The Korean People's Democratic Republic. The Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam
Map Questions.
- Locate Korea and Viet-Nam on the map. What countries do they border on? What seas are they washed by?
- Use the map in your Atlas to speak on the natural features of Korea and Viet-Nam.
 The Division of Korea. Korea was a colony of Japan for dozens of years. It was only after the defeat of the Japanese militarists in World War II that Korea rid itself of colonial rule. But it was divided into two states with two different destinies.
Fig. 106. Viet-Narn.
Rice fields covered with water in a valley among mountains. Each field is , surrounded by a bank of earth to detain the water
The northern part of Korea was freed by the Soviet Army, and the power of the people, the Korean People's Democratic Republic (KPDR), was established in it.
The southern part was occupied by United States troops and the power handed, against the will of the people, to a non-popular government dependent on the USA. South Korean and United States troops began a war against the People's Democratic Republic but the people's army upheld the independence of the country.
The border line between North Korea and South Korea runs along parallel 38° N.
The Korean People's Democratic Republic. The population of the KPDR is some 11,000,000 and is composed principally of Koreans. The chief occupation is agriculture.
The land belonging to the Japanese and Korean landowners has been given over to the peasants who have united into agricultural co-operative societies. The chief crop is rice. Millet, soya and vegetables of all kinds are also much grown. Rice, millet and vegetables are the main food of the Koreans.
Cotton is cultivated. The silk-worm is bred in all parts of the country.
Not much attention is paid to cattle-breeding. The Koreans keep draught animals, but are not very interested in dairy farming.
Coal, iron and copper are mined in the Korean People's Democratic Republic. Smelting is practiced. The plants and factories belong to the state. The country is successfully developing its socialist economy. In this it is greatly helped by the U. S. S. R. and other countries of the socialist commonwealth.
The capital of the Korean People's Democratic Republic is Pyongyang, one of the most ancient towns of Asia. During the war this peaceful town was savagely bombed by United States aircraft, and not a single building was left whole. After the war, however, it was quickly restored, new houses and factories were built, schools and colleges opened.
The Division of Viet-Nam. Viet-Nam and the neighbouring countries of Indo-China were French colonies for many years. After World War II the people of Viet-Nam declared their country independent and established a popular government. France, however, began a war to re-establish its rule. The people of Viet-Nam upheld the freedom of their country. Like Korea, however, it was divided into two states. The Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam (DRV) was established in the northern part of the country. It has set itself the aim of building socialism. The South Viet-Namese administration supported by the USA is on hostile terms with the northern part of the country. The provisional boundary line between the two parts of Viet-Nam runs a little south of latitude 17° N.
The Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam. The Republic has 18,000,000 inhabitants, principally Viet-Namese, most of whom live in the plains. The mountainous regions are inhabited by national minorities.
In the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam the land, draught animals, farm tools and machines have been taken away from the landowners and given over to the peasants, who have united into producer co-operatives. The favourable climate makes it possible to gather in two, three crops a year. The chief crop, as in the other countries of South-Eastern Asia, is rice. The production of caoutchouc has great economic significance.
Measures are taken to widen the areas under rice and to furnish them with sufficient water. Attention is given to mining, to the construction of plants and factories. In its efforts to build a new life the DRV is helped by the Soviet Union and other socialist countries.
The capital of the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam is Hanoi situated in a lowland in the northern part of the country. It contains monuments of ancient Viet-Namese culture (old temples, statues, etc.). There are factories of all kinds.
Questions and Assignments.
- Trace the boundary lines of the KPDR and the DRV on the
outline map. Mark and name their capitals and mineral wealth.
- Compare the KPDR and the DRV under the headings:
- natural features; economic activities of the population.
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