In 1945 at the end of World War II, the Korean Peninsula became embroiled in the Cold War struggle between Communists and non-Communists. The Soviet Union administered northern Korea, and the United States administered southern Korea. Both powers were expected to remove their troops as soon as Korea was able to govern itself. Instead, the Soviet Union established a Communist government in North Korea. In South Korea, an election was held and American troops pulled out in 1949. Fearing life in a Communist state, more than 2 million Koreans fled to the south.
In 1950, the North Koreans launched a surprise attack on South Korea. Their objective was to unite the country under the rule of a single Communist government. United Nations forces from 15 different countries, including the United States, came to the aid of South Korea. For three years the army of North Korea (helped by China) and the army of South Korea (helped by the United Nations) fought back and forth across the peninsula. An estimated 4 million people died in the fighting.
In 1953, a cease-fire agreement was signed that established the division between North and South Korea near 38°N latitude—roughly the same as it had been before the fighting. The countries were separated by a demilitarized zone—a strip of land on which troops or weapons are not allowed. The Korean Peninsula still remains divided like this today. More hostile forces are massed at this demilitarized zone, or DMZ, than at any other single place on the planet.
Communist
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Democratic
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Supported by Soviet Union
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Supported by United States
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Helped by China
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Helped by United States
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