Korean - American Diplomatic Relations , 1962 - 1982

Abstract

Korea's political history has been shaped by its strategically vital geographical relationship to three major Asian powers: China, Russia and Japan. Because of Korea's location between the islands of Japan and the Asian continents the three povers have always regarded it as essential to their security. It is thus not surprising-after Seviet and American forces occupied Koreaa in August, 1945-that the governments were unable to agree on a unified Korea. Both Korean regimes are strongly committed to ultimare reunification, but they have confronted each other with hostility and fear ever since the 1950-53 Korean War. Since 1953 the United States has been formally committed by treaty to help defend South Korea, and Washington now regards this as essential to maintain the credibility of its pledge to defend Japan. Since 1961 both China and the Soviet Union have been formally committed by treaty to help defend North Korea and today they compete strongly for influence over its regime. Today, Korea is one of the few places in the world where hostilitics involving one or more of the great powers could conceivably break out at any moment.