WI: Cho-Man-sik is the first leader of North Korea

Today, when we think of 'North Korea'. we tend to think of the Kim family. Kim-il-Sung was the founding father of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea under Soviet guidance and he created a hereditary monarchy that still exists to this day.

However, he was not the first candidate the Soviets had in mind for leadership of a united Korea.

In 1945, the Soviets selected a popular Korean independence activist named Cho Man-sik to be their puppet in Korea. However, unlike Kim-il-sung, Cho Man-sik had a hostile relationship with the Soviets and was a stubborn man to say the least, always refusing Soviet requests and did not hide his anti-Communist beliefs.

After he opposed the division of the Korean peninsula after the 1945 Moscow Conference out of a fear that this would invite foreign, especially communist influence, into Korea, the Soviets lost all patience with him and had him arrested and 'disappeared', presumably executed after the start of the Korean War.

After Cho-Man-sik was out of the way, the Soviets decided to support Kim-il-sung, who was easily more receptive to Soviet influence in his country. He founded the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in 1948.

But what if Cho-Man-sik, while still maintaining his anti-Communist views, attempted to play the part of a reluctant collaborator, attempting to lead the North Korean people while appeasing the Soviets for the sake of Korean independence?
 
Today, when we think of 'North Korea'. we tend to think of the Kim family. Kim-il-Sung was the founding father of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea under Soviet guidance and he created a hereditary monarchy that still exists to this day.

However, he was not the first candidate the Soviets had in mind for leadership of a united Korea.

In 1945, the Soviets selected a popular Korean independence activist named Cho Man-sik to be their puppet in Korea. However, unlike Kim-il-sung, Cho Man-sik had a hostile relationship with the Soviets and was a stubborn man to say the least, always refusing Soviet requests and did not hide his anti-Communist beliefs.

After he opposed the division of the Korean peninsula after the 1945 Moscow Conference out of a fear that this would invite foreign, especially communist influence, into Korea, the Soviets lost all patience with him and had him arrested and 'disappeared', presumably executed after the start of the Korean War.

After Cho-Man-sik was out of the way, the Soviets decided to support Kim-il-sung, who was easily more receptive to Soviet influence in his country. He founded the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in 1948.

But what if Cho-Man-sik, while still maintaining his anti-Communist views, attempted to play the part of a reluctant collaborator, attempting to lead the North Korean people while appeasing the Soviets for the sake of Korean independence?
Stalin didn't want a friendly democratic socialist.

He wanted a puppet.

Either Cho-man-Sik becomes a puppet, or he is removed from the picture, as per OTL.
 
Well, I would see Choi quickly replaced by Park Hyun-Young after latter defects to the north.

Stalin wanted north to become full communist country
 
Stalin didn't want a friendly democratic socialist.

He wanted a puppet.

Either Cho-man-Sik becomes a puppet, or he is removed from the picture, as per OTL.

But perhaps Cho can be less of a puppet after Stalin dies. It happened with Hoxha in Albania. Basically, bide your time. He also isn't going to be creating a Kim dynasty.
 
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