North and South Korea. From Division to Reunion? (PDF)

Essay from the year 2019 in the subject History - Asia, grade: 2,0, University of Education in Schwäbisch Gmünd, language: English, abstract: The division of Korea goes back to the second world war. At the end of the war, on August 9 in the year 1945 the Soviet Union declared war on Japan. Japan occupied Korea since the year 1910; therefore, the Soviet Union advanced into Korea because it was a part of Japan. Although this attack was approved by the Allies in the Yalta Conference, the US government showed concerns about this act of violence. The thought of all Korea becoming a subject to the Soviet Ideology caused them to request Soviet forces to stop their military activity. It was called for a stop at the 38th parallel north, splitting the country into two parts. The first part North Korea, occupied by the Soviet Union and the second part, South Korea, still free from any military activity caused by the Soviet Union. South Korea would be occupied by the US military.

Officially South Korea was established on August 15, 1948. Syngman Rhee would be the first president of South Korea and in conclusion most of the US military left. North Korea would be official established on the 9th of September 1948. Kim Il-sung was declared prime minister. The result of this was in the end two countries with two very different political directions and viewpoints: the birthplace of antagonism.