Today in Korean history

June 15

918 -- Wang Geon establishes the Goryeo Kingdom, unifying three states on the
Korean Peninsula. One of them, the Silla Kingdom, had declined following its
1,000-year rule that started in 57 B.C. The other two states -- post-Baekje and
post-Goguryeo -- had briefly emerged in the southwestern and the northern parts
of the peninsula with historic legacies tied to the Baekje and Koguryo kingdoms.

1962 -- South Korea establishes diplomatic relations with Paraguay.

1994 -- Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter visits North Korea to resolve a
dispute over North Korea's nuclear weapons program.

1999 -- Warships from South and North Korea exchange fire off the west coast of
the peninsula.

2000 -- Then President Kim Dae-jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il announce
a five-point joint statement aimed at increasing economic and social exchanges
between the Koreas in the first-ever inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang.

2004 -- Warships from South and North Korea exchange radio messages for the first
time to express non-hostility. The pre-arranged 15-minute exchange, which took
place at 9 a.m., marked the first direct contact between combat-ready field units
of the two states.

2005 -- North Korea jacks up anti-U.S. rhetoric at a gathering in Pyongyang to
mark the fifth anniversary of the historic inter-Korean summit. The move
contrasted with the cooperative mood that prevailed at a pro-unification festival
attended by 700 government and civilian delegates from both Koreas.
(END)