Frank Llewellyn, age 16, of Tacoma, Wash., for his question:
WHY DO WE HAVE A NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA?
Japan had been controlling Korea before World War II, and when the fighting stopped it was decided that the United States troops should occupy the southern half of the country while Russian forces would occupy the northern half. A separate Korean government was formed in each half of the country. This was to be a temporary arrangement.
People had lived in the country since prehistoric times. Through the years, both China and Japan had influence over the Koreans. Korean rulers then closed the country to all foreigners for more than 200 years starting in the 1600s.
In 1876, Japan forced Korea to open some ports to trade. The United States, Russia and several European nations signed commercial treaties with Korea, but Japan's influence dominated.
Then in 1910, Japan took complete control of Korea. The Japanese governed Korea chiefly to benefit their own interest. The Japanese government even took much of the land in Korea and sold it to Japanese settlers.
When World War II ended, the plan to temporarily have two countries was developed.
For two years, the United States, Russia, the two Korean governments and Britain tried to develop a plan for reuniting Korea. They failed, and the United States submitted the problem to the United Nations in 1947.
The UN wanted to supervise elections to choose one government for Korea. But the Russians refused to allow UN representatives into the North.
The UN supervised an election in 1948 of representatives to a national assembly in the south. In July, 1948, the assembly elected Syngman Rhee president of the Republic of Korea, which was formed on August 15.
In northern Korea, the Communists announced formation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on September 9. Both governments claimed to represent all of Korea.
In December, 1948, Russia announced that all its troops had left North Korea. The United States withdrew its last troops from South Korea in mid 1949.
Then North Korean troops invaded the South in June, 1950, and the Korean War began.
The fighting continued in Korea until a truce was signed in July, 1953. Neither side won complete victory. The war involved not only the two Koreas, but also the most powerful Communist and non Communist nations.
A demilitarized or neutral zone now stretches between North Korea and South Korea.
The tense Korean situation has become a cause of worldwide concern.
Through recent years, representatives of the South and North have had a number of discussions about a possible reunification of Korea. But little progress has been made toward this goal.
And as a result, the world continues to have a North Korea and a South Korea.