National liberation and the socialist system forced the US to choose a global strategic plot by preventing the development of the world revolutionary movement. To carry out that strategic plot, the US spent nearly 10 billion dollars to restore capitalist countries in Europe and 2.4 billion dollars to restore Japan. Since then, a series of military alliances were established: the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO September 1949); the Pacific Security Treaty (ANZUS September 1951); In addition, the US also signed other military alliance treaties such as the Japan-US Security Treaty ; the US-South Korea Treaty; the US-Taiwan; the US-Thailand; the US-Philippines ... along with the military system deployed with allied countries, the US also placed 800 military bases in 35 countries and regions, creating a strategic position to encircle the Soviet Union and socialist countries. Faced with the rise of the Soviet Union and other socialist countries, the United States was forced to adjust its global strategy many times. For example, from 1946-1952, the United States implemented a strategy of containing communism ; from 1953-1960, it was a strategy of massive retaliation ; from 1961-1968, it was a strategy of flexible response ; from 1969-1980, it was a strategy of practical deterrence ; and from 1981-1989, it was a strategy of direct confrontation... After the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the United States listed the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the Axis of Evil Alliance that needed to be dealt with. That was also the cause of the nuclear crisis on the Korean peninsula[9, p. 127].
As for the Korean Peninsula, after the end of the Second World War, the United States quickly took over the South Korean Peninsula. The presence of the United States in the Korean Peninsula as well as the US-Soviet Union conflict in resolving the Korean Peninsula issue made the situation increasingly complicated. During the period of implementing the trusteeship regime in the South Korean Peninsula, the United States supported the I Seung Man regime and suppressed the leftist movement. After the Republic of Korea government led by I Seung Man became president, the United States was the first country to recognize this government and during this time, the United States also vigorously promoted the offensive to unify the peninsula in order to contain and prevent the influence of communism.
During the years of the Korean War from 1950 to 1953, the United States quickly jumped into the war under the guise of military force.
United Nations. In the face of the massive attacks of the DPRK army, they occupied Seoul and then occupied 90% of South Korea's territory. In that situation, in September 1950, the US mobilized a large force of 83,000 troops combined with
57,000 South Korean and British troops faced the North Korean army. Due to the difference in forces, weapons and means of war, the United Nations - South Korean coalition blocked the attack power of the North Korean army and recaptured Seoul. Taking advantage of the victory, the United Nations - South Korean coalition crossed the 38th parallel to advance north. At that time, the US thought this was the best opportunity to destroy communism on the peninsula. Resolution 81 of the US National Security Council allowed the US military to overthrow the North Korean government. The United Nations - South Korean coalition crossing the 38th parallel to advance north to invade the North Korean territory was not only related to the risk of the destruction of the North Korean state, but also a dangerous threat to China at that time. Faced with that situation, on October 22, 1950, the Chinese volunteer army entered the territory of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. From November 1950, the Chinese and North Korean armies began to counterattack and then recaptured Pyeongyang, and at the end of 1950, recaptured Seoul. By the summer of 1951, although the war was still fierce, it had foreshadowed a need to lead to negotiations to end the war. Finally, on July 27, 1953, the United Nations coalition led by the United States, along with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and China, signed the Armistice Agreement, but South Korea did not sign the above document. The 38th parallel continued to be the demilitarized zone between the two regions, and the document only stopped at the Armistice Agreement , so in reality, the two regions of the Korean peninsula today are still in a state of war.
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In short, over the past decades, the existence of two states with two opposing political regimes and ideologies on the same peninsula has caused many complex fluctuations and ups and downs in history. It can be seen that since World War II, especially since the war between the two regions on the Korean peninsula from 1950-1953, the US has always pursued a policy of hostility, blockade, and embargo against the DPRK.
Besides the above countries, Japan is also an important neighbor in relations with the Korean peninsula during the Cold War. Historically, before 1945, Japan had occupied the Korean peninsula for more than 35 years with very harsh policies, especially during World War II. For the Koreans, although it has been more than half a century since they were freed from Japanese rule, it is not easy for them to put aside past hatred towards Japan, especially when the Japanese have never confessed their sins to the extent that the Koreans are satisfied. After World War II, especially during the Cold War, Japan's influence in the world in general and the Korean peninsula was quite faint. However, in its foreign policy, Japan cannot help but play a role in the region and especially cannot help but have relations with the Korean peninsula. Therefore, Japan was mediated by the United States, so in 1965, Japan and South Korea agreed to end past hatred and move towards normalizing diplomatic relations. After that, Japan provided a package of aid to South Korea of 800 million USD over 10 years, including 300 million in free aid, 200 million in government loans, and 300 million in commercial loans. In economic relations with South Korea, Japan mainly focused on the trade sector. Japan's trade with South Korea was quickly restored after the war and increased rapidly after the two countries normalized. For example, in 1950, two-way trade reached 34 million USD, in 1960 it increased to 119 million USD, in 1970 it was 1,047 million USD, and in 1990 it increased to 29,184 million USD [7, p. 160].
In the field of investment, before the two countries normalized relations, Japan had no investment in Korea. From the 1970s until now, Japan started investing in Korea but the investment value was not large. 1987 was the year of the highest investment of the Cold War period, at 647 million USD.
Regarding the DPRK, during the Cold War, the relationship between Japan and the DPRK was generally politically tense, but economically, Japan still sought opportunities to contact the DPRK. In 1956, taking advantage of the opportunity to restore relations between Japan and the Soviet Union, Japan
Japan began to promote bilateral trade relations with the DPRK through Chinese ports. In the 1970s, when political relations between Japan and the DPRK eased, Japan promoted the signing of a number of economic agreements with the DPRK to facilitate the development of two-way trade relations between the two countries and help the DPRK obtain credit at Japanese banks to serve long-term export goals. Accordingly, two-way trade between the two countries increased rapidly, from 59 million USD in 1971 to 361 million USD in 1974. Entering the 1980s, due to the re-escalation of the Cold War, Japan-DPRK relations were affected, especially when the DPRK failed to repay debts to Japanese companies, or because Japanese citizens were kidnapped in the DPRK. However, Japan-Korea economic relations continued to be maintained. Although two-way trade decreased, compared to the previous period, it still achieved important achievements, for example: in 1980 it was 554 million USD, in 1985 it was 425 million USD, in 1990 it was 476 million USD[15, p10].
Regarding the Korean peninsula, Japan sees the peninsula as a strategic shield against military pressure from the Soviet Union and China. The presence of the United States in the Korean peninsula will be important in preventing war from happening on the peninsula and almost attaching the US nuclear umbrella to South Korea to protect Japan. Strategically, Japan also does not want a unified Korean peninsula, because if it is unified, Japan will lose a close ally, South Korea, and Japan will also lose the protection of the United States. And, if a unified Korea becomes a powerful country and defends itself with nuclear weapons, that is something Japan does not want to happen.
1.2.2 The role of the Soviet Union and China
First of all, it can be seen that the Soviet Union was a major power that, together with the United States, participated in solving the Korean Peninsula issue through the Yalta Conference, the Potsdam Conference, and then the Five-Nation Foreign Ministers Conference in Moscow. During the 1950-1953 Korean Peninsula Civil War, the Soviet Union not only played an important supporting role in helping the DPRK with materials, weapons, and means, but also provided important support to the DPRK.
war but also sent troops to help the DPRK fight against the US. According to the country's archives, about 1,963 Soviet soldiers were killed and wounded in the battles to liberate Korea [19, p116].
As a country with an important role in resolving the issue of international peace on the Korean peninsula, the Soviet Union truly respected the aspirations of the Korean people to live in peace, unity, independence and autonomy, and also respected the national cultural identity of the Korean people.
During the Cold War, the Soviet Union implemented a policy of peace, friendship, and comprehensive cooperation with the DPRK and a hostile policy of alienation with the Republic of Korea. Specifically, after 1953, the Soviet Union provided material and technical assistance to the DPRK so that this country could implement a socialist industrialized economy. With the help of the Soviet Union, from the ruins of the war, the DPRK built more than 50 large industrial enterprises, 30 projects of important national economic significance, accounting for 40% of the goods provided by the Soviet Union. Until the end of the 1980s (before the collapse of the Soviet Union), the Soviet-Korean foreign trade turnover increased steadily: in 1970 it was 329 million rubles, in 1982 it was 542 million rubles, in 1998 it was 1,499 million rubles[8, p. 140]. Korean professor Lee Che En in the magazine Far Eastern Economic Issues commented: “ There is no doubt that until 1991, the aid and support of the former Soviet Union was the most important factor, even the decisive factor, in the economic progress of North Korea. Russia was not only the main credit provider but also the provider of essential financial and technical resources for the construction of the most important projects and industries of North Korea. The industrial complexes built by the Soviet Union in North Korea in 1990 produced and exploited nearly 60% of all electric power, 30% of iron and steel, 50% of petroleum products, 13% of chemical fertilizers, 19% of textiles and 40% of iron ore ” [8, p. 140].
In the field of international relations, at the United Nations Security Council, the Soviet Union's voice played an important role in creating conditions for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea - a small socialist country with great losses due to decades of imperialism.
Japan's rule increased its prestige in the world. In addition, in addition to actively supporting the political stance of the DPRK, the Soviet Union also demanded the withdrawal of foreign troops from Korea, so that the Korean people could decide for themselves the issue of national unification peacefully and democratically without foreign interference. In foreign affairs, the Soviet Union signed many agreements, treaties, joint communiqués, and joint declarations with the DPRK to clearly define the relationship between the two countries in many fields. For example, on July 6, 1961, the Soviet Union and the DPRK signed the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance between the Soviet Union and the DPRK. The Treaty clearly stated: The unification of Korea must be carried out on a peaceful and democratic basis, and this met the national interests of the Korean people as well as aimed at maintaining peace in the Far East. Regarding the security of the two countries, the agreement clearly stated: In case either party is attacked by any country or military alliance and falls into a state of war, the other party will immediately provide military and other assistance by all means at its disposal. The unification of Korea should be carried out on a peaceful and democratic basis and this has met the national interests of the people as well as the maintenance of peace in the Far East.
Regarding the security of the two countries, the agreement stipulates that in case one of the two sides is attacked by any country or military alliance and falls into a state of war, the other side will immediately provide military and other support by all means at its disposal.
However, entering the 1970s and the first half of the 1980s, the Soviet Union-DPRK relationship deteriorated due to the Sino-Soviet conflict. Due to misunderstandings, visits between the two countries' top leaders were interrupted. The Soviet Union cut off aid, so the DPRK's economy was affected and did not achieve its intended goals. By the mid-1980s, the relationship between the two countries continued to develop. In addition to sending a number of modern Mig 24 aircraft, the Soviet Union also provided many other economic and military assistance to the DPRK. For its part, the DPRK also agreed to let the Soviet Union use the Wonsan port, and Soviet aircraft were allowed to fly.
through the airspace of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on the way to Vietnam. It can be seen that the assistance of the Soviet Union, as well as other socialist countries, helped the Democratic People's Republic of Korea achieve many achievements in the cause of industrialization, building a defense capable of ensuring its own national security. Later, when M. Giocbachov came to power, the Soviet Union began to loosen relations with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and improve relations with the United States and South Korea, from which the relationship between the two countries entered a period of interruption.
As mentioned, for South Korea, during the Cold War, due to ideological differences, the relationship between the Soviet Union and South Korea was an adversarial one. However, during the period when relations between the Soviet Union and the DPRK deteriorated, and Sino-North Korean relations became friendly, the Soviet Union showed signs of rapprochement with South Korea. For example, in 1973, the Soviet Union invited the South Korean women's volleyball team to Moscow, or on September 6, 1978, a Soviet press agency first mentioned South Korea as the Republic of Korea. In September 1978, the South Korean Minister of Health and Social Affairs visited the Soviet Union.
Besides the Soviet Union, China is a country that has a natural border with the DPRK, separated by two rivers, Amnok and Tuman. During the Korean War of 1950-1953, China mobilized a large force of volunteer soldiers to help the DPRK fight against the allied forces of the United Nations and South Korea led by the United States. Like the Soviet Union, after the armistice agreement was signed, China continued to help the DPRK materially and spiritually to help the country overcome the consequences of war and build the country. Regarding international relations, during the Cold War, high-level diplomatic visits between the two countries continued to take place, for example: in 1975, President Kim Il Sung visited China. In October 1976, Chinese Vice Premier Chen Xilian visited the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and affirmed: The most important task of the Korean people now is to force the United States to withdraw its troops from South Korea and reunify a peaceful and independent Korea [26, pp. 5, 8] .
In terms of political views, for China, the Korean peninsula has always been an important strategic area for this country. From a diplomatic standpoint, China has always supported the DPRK's struggle for the unification of the Korean peninsula, not wanting outside intervention in the Korean peninsula, not wanting a war to occur on the peninsula because that would drag allies into a dangerous nuclear war, but in essence, China does not want to unify the Korean peninsula. When referring to this issue, many military experts believe that China wants to maintain the current status quo of the two Koreas, because if a unified Korea would lose China's influence like Vietnam, or if the US troops continued to stay in South Korea, it would be a counterweight to the Soviet Union against its influence in Asia. Obviously, like the US and Russia, China also wants to maintain its influential role in the Korean peninsula. In effect, China has turned the Korean peninsula into China's permanent security wall .
1.3 The two Korean states during the Cold War 1953-1990
1.3.1 Democratic People's Republic of Korea
As mentioned above, after World War II, due to disagreements in views between the United States and the Soviet Union on resolving the Korean issue, the political situation here had many complex fluctuations, and the final result led to the establishment of two states on the peninsula with two different political regimes and two opposing ideologies.
After the 1950-1953 war, the political situation and international relations on the Korean peninsula continued to develop complicatedly, which was also the result of the historical confrontation between the two world systems.
Looking back at the history of the DPRK state on the Korean peninsula after the 1950-1953 war, it can be seen that after the end of the war, with the help of the Soviet Union and China, the DPRK urgently embarked on the task of restoring and developing the country.