ABSTRACT
The Korean Peninsula has undoubtedly been one of world’s most dangerous flash points since the end of the Second World War. When the two occupying forces on the peninsula, the Soviet Union and the United States, departed from the former Japanese colony in December 1948 and June 1949 respectively,1 they left behind two drastically different states on either side of the 38th parallel. While conservative groups formed a government in South Korea, communists consolidated their position in North Korea by purging rival groups. Each regime claimed that it was the only legitimate government representing the Korean Peninsula and denounced the other.2
