SEOUL — Notable historical events have shaped the relationship between South Korea and its international partners over the years.
According to Yonhap News Agency, on this day in 1960, South Korea and Japan resumed trade, setting a foundation that would lead to the normalization of diplomatic relations in 1965. Japan acknowledged the Republic of Korea as the sole legitimate government on the Korean Peninsula, despite North Korea's lack of formal diplomatic engagement with Japan. In another significant development in 1961, South Korea established diplomatic ties with the Netherlands, marking a milestone in its international relations. More recent events include the tragic sinking of a Mongolian-flagged cargo ship near Yeosu in 2014, which resulted in the death of two North Korean crew members and left eleven missing. In 2019, a devastating fire erupted in the northeastern border town of Goseong in Gangwon Province, rapidly spreading to nearby areas including Sokcho and Gangneung, highlighting the challenges and tragedies that have occurred in South Korea's modern history.