Third Annual Christian Brothers Academy

Third Annual Christian Brothers Academy

Middle School Model United Nations

November 20th, 2015

Joint Korean Cabinet

Background Guide

October 2015

Welcome Delegates! If you are reading this, then you are very lucky because you are in the Joint Korean Cabinet for this year’s Model United Nations Conference.Whether you have done Model U.N. or not, this conference will give everyone a chance to learn something new and to have a fun time. There will be two committees working within the same universe this year. We are all apart of the Joint Korean Cabinet committee, but it will be split into two groups, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (aka North Korea) and the Republic of Korea (aka South Korea). This may be new to some people, but fear not, it isn’t complicated.

You will read about how the conference will run in the next paragraph. The Chairs for this committee are Dan McGowan, who will be chairing the North Korean council, and Thomas Notaro, who will be chairing the South Korean Council. If any of you have any questions regarding anything about our conference, please e-mail one, or both of us. We both look forward to a fun and exciting committee!

Dan McGowan:

Thomas Notaro:

What is a Joint Crisis Committee?

Joint Crisis Committees may be new to many of you so we will explain how they work. Our Joint Crisis Committee will actually consist of two committees, one for North Korea and one for South Korea. Delegates will be seated around a table debating and discussing topics. Joint Crisis Committees are much smaller than General Assembly or DISEC committees. What each committee does in its room, will affect the committee in the other room. For example, if North Korea decides to move troops across the South Korean border, the South Korean delegates will learn about this, and be prompted to make a response. The debate will move along as the actions of each committee move along. There will also be independent crises handed to each committee that need to be solved. Crises can arise suddenly, so delegates must always be prepared to solve anything. In order to get you started getting into the spirit of your position, we have written the backgrounds of the two committees, North and South Korea, from their respective points of view.

Background

World War II & United States Army Military Government in Korea (1939-1950)

At the end of the Second World War, Japan unconditionally surrendered all of the territories it acquired since 1894. Korea consequently gained its independence, but the United States and Soviet Union had already agreed to divide the Korean peninsula even before Japan had left the territory. The northern half of the 38th parallel went under Soviet supervision, while the U.S. took the southern half. This decision was meant to be temporary until specific plans for a single Korean government could be conceived. But with the two sides of Korea and Cold War powers unable to come to an agreement on how to constitute a single government, the fate of the divided sections of Korea diverged. The United Nations decided to hold a general election in the entire peninsula to establish a unified government, but the Soviets refused and denied access to UN personnel who were to organize the elections. The vote only took place in South Korea despite opposition from South Koreans who feared that the elections would seal the division of the nation, and on August 15th, 1948, the democratic-based regime of Republic of Korea (ROK) was declared. Less than a month later, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) was officially declared, with North Korea setting up a communist-style regime under Soviet guidance.

Korean War (1950-1953)

Not long after the end of Japan’s colonial rule and WWII, Korea was struck by one of the major conflicts of the Cold War. On June 25, 1950, North Korea instigated a sudden attack against South Korea for a militaristic reunification of the two Koreas under a single Communist regime. Conflicting accounts of the war’s beginning exist, with some claiming that the South and not the North first instigated the attacks. In fact, both states repeatedly trespassed the DMZ before the War began, and historian Bruce Cumings suggested that North Korea’s so-called first attack against South Korea on June 25th is not as major as purported since countless smaller battles occurred prior to that event[1].

With Soviet backing, North Korean forces overran most of the country by August: hundreds of thousands of refugee civilians all fled from Seoul that was under siege. U.S. and Korean soldiers could do little to stop North Korean forces that pushed them down all the way to the South-East city of Busan. United Nations Security Council resolutions called for the formation of a United Nations Commission to back up the South Korean troops. Once dispatched, these combined forces successfully defended a perimeter near Busan. On September 15th, American forces led by Douglas MacArthur made the famous landing in Incheon that allowed the South Korean side to take the offensive. North Korean forces were pushed back north, almost to the Chinese frontier, until its communist ally, the People’s Republic of China, came to North Korea’s assistance in November 1950. China’s hundreds of thousands of combat troops and North Korean forces pushed the South Korean side back to the South of Seoul, before the latter pushed back to the 38th parallel. 3 years of bloody and brutal war continued, until a ceasefire in 1953 that led to no armistice.

As a result of the fratricidal war that mobilized soldiers and civilians from both blocs of the Cold War, 3 million Koreans, 1 million Chinese, and 54,000 Americans died, although estimates of the casualties vary. An armistice was signed between the DPRK/China and United Nations Command on July 27th, 1953, but the Republic of Korea only agreed to abide by its terms and refused to sign the document. They reached a truce with the North and South divided along the 38th parallel that was to constitute a Demilitarized Zone.

The Cabinets

North Korea

The world has viewed North Korea as an aggressor since the beginning of the conflict, especially the evil United States, since they have done a myriad of things to prevent the spread of the greatest nation on Earth. Since the rise to power of the Great Kim Il-sung, North Korea has not been granted the respect it rightfully deserves. The time has come to show the world who the real power of the world is. Kim Jong-il, father of the current supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, has paved the way for North Korea to become the greatest nation in the World. Along with his loyal army and commanders, North Korea can take what is rightfully ours and expand our supreme empire.

Kim Jong-Un

The supreme leader of the greatest nation on earth expects nothing but the best from his loyal Generals. Together he and his loyal army will take what is theirs and show the world the might and power of North Korea!

Pak Yong-sik

As the defense minister of the country, your responsibility to protect the nation, know it's enemies, know the power of your soldiers, and keep the citizens safe from the enemy.

Hwang Pyong-so

As Vice Marshall of the Korean People's Army, it is imperative that you are confident that your soldiers are in pristine condition. The Army must be ready to mobilize at moments notice in case of attack.

Ri Yong-mu

As a senior Vice Marshall of the Korean People's army, you must utilize your abilities to be sure that the Army is ready to fight and die for the great nation.

O Kuk-ryol

As General of the great Korean People's Army, you must know your army, the land which they protect, and the strategies that can best fit every scenario in which our army is called to action.

Ri Yong-Gil

As Chief of Staff of the Army, you also play an important role in the defense and systems of the nation. Your knowledge of the country will be heavily depended upon for swift and crushing victories for our nation.

Liu Hongkai

As the ambassador to North Korea from China, you must bridge the gap between the interests of both nations. If North Korea wants Chinese help, it goes through you.

South Korea

The Korean peninsula continues to experience violence and mistrust since the Korean Conflict ended in 1953. North Korea has more often than not used propaganda and public media outlets to express its discontent with South Korea and the United States. Recently in 2010, a North Korean submarine violated the 1953 armistice by torpedoing a South Korean naval ship, the Cheonan, resulting in the deaths of 46 sailors. The North Koreans again in 2010 fired artillery shells on Yeonpyeong Island, killing two military personnel and two civilians. In 2013, North Korea publicly stated its intent to research and build a nuclear weapon to use against South Korea, Japan and the United States of America. South Korea’s allies in the region have taken this threat very seriously and have molded its Asian-Pacific foreign policy strongly around this issue. North Korea continues to be a critical international security threat to Asia and the entire world. Everything must be done by South Korea and its allies to stop the North Korean aggressors and to once and for all ensure the security and stability of the Korean Peninsula.

Park Geun-hye

As the President of the Republic of Korea, she is the head of state and government of South Korea and the first female to hold such a position in modern Northeastern Asian history. As a seasoned politician prior to her presidency she is well prepared to handle South Korea’s political landscape. She is also Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

Hwang Kyo-ahn

As the Prime Minister, he is the principal executive assistant to the President, who is the head of government, rather than the prime minister himself. The Prime Minister assists the President by overseeing various government departments.

Yun Byung-se

As the Foreign Minister he is in charge of the country's foreign relations, as well as handling matters related to overseas Korean nationals.

Hong Yong-pyo

As the Minister of Unification he is responsible for working towards the reunification of Korea. He creates national policy in relation to North Korea, coordinates diplomatic encounters and cooperation with the North, as well as educate the general public on reunification programs.

Han Min-goo

As Minister of National Defense he is responsible for overseeing the nation’s armed forces and reports directly to the President on matters relating to national defense and security.

Admiral Choi Yoon-Hee

He is the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and has Operational Control over all military personnel of the Armed Forces.

Mark Lippert

As the United States Ambassador to South Korea, he is the principle American representative to the country. He represents the President of the United States in an official capacity in foreign nations and communities. He is charged with protecting and promoting national interests, maintaining diplomacy, and fostering international economic development.

Questions for Both Cabinets to Consider:

1)What strategies could be used by both sides in attempts to work toward some sort of working relationship? How can both sides protect their vital national interests while working toward this goal.

2)What are the security needs of each side and how can the respective governments work to meet these needs?

Additional Resources and Information:

[1] Choi, 404