After Japan’s surrender in 1945, Korea was liberated from 35 years of colonial rule but was quickly divided along the 38th parallel, with Soviet forces in the north and U.S. forces in the south. What was intended as a temporary arrangement hardened as Cold War tensions intensified, leading to the establishment of separate governments in 1948. The outbreak of the Korean War (1950–53) then entrenched the division, resulting in the enduring separation of North Korea and South Korea.
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