Preparations for the Korean Independence Movement

Sun Bingxi, a representative of Cheondoism, took the lead, and representatives of Cheondoism, Christianity, and Buddhism also participated. Choi Nam-sun drafted the Declaration of Independence. Independence activists established the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in Shanghai on April 13, 1919. Syngman Rhee was president.

In 1932, the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea instigated the Hongkou Park bombing in Shanghai that shocked the world. After the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War, Shanghai was captured by Japan, and more than ten core members of the provisional government fled to Chongqing. During the Anti-Japanese War from 1939 to 1945, the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea organized the Liberation Army in Chongqing. The Liberation Army took advantage of its proficiency in Japanese and was mainly engaged in writing slogans, broadcasting propaganda to the enemy and other work to disrupt the enemy army, as well as interrogating enemy prisoners and deciphering enemy passwords.

Since 1932, Kim Il-sung has carried out anti-Japanese guerrilla activities in Northeast China. The guerrillas led by the Korean Communists are one of the most important anti-Japanese forces in Korea. The troops led by Kim Il Sung captured the town of Pochonbo in the northern part of the Korean Peninsula in 1937, but were forced to withdraw to the Soviet Union in 1941.

In 1945, Japan unconditionally surrendered to the Allies, and the U.S. and Soviet armies accepted the territory south and north of the 38th parallel of the Korean Peninsula respectively. In the autumn of 1947, the United States raised the issue of the Korean Peninsula at the United Nations. The United Nations passed a resolution calling for free elections on the Korean Peninsula and the withdrawal of the occupying forces after a government was elected. However, the 1948 "election" was only held in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula. With the support of the United States, the Republic of Korea was proclaimed on August 15. On September 9 of the same year, with the support of the Soviet Union, Kim Il Sung announced the establishment of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.