Military history of Korea explained

Korea's military history spans thousands of years, beginning with the ancient nation of Gojoseon and continuing into the present day with the countries of North Korea and South Korea, and is notable for its many successful triumphs over invaders.

Throughout its history, Korea has boasted numerous exceptional leaders who gained outstanding victories against numerically superior enemies. Famed leaders credited with defending Korea against foreign invasions include: Eulji Mundeok of Goguryeo, who defeated Sui China during the Goguryeo–Sui War;[1] Yeon Gaesomun of Goguryeo, who defeated Emperor Taizong of Tang China during the Goguryeo–Tang War;[2] [3] Kang Kam-ch'an of Goryeo, who defeated the Khitan Empire during the Goryeo-Khitan War;[4] Ch'oe Yŏng and Yi Sŏng-gye of Goryeo, who defeated the Red Turbans during the Red Turban Invasions;[5] [6] and Yi Sun-shin of Joseon, who defeated the Japanese at sea during the Imjin War.[7]

Other notable leaders include: Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo, who created a great empire in Northeast Asia through conquest,[8] and subjugated the other Korean kingdoms of Baekje, Silla and Gaya to bring about a brief unification of the Three Kingdoms of Korea;[9] Geunchogo of Baekje, who captured Pyongyang and established overseas territories to control much of the Korean peninsula and dominate the seas;[10] [11] Munmu and Kim Yu-sin of Silla, who united the Three Kingdoms of Korea and defeated Tang China to gain complete control of the Korean peninsula;[12] Dae Jo-yeong, who created Balhae from Goguryeo's ashes and reconquered Goguryeo lands lost during the Goguryeo-Tang War;[13] Jang Bogo of Later Silla, who created a maritime empire and commanded a powerful fleet;[14] Wang Kŏn, who united the Later Three Kingdoms of Korea and established Goryeo as the successor to Goguryeo;[15] and Yun Kwan of Goryeo, who defeated the Jurchens and constructed nine fortresses in Manchuria.[16]

During the Cold War, South Korean troops actively participated in the Vietnam War, contributing the second largest foreign military contingent after the United States.[17] North Korea also contributed soldiers, military equipment and advisors to several conflicts during the Cold War in support of the Communist bloc, including the Yom Kippur War, Ethiopian Civil War, and Ugandan Bush War.[18] [19] [20]

Today, both North Korea and South Korea field some of the largest and most lethal armies in the world. On one hand, North Korea is widely suspected of having nuclear weapons, as well as other weapons of mass destruction. South Korea, for its part, is equipped with a sophisticated conventional military with state-of-the-art weapons. South Korea currently serves in several UN peacekeeping missions around the world. The South Korean military enjoys military alliances with other countries, particularly the United States.

Timeline

Gojoseon

Buyeo

Proto–Three Kingdoms of Korea

Goguryeo

Baekje

Silla

Gaya

Three Kingdoms period

Goguryeo campaigns

Goguryeo, Baekje–Silla Alliance War

Other conflicts

Goguryeo–Sui War (598–614)

Goguryeo–Tang War (645–668)

Including Goguryeo and Baekje alliance against Tang and Silla

Baekje–Tang War (660–663)

Silla–Tang War (668–676)

North South States period

Balhae

Silla (676–935)

Goryeo dynasty

Goryeo wars

Internal strife

Joseon dynasty

Conflicts

Nationwide Internal strifes

Korean Empire

Conflicts

1910–1945: Colonial period

After 1945

See also

References

  1. Book: Kim. Jinwung. A History of Korea: From "Land of the Morning Calm" to States in Conflict. 2012. Indiana University Press. Bloomington, Indiana. 978-0253000781. 49. 24 June 2016. en.
  2. Book: Kim. Jinwung. A History of Korea: From "Land of the Morning Calm" to States in Conflict. 2012. Indiana University Press. Bloomington, Indiana. 978-0253000781. 50. 24 June 2016. en.
  3. Book: Miller, Owen. 2014. Korean History in Maps. Cambridge University Press. 978-1107098466. 29. 25 June 2016. "After the Tang dynasty succeeded the Sui, the second Tang emperor also tried to bring Goguryeo under its control, launching an unsuccessful attack in 645. Goguryeo repelled a second invasion in 662 with victories by the general Yeon Gaesomun."
  4. Book: Kim, Djun Kil. May 30, 2014. The History of Korea, 2nd Edition. ABC-CLIO. 978-1610695824. 66. "Later, in 1018, however, a third large-scale invasion from the Khitan was thwarted by Goryeo forces led by the general Gang Gamchan (948-1031). The Khitan thereafter gave up trying to subjugate Goryeo by force."
  5. Web site: Choe Yeong, the Victorious General of Goryeo Dynasty. KBS World Radio. 25 June 2016.
  6. Book: Lee. Ki-Baik. A New History of Korea. 1984. Harvard University Press. Cambridge, Massachusetts. 978-0674615762. 165. "Yi Sŏng-gye himself won advancement through his success in the numerous battles of his day. He played a major role in repulsing the attacks of the Red Turban bandits and Japanese marauders, as well as in the campaign against the Yüan Tung-ning Commandery in Manchuria."
  7. Gilbert. Marc Jason. Admiral Yi Sun–Shin, the Turtle Ships, and Modern Asian History. Education About Asia. Spring 2007. 12. 1. 34. 25 June 2016.
  8. Book: Kim. Jinwung. A History of Korea: From "Land of the Morning Calm" to States in Conflict. 2012. Indiana University Press. Bloomington, Indiana. 978-0253000781. 35. 24 June 2016. en.
  9. Book: Lee. Hyun-hee. Park. Sung-soo. Yoon. Nae-hyun. 2005. New History of Korea. Jimoondang. 9788988095850. 199–202.
  10. Book: Shin. Hyoung Sik. A Brief History of Korea. March 31, 2005. Ewha Womans University Press. Seoul, Korea. 978-8973006199. 29–30.
  11. Book: Lee. Ki-Baik. A New History of Korea. 1984. Harvard University Press. Cambridge, Massachusetts. 978-0674615762. 37. "Then, in 371, Paekche struck northward into the Koguryŏ domain as far as Pyŏngyang, killing the Koguryŏ king, Kogugwŏn, in the course of the campaign. Paekche thus came to hold sway over a sizeable portion of the Korean Peninsula, including all the modern provinces of Kyŏnggi, Ch'ungch'ŏng, and Chŏlla, as well as parts of Hwanghae and Kangwŏn. Furthermore, King Kŭn Ch'ogo solidified his international position by making overtures to the Eastern Chin state in the Yangtze river region and to the Wa people in Japan."
  12. Book: Graff. David A.. Medieval Chinese Warfare, 300–900. 2002. Routledge. London. 9780415239554. 201. "In 674 and 675 Tang forces under Liu Rengui attacked Silla itself. Chinese histories record that Liu was victorious and forced the king of Silla to sue for peace, while Korean historians report the defeat of the Chinese armies. The fact that the Tang government found it necessary to withdraw the headquarters of its Korean protectorate to the Liao River valley in the early months of 676 suggests that the Korean version is probably closer to the truth. Silla was left in uncontested control of almost the whole of the Korean peninsula, and there was no great Tang campaign to recover what had been won with such difficulty and so quickly lost."
  13. Web site: Daejoyeong, the Father of Balhae. KBS World Radio. 25 June 2016.
  14. Book: Choi. Wan Gee. The Traditional Ships of Korea. 2006. Ewha Womans University Press. 978-8973006830. 66–67. 25 June 2016. "Using his official position and his immense military influence, Jang Bo-go amassed substantial wealth by controlling maritime trade between Silla, Tang and Japan. The famous American scholar of Asian history, Edwin O. Reischauer hailed Jang Bo-go as the trade prince of the maritime commerce empire. As Jang emerged as a formidable force in the sea, high-ranking officials in the Silla capital, Gyeongju, could no longer ignore him. Jang Bo-go ruled his domain with absolute political, military and economic autonomy."
  15. Book: Nahm. Andrew C.. A Panorama of 5000 Years: Korean History. 2005. Hollym International Corporation. Seoul. 978-0930878689. 38. Second revised. registration. "General Wang Kŏn founded a new dynasty in 918. He named it Koryŏ, symbolizing that it was the successor to Koguryŏ."
  16. Book: Eglan. Jared. Beasts of War: The Militarization of Animals. 2015. Lulu.com. 978-1329516137. 40. 25 June 2016.
  17. Baek. Glenn. A Perspective on Korea's Participation in the Vietnam War. The Asan Institute for Policy Studies. April 10, 2013. 53. 26 June 2016.
  18. Web site: Uganda: North Korea’s African Ally. thediplomat.com. 30 October 2019. 20 May 2024. Bone. R. Maxwell. Diplomat Media.
  19. Web site: North Korean Adventures in the Horn of Africa. Noland. Marcus. 12 September 2014. 20 May 2024. www.piie.com. PIIE.
  20. Web site: The North Korean-Israeli Shadow War. 9 September 2019. 20 May 2024. Solomon. Jay. www.washingtoninstitute.org. The Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

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