The Struggle for Dominance Korea on the Brink, 1979–1980

By Wickham, John A., Jr.

Book Id: WPLBN0000704426
Format Type: PDF eBook:
File Size: 0.9 MB
Reproduction Date: 2005

Title:	The Struggle for Dominance Korea on the Brink, 1979–1980
Author:	Wickham, John A., Jr.
Volume:
Language:	English
Subject:	Literature, Asian literature, Writing.
Collections:	Asian Literature Collection, e-Asia Digital Library Collection
Historic Publication Date:
Publisher:	University of Oregon Libraries; E-Asia Digital Library


Citation APA MLA Chicago A. Wickham Jr, B. J. (n.d.). The Struggle for Dominance Korea on the Brink, 1979–1980. Retrieved from https://self.gutenberg.org/

Excerpt
Excerpt: IN OCTOBER 1979, the head of Korean Central Intelligence assassinated President Park Chunghee. At midnight on December 12, 1979--in what become known as the ?12/12 incident?--a coup led by General Chun Doo-hwan overthrew the civilian government under Choi Kyu-ha. Five months later bloody protests erupted in Kwangju. During this period of violence and unrest American and South Korean troops warily watched the demilitarized zone (DMZ), fearful that Pyongyang might exploit instability in Seoul as an invitation for aggression. General John Wickham, the U.S. and combined forces commander on the scene, now has recounted his role in those turbulent events in a new book, Korea on the Brink: From the ?12/12 Incident? to the Kwangju Uprising, 1979--1980. The following excerpt describes the reaction of a commander in chief when faced with a military coup by an ally.