The division of Korea into two separate entities stems from the end of World War II when Japan's surrender on 15 August 1945 led the Allied powers to consider the future of Korean self-rule. Initially, Korea was to be liberated from Japanese occupation and placed under an international trusteeship as agreed by the Allies. The division at the 38th parallel was proposed by the United States and agreed upon by the Soviet Union, intended as a temporary measure until a trusteeship could be arranged. However, the onset of the Cold War and failure in negotiations nullified any agreement on a trusteeship, leaving Korea in limbo. By 1948, separate governments were established: the Republic of Korea in the South on 15 August and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the North on 9 September, each backed by the United States and the Soviet Union respectively.

Tensions between the two Koreas culminated in the North's invasion of the South on 25 June 1950, initiating the Korean War which lasted until 1953. Despite immense loss and destruction, the conflict ended in a stalemate, leading to the establishment of the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), which has since remained a persistent symbol of the division between North and South Korea.

Efforts toward reconciliation and reunification have continued intermittently, with a significant breakthrough during the 2018 inter-Korean summits. On 27 April 2018, leaders from both Koreas signed the Panmunjom Declaration, agreeing on steps towards peace and reunification. Progress included the dismantling of guard posts and creation of buffer zones to reduce military tensions. In a historic move on 12 December 2018, soldiers from both sides crossed the Military Demarcation Line for the first time as a gesture of peace and cooperation.^[84]