How did the division of Korea lead to conflict?

The division of Korea led to conflict by creating two ideologically opposed states, each backed by rival superpowers.

After World War II, Korea was liberated from Japanese occupation but was divided along the 38th parallel into two zones of influence. The northern zone was occupied by Soviet forces, while the southern zone was controlled by American forces. This division was meant to be temporary, but Cold War tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union prevented the reunification of Korea.

In 1948, two separate governments were established: the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) under Kim Il-sung, and the Republic of Korea (South Korea) under Syngman Rhee. North Korea adopted a communist system, while South Korea embraced a capitalist democracy. Both governments claimed to be the legitimate government of the entire Korean Peninsula, leading to heightened tensions.

The situation escalated on 25 June 1950, when North Korean forces, supported by the Soviet Union and China, invaded South Korea. This marked the beginning of the Korean War. The United Nations, with the United States as the principal force, intervened to support South Korea. The war saw brutal fighting and significant civilian casualties, and it drew in major Cold War powers, making it a proxy war.

The Korean War ended in 1953 with an armistice agreement, but no formal peace treaty was signed. The Korean Peninsula remains divided to this day, with a heavily fortified Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas. The conflict left deep scars and ongoing tensions, contributing to the complex and often hostile relationship between North and South Korea.