What happened to Korea after Japan surrendered in World War 2?

Korea, which had been under Japanese occupation since 1910, was liberated at the end of World War 2. During the war, Korea had been a major source of raw materials and forced labor for Japan, and the country had suffered considerable damage.

In the immediate aftermath of the war, Korea was divided along the 38th parallel, with the Soviet Union occupying the north and the United States occupying the south. This division was intended to be temporary, but it quickly became permanent. The two sides were unable to agree on a unified government for Korea, and the country remained divided until the present day.

The Soviet-occupied north became the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), or North Korea, while the US-occupied south became the Republic of Korea (ROK), or South Korea. North Korea is a communist state, while South Korea is a democratic republic. The two countries have been at odds ever since their founding, and the Korean War of 1950-53 further deepened their division.

In recent years, there have been some signs of improvement in relations between North and South Korea. In 2018, the two countries held a summit meeting and agreed to work towards denuclearization. However, progress has been slow, and the two countries remain far apart on many issues.