Chinese Perspective on the Korean War

Korea is in the news again this week, after the North Koreans shelled the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong, killing four people and causing substantial damage. It has led to a considerable increase of tension on both sides and the threat of further conflict in the near future. These BBC articles examine why tensions are so high along the border, and why, as leader Kim Jong Il prepares for his son Kim Jong Un to take over, they might be escalating now.

The video shown above provides some historical perspective, interviewing a Chinese soldier, Wang Xinshan, who explains why he and his country felt so threatened at the time of the Korean War, and why China chose to intervene. A historian, Barbara Demick, meanwhile explains how ever since North Korean life has been completely dominated by the legacy of the war, with all of its citizens trained to believe that South Korea and its allies were fully responsible and might invade again with the smallest provocation.

PS: Here is an article with British soldiers' memories of their experiences in the Korean conflict.
PS: There is no official comment on the incident yet from North Korea's news agency. Here is a leading foreign policy blog's opinion on why this is the case.

Inside North Korea

North Korea put on an impressive parade at the weekend, ostensibly to celebrate 65 years of Communist Party rule (since the end of World War 2) but also to bolster the position of Kim Jong Un, Kim Jong Il's youngest son who is being groomed to take over the leadership of the country. The BBC were allowed to witness this and their reporter's observations of life in Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, are fascinating. Here are some more photos of the parade, and a helpful family tree of the Korean leaders.

New Leaders

Ed Miliband is the new Labour leader, narrowly beating his brother David to the post in a closely fought election. Looking at the statistics, David was in the lead in the first three rounds, but Ed was able to benefit more greatly from Ed Balls' elimination, taking sufficient second preferences to ensure him a majority. What do you think about this? How will it affect the party and its fortunes in the next election? Please let us know.


In other news, the North Korean Workers' Party is gathering together to announce a successor to the ailing Kim Jong-Il, who had a stroke 2 years ago. They are expected to appoint his son, Kim Jong-Un who, aged 28, makes Ed Miliband look positively elderly...

North Korea celebrates Socialist diss-Unity coming 11th in Total Politics Tory guide

It must be true - See Labour Party reformists list here!

60th Anniversary of the Korean War

60 years ago today, on 25 June 1950, North Korean troops invaded South Korea and the Korean War began. The conflict lasted 3 years and caused many casualties, including 2 million civilians. The war has a reputation as the "Forgotten War" in Britain and America but of course is strongly remembered in North and South Korea, which have held very different commemorations to mark the anniversary.

There is plenty of coverage of the anniversary, including this impressive BBC slideshow and this thoughtful piece in the Independent, explaining how the West were caught off guard (the British government were initially reluctant to get involved and not every minister knew exactly where Korea was) by the invasion and how Truman clashed with General MacArthur over whether nuclear weapons should be used. Truman's view prevailed, and Korea remained a "limited war". This was an unpopular decision for many, and Korea remained divided once the ceasefire was agreed in 1953. Tensions continue in the peninsular, as the recent sinking of a South Korean warship have demonstrated, but hopefully the memory of the massive destruction and loss of live of the previous war will be a sufficient incentive to prevent further conflict.

PS: Here are the views of British veterans who fought in the conflict, many of whom were carrying out their national service and had had no idea where Korea was. "It was trench warfare," said one. "We laid in the trenches and dug holes in the sides of the mountains every now and then and that's where we lived. They were rat-infested. I think I was more afraid of them than I was of the Chinese." Meanwhile here are the views of Chinese soldiers who fought in the conflict. The sacrifices they made make them reluctant to abandon North Korea now, despite its increasingly erratic behaviour.

Football North Korean Style

North Korea have not had the best of days after losing 7-0 to Portugal, but this article provides a fascinating insight into the team and its devoted followers. The dominant team in the North Korean League is known as "April 25" - the founding date of the Korean People's Army who effectively run it and supply many of the players for the national side. Interestingly, Jong-Tae-Se, the team's star player (known for his tearful performances during the national anthem) was born in and plays in Japan but chose to represent North Korea, where his family (and many other Korean immigrants in Japan) originally came from. North Korea has one thing in common with England - both countries are nostalgic about 1966. England may have won the World Cup, but North Korea scored an impressive victory against Italy and reached the Quarter-Finals, only just losing out to Portugal. Sadly they didn't get the chance to avenge that match today...