Quck answer
The 38th Parallel is a line of latitude that divides North Korea and South Korea. It was established as a border after World War II and has since become a symbol of the division between the two countries. The parallel is approximately 38 degrees north of the equator and runs across the Korean Peninsula. It is an important geographical landmark that has shaped the history and politics of the region. The 38th Parallel is significant because it represents the ongoing tensions and conflicts between North and South Korea, as well as the desire for reunification.
Have you ever spent a lot of time studying a globe? Flat maps are great, but there’s nothing quite like seeing Earth as it truly is. Globes provide a perspective on the location of things that a flat map cannot offer.
While examining a globe, you will notice lines of latitude that encircle the Earth and extend both north and south of the equator. In addition, there are lines of longitude that run in the opposite direction, east and west of the prime meridian.
You can search all day long, but you will never physically see any of these lines. Why? They are imaginary! They serve as a convenient way to pinpoint locations and navigate around the planet.
In fact, the exact spot where you are currently sitting has a set of coordinates that correspond to the precise latitude and longitude of your position. If you own a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or a smartphone with a GPS chip, you can determine and share your exact location with others!
In addition to the equator, there is another line of latitude that many people are familiar with: the 38th parallel. Specifically, it is the 38th parallel north that people recognize as the approximate boundary between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (commonly known as North Korea) and the Republic of Korea (commonly known as South Korea).
Many people mistakenly believe that the 38th parallel divides North and South Korea as a result of the Korean War. However, the boundary existed prior to the Korean War and dates back to the conclusion of World War II.
As World War II was coming to an end, the Allied powers had to determine how to handle Japan’s colonies, including Korea. At that time, Korea was a single entity occupying the entire Korean peninsula.
Troops from the Soviet Union had already arrived in the northern part of Korea. The tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union, which would define the Cold War between the two countries, had already begun.
The United States knew that it would take some time before it could deploy troops to Korea, and it was concerned that the Soviet Union might take advantage of its absence by seizing control of the entire Korean peninsula. U.S. Colonels Charles Bonesteel and Dean Rusk met on August 10, 1945, to devise a plan to divide Korea into two zones of occupation.
Using a map from National Geographic, they observed that the 38th parallel roughly divided Korea in half. They proposed using it as a boundary, as it would keep Seoul, the capital, in the southern half under U.S. control. Surprisingly, the Soviets agreed.
Unfortunately, peace on the Korean peninsula did not last long. On June 25, 1950, more than 75,000 North Korean troops crossed the 38th parallel and invaded South Korea. The United States quickly came to the aid of South Korea, and the Korean War began as the initial military action of the Cold War.
Although the military conflict unfolded along the entire length of the 38th parallel, the war was essentially a struggle between the forces of communism (North Korea supported by the Soviet Union and China) and capitalism (South Korea supported by the United States). Neither side could achieve a decisive advantage, and casualties mounted with little change in territorial control.
Finally, in July 1953, the Korean War came to an end with the signing of an armistice. The war resulted in the deaths of approximately five million people, including numerous civilians. The ceasefire line closely followed the 38th parallel, with only minor modifications, and to this day, the country remains divided along that line.
To establish a boundary, a demilitarized zone (DMZ) was created by withdrawing troops two kilometers on either side. The DMZ spans approximately 150 miles across the width of the Korean Peninsula and continues to be one of the most hostile borders in the world even in the present time.
Give It a Try
Are you prepared to explore the Korean Peninsula? Make sure to engage in the following activities with a friend or family member:
- Go online and browse through History’s Korean War photo gallery to view a variety of pictures from that period. Compare the relations between North and South Korea during that time to their current state. Has there been much change? Discuss current events related to North Korea with an adult friend or family member.
- How was the 38th parallel determined as the dividing line for the Korean peninsula after the war? Discover the answer by reading National Geographic’s article on Korea and the 38th Parallel online. Do you think there could have been a better way to divide Korea? Or, considering the subsequent Korean War, would it have made any difference?
- Are you an adventurous traveler? If so, plan a trip to South Korea and sign up for a tour of the demilitarized zone! Can’t visit South Korea in the near future? No problem! Read “A Day Trip to the World’s Most Hostile Border” online to learn about the experience of visiting the DMZ as a tourist.
Recommended Sources
- http://www.history.com/topics/korean-war
- https://www.britannica.com/place/38th-parallel
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