1895
1895
1904-1905
1910
1919
1937
1941
1943
1945
1948
1948
1948
1950
1950
1953
Japan frees Korea from Chinese control in Sino-Japanese War.
(Jan. 7) Korea declares its independence from China.
Russo-Japanese War is fought over control of Korea which Japan makes a protectorate.
Japan formally annexes Korea, making it a colony.
Koreans demonstrate against Japan and in favor of independence.
World War II begins in Asia when Japan invades China.
(Dec. 7) Japan's attack on U. S. naval base in Hawaii brings United States into war. Korea is promised freedom and independence "in due course” by Cairo Declaration.
(Aug.) Korea is freed from Japan by latter's defeat, which ends World War II; 38th parallel is established as temporary demarcation line.
(May 10) North Korea officially becomes communist state.
(Aug.) South Korea becomes republic, with Syngman Rhee as its first elected president.
(Sept.) North Korea declares itself Democratic People's Republic of Korea, with Kim Il-sung as its first president.
(June 25) Korean War begins when North Korean troops cross into South Korea. (Nov. 11) Chinese troops enter North Korea and begin engaging U. S. forces.
(July 27) Signing of U. N.-supervised cease-fire agreement at Panmunjom ends Korean War in stalemate; North and South Korea remain divided.
Korea, which had been officially named the Republic of Korea. North Korea, calling itself the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, elected Kim Il-sung as president. The temporary division had now been made permanent.
The two Koreas were divided by more than simple geography. Conflicting ideologies also separated the division. Nationalist fervor, which had been aimed against the Japanese before 1945, now was aimed in each half of the country at reunifying all of Korea by eliminating the government of the other half. South Korea's President Rhee wanted to march north and eliminate North Korea, while North Korea's President Kim wanted to march south and eliminate South Korea.
The two major powers, the United States and the Soviet Union, having made their mark on Korea, now withdrew their
1960 South Korean president Syngman Rhee is overthrown by student uprising supported by discontented army troops.
1961 Park Chung-hee becomes president of South Korea in military coup.
1968 North Korean commandos attempt to assassinate Park.
1968 (Jan. 23) North Korea seizes U. S. intelligence ship USS Pueblo off its coast.
1968 (Dec. 22) North Korea releases Pueblo crew.
1969 North Korea shoots down U. S. military aircraft over international waters.
1972 North and South Korea discuss reunification for first time since Korean War.
1974 (Aug. 15) Would-be assassin fails in attempt to kill President Park.
1976 (Nov.) U. S. president Jimmy Carter is elected with promise to withdraw
Ground troops from South Korea.
1979 (Oct. 26) South Korean president Park is assassinated; Carter suspends U. S. troop withdrawal.
1980 Military coup makes General Chun Doo-hwan leader of South Korea.
1983 North Korean bomb attack in Burma kills half the members of visiting South
Korean cabinet.
1983 (Sept. 1) Soviet Union downs South Korea airliner entering its air space, killing
269 persons.
1988 Roh Tae-woo assumes presidency of South Korea.
1990 (June 6) Soviet Union reestablishes diplomatic relations with South Korea, ending
Its close alliance with North Korea.
(continued)
(July 30) North and South Korea resume reunification talks.
Troops. Tension mounted between North and South, with small-scale military attacks being launched by both sides. In June of 1950, North Korea, under Kim Il-sung, launched a major offensive against the South. It signaled the beginning of the Korean War.
World History
