Table of Contents
Are North and South Korea the same country?
Korea is a region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided between two countries at or near the 38th parallel, North Korea (the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) and South Korea (the Republic of Korea). It is separated from Japan to the east by the Korea Strait and the Sea of Japan (East Sea).
Why are North and South Korea divided for kids?
When Japan lost World War II, Korea was divided into two zones. The Soviet Union took control of the north and the United States the south. They were divided at the 38th parallel. The Korean War was the first major conflict of the Cold War.
What caused the Korean War Kids?
The Korean War started because of a clash between two worldviews: communism and democracy. The division of Korea into communist-controlled North Korea and American-backed South Korea saw this clash explode into an all-out war for control.
Is Korea divided into North and South Korea?
At the end of World War II, the country was divided into two occupational zones along the thirty-eighth parallel. In 1948, these areas became the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, or DPRK, in the north, and The Republic of Korea, or ROK, in the south.
What do North Koreans think about the outside world?
North Koreans understand that their government regularly lies to them and feeds them propaganda that contradicts their current situation, but few understand the true discrepancy between their country and the outside world, according to North Korean defector Kim Young-il.
What is the strip of land between North and South Korea?
The strip of land, or buffer zone, between North and South Korea is called the Korean Demilitarized Zone, or DMZ. The DMZ cuts the Korean Peninsula roughly in half. Korean is the official language of both North and South Korea. It is also one of the official languages of the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China.
How did Kim Il sung gain power in North Korea?
After fighting against the Japanese during World War II, Kim Il-Sung returned to Soviet-occupied North Korea as a hero. With Soviet support, he quickly amassed political power, and in early 1950 he felt strong enough to unify Korea by force. On June 25, 1950, Kim invaded South Korea and the Korean War began.