Hi, Jerry G. you posted an interesting article.

No, have not seen the screening of “Quantum Of Solace.” I might go see the movie this weekend.

Jerry you mentioned Neil Woodburn's writings on his personal experiences during his recent visit to North Korea. Very interesting read. Thanks for posting.

According to some historians, Korea has been in conflicts for a few thousand years. Somewhat, similar to the history of conflicts in Vietnam.

Some historians also suggested that Christian missionaries began in the 16th century and other traditional religions like Buddhism and Shamanism were freely practiced. However, religious studies in Korea today are a much different story. (North Korea strictly prohibits religious studies altogether.)

Korea also had a rich history of skilled artisans-architecture. Many beautiful artifacts were later discovered including agriculture tools, gems, gold, jade, pottery, writings and etc.

After World War II in 1945, Korea was divided into North and South-38th parallel. This division was meant to be only temporary until a trusteeship administration was developed.

In June of 1950, North Korean troops “suddenly” attacked the south with Russian tanks and artillery-taking control of Seoul in three days. The South Korean government then called upon the United Nations for assistance and this was the beginning of The Korean War.

The Korean War lasted approximately three years and left hundreds of thousands of soldiers from different countries dead, wounded, or missing. However, the border at the 38th parallel did not change. Unfortunately, the armistice agreement did not develop into a formal peace treaty.

The conflict between 1966 and 1967 almost started the beginning of the "Second Korean War." (One major incident; The North Korean sinking of a South Korean naval patrol boat on January 19, 1967, which killed all 40 crew members.)

1968 was an interesting period, the capture of the USS Pueblo and General Gilbert Woodward signed documents to free the crew.

During the 1970s, there were troops still stationed in South Korea and conflicts occasionally “flared up” in the DMZ- demilitarized border zone.

On August 18, 1976 a small group of nine South Koreans, two U.S. officers and four American military police made an unpleasant trip into the DMZ to prune a poplar tree – (the tree hindered a clear view between two U.N. checkpoints.) The group encountered strong resistance. The incident resulting in a bloody conflict-two American soldier were beaten then axed to death.

U.S. later sent a small military force to finish cutting down the poplar tree. North Korea's President Kim Il-sung later expressed official regret over the incident.

In 1991 Soviet Union broke into 15 separate countries which signaled the end of the Cold War and led to new political, economic and military alliances around the world. A food shortage in North Korea then followed and famine set in. “As many as three million North Koreans are believed to have died from starvation.”

Kim Il-sung later sought new relations with the United States because of the growing food crisis. Kim invited former President Jimmy Carter and evangelist Billy Graham to visit the country but both declined. This started North Korea's development of nuclear programs.

In October 1994, U.S. bilateral negotiations on international Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty began over nuclear proliferation concerns and to improved commercial and diplomatic ties with North Korea.

However, a series of unfortunate events later stalled the negotiations. (Ben Aderson,Will Daws, and Douglas Foster, 2003)

(http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/northkorea/thestory.html)

South Korea over the years built a strong economic development, encouraged a healthy standard of living, and adopted a democratic western-style of government.

In 2000, South Korean President Kim Dae Jung won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in building peaceful relations with North Korea.

In February 2006, a lot of creative ideas were shared and later developed by...the U.S.; sending The New York Philharmonic Symphony to North Korea as a friendly gesture to restart bilateral negotiations.

Proposal for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games, venues, and etc. were also developed.

Interesting article.

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