#OTD20 | September 8, 1945

Korea Partitioned

#OTD20 September 8, 1945: American troops arrive in Korea, initiating the division of the peninsula along the 38th parallel.

This historic event paves the way for two ideologically distinct regimes—a socialist state in the North and a liberal state in the South. Under this divided occupation, Korea rapidly evolves, leading to a stark contrast in ideologies. The tension between North and South Korea eventually escalates into the devastating Korean War beginning in June 1950.

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The genesis of the Korean War is chronicled in Red Star Rising, chapter two of our curriculum-aligned film, COLD WAR.

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Additional Resources

Access more information from Media Rich Learning and curated off-site sources.

MRL

Read the Media Rich Learning blog post Hot Front in the Cold War.

NK NEWS

Read the blog post The U.S. and the 1945 Division of Korea

#OTD20

Step back in time to experience the significant events that happened on this day in the 20th century.

October 12, 1945: The Conscientious Objector Who Became a War Hero

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October 10, 1986: Reagan and Gorbachev at the Reykjavik Summit

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October 7, 1963: President Kennedy Signs Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

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September 29, 1950: Reaching the 38th Parallel in Korea

#OTD20 — September 29, 1950: Exploring the day U.S.-led troops reached the 38th parallel—the dividing line between North and South Korea—during the Korean War.

September 28, 1928: Alexander Fleming and the Discovery of Penicillin

#OTD20 — September 28, 1928: Learn more about Alexander Fleming’s discovery of penicillin, the world’s first antibiotic and a revolutionary medical breakthrough.

September 27, 1964: Warren Report — Solving or Complicating JFK’s Assassination?

#OTD20 — September 27, 1964: British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain believes war with German has been averted, declaring the Munich Agreement affords “peace in our time.”

September 26, 1960: The First Televised Presidential Debate

#OTD20 — September 26, 1960: the first-ever televised presidential debate took place between Kennedy and Nixon, reshaping American politics and the role of television in it.

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