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38th Parallel divides the Korean Peninsula
At this time, northern Korea supplied 76% of the peninsula's mining capacity, 80% of heavy industry, and 92% of electricity generation. -
VJ Day
Japan surrenders, and Korea is no longer a Japanese colony. At this time, northern Korea is the most industrialized and urbanized Asian region, after Japan. -
North Korean farms are fully supplied with Nitrogen fertilizers
North Korea's agricultural outputs fell after the USSR ceased providing chemical fertilizers to North Korea. "The central task facing the rural economy is to make agriculture highly intenseive... the chemicalization of agriculture should be pushed ahead." – Kim Il-Sung, Report to the Fifth Congress of the WPK, November 2, 1970 -
Republic of Korea is founded
"The sovereignty of the Republic of Korea resides in the people, and all state authority emanates from the people." – 1948 South Korean Constitution, Chapter I, Article I -
Democratic People's Republic of Korea is Declared
"Citizens of the D.P.R.K. have freedom of speech, the press, association, assembly, mass meetings, and demonstration." – 1948 North Korean Constitution, Chapter II, Article 13 -
Kim Il-Sung invades southern Korea, begins Korean War
"Our new five-point policy for national reunifiction is a positive step twoards smashing the manoeuvre of the US imperialists and south Korean authorities to perpetuate national division, which has reached a very grave stage, and towards expeditings the indpendent, peaceful reunification of the country." – Kim Il-Sung, On the Five-Point Policy for National Reunification, June 25, 1973 -
Armistice signed, formal end to the Korean War. The Modern Korean Border, or DMZ, is Set
The Commanders of the opposing sides shall order and enforce a complete cessation of all hostilities in Korea by all armed forces under their control, including all units and personnel of the ground, naval, and air forces, effective twelve (12) hours after this Armistice Agreement is signed. – Article II, Korean Armistice Agreement -
First Three Year Plan Drafted (1954-1956)
The State shall formulate unified and detailed plans and guarantee a high rate production growth and a balanced development of the national economy. – Article 34 of the North Korean Constitution
