Introduction: These programs set forth developments in Korea, past and present. FTR#1368 relies heavily on excerpts from FTR#1141, setting forth the history of Japan's centuries-long looting of Korea, culminating in its brutal colonization. Following the end of World War II, the Japanese influence in Korea remained dominant.

That influence derives from the preeminent position in Korean society of collaborators with Japan during its decades-long occupation.

Those collaborators dominated the military, police, political culture and corporate life of South Korea.

A key person involved in cementing the Japanese dominance over post-World War II Korea is Nobusuke Kishi, whose rise to prominence took place during the Japanese occupation of Manchuria.

The Japanese dominance of South Korea is a significant factor in President Yoon's recent attempts at declaring martial law, staging provocations to justify his actions and (apparently) using false-flag attacks on U.S. military personnel and installations in an attempt at re-starting the Korean War.

Key Points of Analysis and Discussion Include: The tactic of tarring all opponents of the sitting regime as "communists"--a tactic that dates to the Japanese occupation of Korea; eventual Secretary of State Dean Rusk's role in drawing the 38th Parallel as the dividing line between the Koreas; Rusk's position as a key member of the China Lobby; General Kim Suk-won's role as a key Japanese officer during World War II, as well as his position as the commander of Syngman Rhee's border forces; Japanese-occupied Manchuria as a dominant producer of opium and heroin for the global market and Chiang Kai-shek's Kuomintang.