North Korea Election 1948

North Korea: A History of Isolation and Conflict

Independence and Division

In 1945, the Korean Peninsula was liberated from Japanese colonial rule. The Allies divided Korea into two occupation zones, with the Soviet Union administering the north and the United States administering the south. In 1948, two separate Korean states were established: the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) in the north and the Republic of Korea (ROK) in the south.

Two Commissions, Two Elections

The United Nations attempted to unify Korea through elections held in 1948. However, the elections in the north were not considered free and fair by the United Nations, and the two Koreas remained divided.

In 1950, the Korean War broke out, ending in a stalemate in 1953. The two Koreas have remained separated since then, with no peace treaty in place.