History >Concepts and Terminology
The 38th Parallel
The 38th Parallel is a military demarcation line located 38 degrees north latitude on the Korean Peninsula. At the end of World War II, the allied powers agreed that the 38th Parallel should be treated as a temporary boundary between the Soviet Union and the United States in their military action against Japan, as well as the line that north of which the U.S.S.R. was to accept the surrender of the Japanese forces in Korea, and south of which the Americans were to accept the Japanese surrender. After the Surrender of Japan, this line became the temporary boundary between the two sovereign states of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) and the Democratic People 's Republic of Korea (North Korea). After the Korean War ended, this military demarcation line between South and North Korea was adjusted based on the 38th Parallel.
Text
National Geographic, Korea, and the 38th Parallel

Rusk knew that the 38th parallel "made no sense economically or geographically"—Korea, in fact, had enjoyed unity and a high degree of geographic continuity for the better part of a millennium—but this was now the Cold War. "Military expediency" had to rule the day. Korea, it was thought, would be divided only temporarily.

KOREAN WAR

Following World War II, the Korean peninsula was divided along the 38th parallel, with the creation of communist-backed North Korea and the anti-communist Republic of South Korea. On June 25, 1950, North invaded South, leading to the outbreak of the Korean War.

Divided by Politics and the 38th Parallel

On June 25, 1950, a strong armored force from the North crossed the 38th parallel and captured Seoul four days later. A three-year war ensued, with United Nations forces, primarily those of the United States, backing South Korea. A cease-fire was signed on July 27, 1953, and a demilitarized zone was established along the 38th parallel.

Knowledge Graph
Examples

1 The 38th parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 38 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane.

2 When Japan surrendered in August 1945, the 38th parallel was established as the boundary between Soviet and American occupation zones.

3 It crosses the 38th parallel, from the southwest to the northeast.