Why Is Korea Divided?

Korea is located in Northeast Asia with a total land area of 99,394 square kilometers. It is composed of nine provinces and Seoul is its capital city. Its major cities are Pusan, Incheon, Gwangju and Daejeon and the landscape is mostly mountainous with at least 3000 islands scattered along its coastline.

Korea was divided into North Korea and South Korea as a result of the 1945 Allied victory during War II which ended Japan’s 35-year colonial rule in Korea. The United States together with Russia, also known as Soviet Union, agreed to divide the country by the 38th parallel which means that the North would belong to the communist rule of Soviet Russia while the South would belong to the democratic rule of the U.S. Its main purpose was to establish a provisional government, a government led by democracy. People will be free.

The superpowers however, backed different leaders which led to the establishment of two different states both claiming sovereignty over the whole Korean Peninsula. Both North Korea and South Korea have remained technically at war from the time of the Korean War up to the present time. However, with the death of Kim Il-sung, the founder of North Korea and the rise of the developing and liberal South Korean administrations have been taken toward Korean reunification little by little.

In an effort to promote reconciliation the two Koreas have recently adopted an unofficial Unification Flag which represents Korea at international events such as sporting events. The South provides the North with aid and cooperative economic measures. The two Koreas have also started to cooperate in the organization of meetings for family separations and tourism.

Although the two Koreas do not officially recognize each other it is good to note that they are doing significant steps to foster respect and solidarity. This is a good sign for a possible reunification in the near future. And hopefully will become an inception for positive things to come for a better Korea.