1945 -- A Japanese ship on its way to Korea's southern port of Busan from Japan, carrying 3,725 Koreans, explodes. The Ukishima-Maru was returning Koreans who had been forced to leave home and work in Japan during the 1910-45 colonial era. The incident happened a little more than a week after Japan announced it would give up any rights to Korea following its defeat in World War II.