The nation that was divided on the 38th parallel after World War II is Korea. Following Japan's defeat in World War II in 1945, Korea was divided into two zones of occupation: the Soviet-controlled northern zone and the American-controlled southern zone. This division at the 38th parallel eventually led to the establishment of two separate states: North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) in 1948 and South Korea (Republic of Korea) in the same year. The tensions between the two nations culminated in the Korean War from 1950 to 1953, solidifying the division that persists to this day.