula in the coming time will unfold the geo-strategic dynamics of the region.