Can the Government Protect Security Without War? A Column on the Korean War's Lessons

The Korean War, the greatest and worst tragedy our people have endured, remains a stark historical lesson. The conflict erupted less than two years after the establishment of the South Korean government, fueled by a North Korean military that had been planning the invasion long before. A critical moment cited is the declaration by then-U.S. Secretary of State Dean Acheson, which placed the Korean Peninsula outside America's defense perimeter, leading to the withdrawal of U.S. troops and equipment from the south.

While North Korea proposed a prisoner exchange, disguising its aggressive intentions, South Korean military leaders boasted they would be in Pyongyang for lunch and Sinuiju for dinner. Meanwhile, North Korean forces were reportedly gathering tanks near Pyongyang station during a March 1st celebration, launching their attack precisely at midnight on June 25th. In stark contrast, South Korea held a celebratory event for the completion of the Army Memorial Hall in Yongsan, Seoul, inviting all military commanders.