North and South Korea on the world map are located on the same peninsula. Despite this, the countries represent two parallel realities. On one side of the barbed wire is one of the most prosperous and developed economies in the world, on the other is poverty, tyranny and desperation.
State Formation
The border of North and South Korea divides these two territories into separate, independent powers. But has it always been like this? No. Until the end of World War II, the lands were under Japanese occupation. For 35 years, this country controlled the economy here, built its own political system. Being an ally of Hitler and having been defeated, the Land of the Rising Sun was under the close scrutiny of the Soviet Union. Stalin and Roosevelt jointly decided to liberate the territory: the USSR army entered from the north, American soldiers from the south. Each occupied his part, establishing his own orders on it.
Japan signed the act of surrender. As long as the powerwas not transferred to the Koreans, the part of the state above the 38th parallel was under the control of the Russians, below - under the tutelage of the United States. After that, sovereign powers were formed on these lands: in the north, a communist republic led by Kim Jong Il, in the south, a capitalist country led by Lee Syngman. It was planned that North and South Korea would reunite in the near future. The conflict arose between the governments of the USSR and the USA, which could not agree on the terms of the connection, so the desired did not become valid.
War
Why are North and South Korea fighting? First, it all started because of the cold war between the US and the USSR. Secondly, the war that broke out between them immediately after the Second World War fueled the hatred of the two countries. At this time, the DPRK army began to gradually gain strength - not without the help of the Soviet Union. And Kim Jong Il invited Stalin to overthrow the government of his southern neighbor in order to fully establish the sole control of the peninsula. The leader hesitated for a long time, but nevertheless accepted the offer: 90% of the territory controlled by Seoul was captured. But the coup failed, as the leaders of South Korea left the capital in time and disappeared. In addition, the residents also opposed the invaders.
From 1950 to 1953 there were military operations. On the one hand - the DPRK, China and the USSR, on the other - South Korea, the USA, Great Britain and 14 other states. Already in the summer of 1951, it became clear that the forces were equal - the conflict had reached a dead end, and it was necessary to negotiate a truce. Lastedthey are two whole years, during which the war continued. A ceasefire agreement was concluded on June 27, 1953, the peace treaty was never signed.
Korea these days
Now the two warring camps are separated by the same 38th parallel: it is along it that the demilitarized zone passes, the width of which is 4 kilometers. Any military action is prohibited on this strip. To the south of it, a huge wall was erected, which stretches from east to west, interrupted only by 10 kilometers. Under the zone itself, North Koreans have dug many huge tunnels in order to illegally migrate to their we althy neighbors. Interestingly, the DPRK prisoners captured during the war massively refused to return to their homeland, wishing to remain forever under the wing of South Korea.
North Korea and South Korea… It is difficult to make a comparison between these two powers, as they are united by language, history, culture and traditions. Of course, “separate living” transformed them a little, but the essence remained the same. Now it's like two separate worlds, especially in the economic sphere, where the redistribution of territories is displayed to the maximum. The situation on the peninsula can be compared with the times of post-war Germany, only in Berlin the wall was broken, which cannot be said about these two powers.
Countries on the world map
If you look at it, the border of North and South Korea will be clearly visible. The first is located in the mountains, the second is more characteristic of the plains. South Korea Lucky With Softclimate, each year harvests a large crop, growing a variety of crops. The southerners have few natural resources, since the mountains and the deposits of ores and non-ferrous metals located in them are located far to the north. Therefore, they came up with an ingenious way out of the situation: they began to boost the economy through intellectual activity. Accordingly, today this country is one of the world leaders in the production of electronic equipment.
North and South Korea on the world map border on the Japan and Yellow Seas. At the same time, the DPRK is still located next to China and Russia. The climate in this part of the peninsula is quite severe, and the mountainous terrain prevails over the plains, so there is no need to talk about growing bread, vegetables and fruits. But on the territory of the country there are many enterprises that specialize in heavy industry.
Demography
North Korea and South Korea are not very different in this area: a comparison can only be made by analyzing the density and population. According to the latest estimates, about 30 million people live in the DPRK. In South Korea, there are almost twice as many citizens - 50 million, of which a whole million are visiting foreigners. The gap in performance is easily explained: The Nordic country has lost many citizens. And the reason for this was not the war, but a banal escape. As already mentioned, the inhabitants of the DPRK are migrating en masse to the south, they are not even afraid of execution, which, most likely, they will succumb to after being caught. Such citizens are called traitors anddeserters.”
Koreans live in both countries. There are also Chinese and Japanese living in separate communities. Half of Koreans profess Buddhism, the other half - Christianity. Confucianism is also popular here, accounting for 3% of the population. Despite the fact that atheism is officially proclaimed in the DPRK, local residents secretly practice one of the above religions.
Politics
If we analyze the system of government, then North Korea and South Korea differ significantly - a comparison can be made even without deep legal knowledge. Each of us knows that the DPRK is a militarized republic with a totalitarian regime of government and a socialist way of life. Even after the death of the leader - Kim Jong Il - the situation has not changed, since he was replaced by his son, who fully supports his father's policy. The successor was even tougher. High-profile executions and mass persecution of unwanted people are his priorities. North Korea is a very closed power, separated from the rest of the world by an invisible wall of tyranny and dictatorship.
The armies of North and South Korea also differ significantly. The troops of the DPRK, their drill and training is the main path that the country is following. The authorities, being committed to a militaristic course, strive to build up their weapons to the maximum, especially nuclear ones. Instead, South Korea, being a democratic state, focuses not on increasing its combat potential, but on the development of scientific and technologicalprogress.
Economy
In this area, North Korea and South Korea have chosen completely different paths. Comparison of economies can be done by analyzing the investment, development, trade relations of each country. And, of course, South Korea has bypassed its northern neighbor for many centuries ahead. This state has not only a highly developed economy, it is one of the strongest and most profitable on the world stage. Relying on technological progress, the country guessed right: the 21st century is on the street and the IT sector is now at the peak of popularity. These days, South Korea is actively competing with Japan for the production of robots. Local scientists are developing not only modern technology, but also new cars, they are actively exploring alternative ways to generate energy. At the same time, agriculture, although good conditions have been created for it, makes up only a small part of the state's income.
South Korea and North Korea, relations between which have not developed for many decades, focus on different markets. If the chip of the first state is technology, then the second is completely focused on heavy industry. The country, despite some isolation from the whole world, cooperates with hundreds of states. Koreans have been especially successful in the chemical, textile and oil refining industries.
Culture and standard of living
North and South Korea, the conflict between which is observed in all spheres of life, are very different in terms of the standard of living of ordinary citizens. What can I say about people: just walkstreets of Seoul and Pyongyang for comparison. The first is a city of the future with beautiful skyscrapers and modern transport, the second is the so-called ghost of the past, full of slums, tired people, emaciated animals. In South Korea, the average salary is 3 thousand dollars, in North Korea it is only 40. Citizens of the DPRK are cut off from the Internet, for many of them even an ordinary TV is a symbol of luxury.
We think now it is clear why North and South Korea are at enmity, and what is the fundamental difference between them. The development of countries started at the same time. But in 60 years Seoul has managed to become the 15th most successful and prosperous economy in the world. At the same time, Pyongyang can be classified as a Third World country in terms of living standards and politics. Maybe someday life will get better here. And one of the options for a bright future for the DPRK could be reunification with its southern neighbor.
