How was Korea divided when World War 2 ended?

At the end of World War II in 1945, Korea was divided along the 38th parallel into two occupation zones. The Soviet Union occupied the northern zone, while the United States took control of the southern zone. This division was initially intended to be temporary but eventually led to the establishment of two separate governments: the communist North Korea and the democratic South Korea. The division solidified with the onset of the Korean War in 1950, further entrenching the split.