Which event led to the division of Korea into North and South?

• A. The conclusion of World War I
• B. The conclusion of World War II
• C. The Korean War
• D. The signing of the Treaty of Versailles

Answer: (B)

The division of Korea into North and South resulted from the conclusion of World War II. After the war ended in 1945, Japan, which had occupied Korea since 1910, was forced to surrender. In the aftermath, Korea was divided along the 38th parallel as a temporary measure for the Allied powers to manage the surrender of Japanese troops. The Soviet Union took control of the north, while the United States administered the south.

This division was intended to be a short-term solution, but it solidified into a long-term separation due to growing Cold War tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. Eventually, this division led to the establishment of two separate states: North Korea, backed by the Soviet Union and later China, and South Korea, supported by the United States and its allies. This geopolitical split set the stage for the Korean War in 1950, which further entrenched the divide.

In contrast, the conclusion of World War I did not directly impact Korea, and the Treaty of Versailles primarily dealt with the aftermath of that war in Europe. The Korean War itself was a consequence of the earlier division, not the cause. Thus, the timing and context of World War II are crucial to understanding how Korea became