How Korean War legacy remains central to regional and global security dynamics in the peninsula

By Harsh Thakor* 

Seventy five years ago a most devastating Korean War broke out, which lasted from 1950 to 1953. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) was established in 1948 under Kim Il Sung, following the end of Japanese colonial rule in 1945. After Japan’s surrender in World War II, Korea was divided along the 38th parallel into two zones of occupation — Soviet-controlled in the north and U.S.-controlled in the south. This division, initially intended to be temporary, became permanent with the creation of two separate governments: the Republic of Korea in the south and the DPRK in the north.

Before this formal division, local People’s Committees had been established across the peninsula, and in September 1945, a short-lived Korean People’s Republic was proclaimed. However, U.S. authorities in the south dissolved these committees and disbanded the republic. Political conflict and ideological polarization deepened between the northern and southern administrations.

In May 1948, elections were held in the south under United Nations supervision, leading to the formation of the Republic of Korea with Syngman Rhee as president. The north responded by declaring the formation of the DPRK in September 1948.

On June 25, 1950, fighting broke out when North Korean forces crossed the 38th parallel and advanced south, capturing Seoul within days. The United States and other United Nations member states intervened in support of South Korea, while Chinese forces later entered the conflict on behalf of the north. The Soviet Union provided material support to North Korea.

The war resulted in an estimated 4 million deaths, including a large number of civilians, and caused extensive destruction throughout the Korean Peninsula. According to postwar investigations, both sides committed violations against civilian populations, though South Korean government inquiries have acknowledged that a majority of civilian massacres occurred under South Korean command during the early phase of the conflict. The United States dropped over 600,000 tons of bombs on North Korea, devastating its cities and infrastructure.

Hostilities ended in July 1953 with the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement, which established the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) near the 38th parallel. No peace treaty was ever signed, and the peninsula technically remains in a state of armistice.

In the aftermath of the war, North Korea developed a centrally planned economy based on state and cooperative ownership, while South Korea pursued a capitalist model under U.S. influence. Both states claimed legitimacy as the sole government of Korea.

The DPRK has since emphasized self-reliance and military preparedness, maintaining a political system led by the Workers’ Party of Korea. Successive leaders — Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il, and Kim Jong Un — have prioritized economic self-sufficiency and national defense, particularly in response to ongoing sanctions and military tensions with the United States and its allies.

South Korea, for much of its postwar history, was governed by authoritarian regimes, with periods of military rule supported by the U.S. government. The transition to a more democratic political system began in the late 1980s following widespread protests, including the Gwangju Uprising of 1980, in which hundreds of civilians were killed by state forces.

Today, both Koreas remain divided politically and ideologically. The DPRK continues to operate a state-controlled socialist economy, while South Korea has developed into a major industrial democracy. The legacy of the Korean War continues to shape relations on the peninsula and remains central to regional and global security dynamics.

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*Freelance journalist