Tang Dynasty’s Siege of Goguryeo: A Pivotal Moment in Korean History

Seoul: 661 marked a significant year in Korean history as China's Tang Dynasty launched another series of attacks against Pyongyang, the capital of the kingdom of Goguryeo. Goguryeo, established in 37 B.C., encompassed territories that are now part of North Korea and northeastern China.According to Yonhap News Agency, Tang forces, led by Su Dingfang, besieged the capital in the winter of 661. Previous attempts to conquer Goguryeo had failed at the border, but this time, with food and strategic support from the southern kingdom of Silla, Tang forces reached the capital city. The period, known as the Three Kingdoms era, saw the Korean Peninsula divided into Goguryeo in the north, Silla in the southeast, and Baekje in the southwest.In its bid to unify the peninsula and expand its territory, Silla allied with the Tang Dynasty. This alliance resulted in the destruction of Goguryeo, ending its 770-year history. The cultural legacy of Goguryeo was later embraced by the Goryeo Kingdom, which succeeded Silla a s the peninsula's ruler and derived its name from the ancient kingdom.Elsewhere in Korean history, notable events occurred across various years. In 1903, the Joseon Dynasty signed a trade agreement with Denmark. In 1980, legendary swimmer Cho Oh-ryun swam across the strait between Busan and Japan's Tsushima Island.In 1992, Korea marked the beginning of its space age with the launch of its first satellite, Wooribyeol I, from French Guiana. The satellite conducted scientific experiments and broadcasted a Korean program. In 2014, South Korea offered high-level talks with North Korea to discuss issues such as the reunion of families separated by the Korean War.In 2017, Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee resigned from the International Olympic Committee, where he had served since 1996. In 2019, South Korea and the United States commenced a 10-day computer-based military drill, named "Combined Command Post Training," ahead of the transfer of wartime operational control to Seoul from Washington.