As an expert in the field of international relations and history, I can provide an in-depth analysis of how Korea became divided. The division of Korea is a complex issue rooted in the geopolitical events of the mid-20th century. To understand this, we must go back to the end of World War Two and the onset of the Cold War.

World War Two and Post-War Arrangements
The Japanese Empire, which had colonized Korea since 1910, was dismantled with Japan's defeat in 1945. Following this, Korea was liberated but not independent. The Allied powers, particularly the United States and the Soviet Union, had different visions for the future of the Korean Peninsula.

The 38th Parallel
The division of Korea along the 38th parallel was a temporary measure agreed upon by the United States and the Soviet Union during negotiations in 1945. This line was chosen because it was roughly equidistant from the northern and southern borders of Korea, and it divided the peninsula into two roughly equal parts. The United States military forces accepted the surrender of Japanese forces south of the 38th parallel, while Soviet forces did the same in the north.

Emergence of Two Governments
In the South, the United States supported the establishment of a government under the leadership of Syngman Rhee, who would later become the first President of South Korea. Rhee's government was anti-communist and received significant American support. In the North, the Soviet Union backed the establishment of a communist government led by Kim Il-sung, who would become the first leader of North Korea.

Cold War Influences
The division of Korea was exacerbated by the broader context of the Cold War. Both superpowers sought to extend their influence and promote their respective ideologies—capitalism and democracy in the South, and communism in the North. This led to a deepening of the ideological and political divide between the two halves of the peninsula.

Failure to Unify
Efforts to unify the peninsula under a single government were unsuccessful. The Joint Soviet-American Commission, established to facilitate the establishment of a unified, independent, and democratic government in Korea, failed to reach an agreement. This was partly due to the conflicting interests and ideologies of the two superpowers.

Korean War (1950-1953)
The situation escalated into the Korean War when North Korea, with the support of the Soviet Union and China, invaded South Korea in an attempt to unify the peninsula under communism. The United States and other Western allies supported South Korea in response. The war ended in an armistice in 1953, but no peace treaty was signed, leaving the two Koreas technically still at war.

Post-War Division
The Korean War solidified the division of the peninsula. The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) was established along the 38th parallel as a buffer zone between the two countries. The DMZ remains one of the most heavily fortified borders in the world and a symbol of the ongoing tension between North and South Korea.

Conclusion
The division of Korea is a result of historical events, geopolitical interests, and the dynamics of the Cold War. It reflects the broader struggle for power and influence between the United States and the Soviet Union during a critical period in world history. The division has had profound and lasting effects on the Korean people, their culture, and their political landscape.

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When the Japanese empire was dismantled at the end of World War Two, Korea fell victim to the Cold War. It was divided into two spheres of influence along the 38th parallel. The Americans controlled south of the line - the Russians installed a communist regime in the north, later ceding influence to China.Apr 4, 2013read more >>