North Korea and South Korea

Before 1945, there was a single nation called Korea; after the defeat of the Japanese in World War II, Japanese-occupied Korea was divided into two nations, North Korea and South Korea. South Korea is a republic ruled by a president, while North Korea is a totalitarian government, ruled by a dictator. In 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea. Since the end of the Korean War, the border between the nations has been fortified. In the early 21st century, North Korea has continued to be a nation with an unstable government and a point of concern for other governments around the world. Readers will explore the long history of Korea, its split, and how North Korea and South Korea continue to remain divided.