• Outline of DMZ
  • Border of DMZ
  • Unification policy by period
  • Reunion of Families separated
  • Interchange & cooperation
  • Railroad / highway project
  • Mt.Geumgang tour

1 Outline of DMZ > 02 - Background of DMZ

Background of DMZ A Brief History of DMZ since Liberation

Background of DMZ

Korea was liberated from the invasion in Aug.1945 as Japan surrendered and it resulted in the end of World War II. U.S. had started to confront with U.S.S.R about how to manage Japan and Korea after war.
The reason of opposition is that they have different opinion and hold each other in check; U.S dreamed about domination of the world and U.S.S.R had grown up to a powerful country. Also, trusteeship and divided occupying, which U.S planned as the way of resolution for the Korean Peninsula, was one of restraint. The 38th Parallel, which had decided by U.S one-sidely, was agreed by U.S.S.R on 16 Aug.1945. This is the beginning of direct opposition each other.

The Korean Peninsula was divided into two, South and North, which have its own government in 1948 and 6.25 War broke out in 1950. After that, the Armistice Agreement was put the seal in July 1953. The armistice line is the troop disposition line of truce that is installed by the mutual consents among a supreme commander of the U.N., a commander of people¡¯s army of North Korea and a commander of people support army of China. In accordance with Clause 1, Art. 01 of the Korea Armistice Agreement, there should be one military demarcation line and both parties had to retreat 2km from the line. The armistice line is the same as the military demarcation line, which reaches 248km(155mile) to the land and around 200km to the west coast.

DMZ is the place where entrance and exit or development has restricted for the purpose of military for ages. In other words, DMZ is a neutral zone whose gross area is around 30~40km including 4km(2km X 2) of DMZ and the civilian control zone, (5~20km X 2).

A Brief History of DMZ since Liberation

History of relationship between South and North Korea
1943. 03

Washington Conference

- discussion of postwar restoration of Manchuria, Taiwan, Indo-China, etc.
1943. 11. 20

The Cairo Declaration

- Decision of Korea independence at a proper time
1943. 11. 28

Teheran Conference

- indication of necessity of Korea trusteeship, Stalin agreed
1945. 02. 08

Yalta Conference

- proposal of Korea trusteeship by Roosevelt
1945. 07. 26

Potsdam Declaration

- reconfirmation of The Cairo Declaration
1945. 08. 25 Occupying the South by U.S.S.R & Blockade of the 28th Parallel
1945. 09 Occupying the South by U.S.A
1945. 10. 28 Setting up 5 administrative districts by unifying 5 people political committee of the North and Bukchosun branch of Chosun Labor Party
1945. 12

Moscow Conference

- Trusteeship will remain for 5years and executive plan will be decided by mutual consent of the occupying and related nations
1945. 12 Branch of Chosun Labor Party is changed into Bukchosun Communist Party & Il-Seong, Kim is elected
1946. 02. 08 Starting of Provision Bukchosun Peple Committee
1946. 03

Joint committee by U.S.A & U.S.S.R

- organizing joint committee > establishing a provisional government > withdrawal of both troops > 5year trusteeship > Independence
1946. 11 Election of representative of people Committee in the North
1947. 02. 17 Starting of Buchosun People committee
1947. 05. 21 The 2nd joint committee by U.S.A & U.S.S.R
1947. 08. 26 Proposal of Fireign Minusters' Conference by 4 nations & Rejecion by U.S.S.R
1947. 10. 09 U.S.S.R offered that both troops would withdraw by 1948 and leave the future of Chosun to itself
U.S.A > transferring the control to UN
U.S.S.R > withdrawal of both troops
1948. 05. 10 General election in South Korea
1948. 05. 31 Opening of constitutional parliament
1948. 07. 17 Promulgation of the constitution & Seung-Man, Lee is elected as the first president
1948. 08. 15 Establishment of the Republic of Korea
1948. 09. 09 Establishment of People's Republic, Chosun Democracy
1948. 12 Withdrawal of U.S.S.R troop from North Korea
1949 Setting up of withdrawal pollicy of U.S.A troop
1950. 06. 25 We broke out on 25th of June
1953. 07. 27 Signature of the Armistice Agreement & establlishment of DMZ
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