Today in Korean history

Today in Korean history
March 31

1938 -- Sungshil High School in Pyongyang is closed after refusing to force
students to worship at Japanese shrines. Japanese authorities introduced the
requirement as part of cultural colonization efforts.

1941 -- The Japanese colonial government bans the teaching and use of the Korean
language in schools.

1949 -- South Korea outlaws trade with North Korea as an ideological rift deepens
on the peninsula. The two sides established separate governments in 1948, and the
deterioration of relations eventually led to the 1950-53 Korean War.

1959 -- South Korea establishes diplomatic relations with Denmark.

1999 -- Commercial vessels from South Korea and North Korea collide in waters off
Sri Lanka. The North Korean ship sank and 37 of its crewmen went missing, but two
crew members were rescued by the South Korean ship.
The North Korean "Manpok-ho" was blamed for the accident since it did not steer
clear of the "Hyundai Duke," and experts said a lack of communication between the
ships was also a factor.
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