North Korea is on the northern part of the Korean Peninsula which extends 1,100 kilometers from the Asian mainland. North Korea is bordered by three other nations and two seas. North Korea borders South Korea, China, and Russia.

The Japanese rule of Korea ended after World War II in 1945. At this time Korea was occupied in the north by the Soviet Union and in the south by the United States. These areas were split by the 38th parallel. The United States and Soviet Union were unable to agree on Joint Trusteeship (or governing) of Korea. This led to separate governments being formed in the north and south in 1948. North Korea is pro-Communist and South Korea is mainly Pro-Democracy.

In 1950 the Soviets in North Korea attacked at the 38th parallel in an attempt to take over the entire Korean peninsula. This began the Korean War. The Soviets did not believe the United States would fight over Korea. They were wrong. United States’ President Truman sent a fleet of troops to fight against the Soviets. The United Nations sent troops from 16 nations to help South Korea. China joined forces with North Korea. The war continued until July 27 1953 when the United Nations Command (south) and Korean People’s Army (north) and the Chinese People’s Volunteers (north) signed the Korean War Armistice Agreement. This ended the war and separated the two countries. The countries were split at the same place as before, the 38th parallel. North Korea was governed by Kim Il Sung from 1948 until his death on July 8 1994. His son, Kim Jung Il now governs the country.