During World War II, North Korea was not a sovereign nation but was under the colonial rule of Japan. The Korean Peninsula was annexed by Japan in 1910 and remained so until the end of the war in 1945. Therefore, the actions of what would become North Korea during the war were not independent but were part of the Japanese Empire's military and political activities.

Japan's Colonization of Korea
The colonization of Korea by Japan was a significant part of the Japanese Empire's expansionist policies. Japan sought to modernize and industrialize its newly acquired territory, which included the northern region that would later become North Korea. The Japanese aimed to assimilate the Korean people into their culture and language, and they suppressed Korean traditions and identity.

**Korean Resistance and Independence Movements**
Despite the harsh conditions of colonization, the Korean people did not give up their desire for independence. Throughout the 1930s and into the 1940s, there were several resistance movements and independence movements both within Korea and among Koreans living abroad. These movements were often met with severe repression by the Japanese authorities.

The Role of Korean Labor and Soldiers
Koreans were conscripted into the Japanese military and forced to serve in various capacities during the war. They were also made to work in Japanese factories and mines, contributing to the war effort indirectly. The conditions for these workers were often brutal and inhumane.

**The End of World War II and the Division of Korea**
The end of World War II brought about significant changes for the Korean Peninsula. With Japan's surrender in 1945, the Soviet Union occupied the northern part of Korea, while the United States occupied the southern part. This division was initially intended to be temporary, but it eventually led to the establishment of two separate governments: the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) in the north, and the Republic of Korea (South Korea) in the south.

Post-War Developments
The post-war period was marked by the establishment of the Korean Workers' Party in North Korea, which was heavily influenced by the Soviet Union. Kim Il-sung, who had been trained in the Soviet Red Army, emerged as a prominent leader and would go on to become the founding father of North Korea.

The period following World War II was a critical time for the Korean Peninsula, setting the stage for the Cold War tensions that would persist for decades. The division of Korea and the establishment of the Korean Workers' Party were pivotal events that shaped the trajectory of what would become North Korea.

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1945 - After World War II, Japanese occupation of Korea ends with Soviet troops occupying the north, and US troops the south. 1946 - North Korea's Communist Party, called the Korean Workers' Party, inaugurated. Soviet-backed leadership installed, including Red Army-trained Kim Il-sung.read more >>