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South Korean and UN troops withdraw behind the 38th parallel in the Korean War.
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The 38th parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 38 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. The 38th parallel north has been especially important in the recent history of Korea.
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Geography
Starting at the Prime Meridian heading eastwards, the parallel 38° north passes through:
-
Country, territory or sea Notes Mediterranean Sea 
ItalyIsland of Sicily and a small amount of the mainland Mediterranean Sea Ionian Sea 
GreeceAegean Sea Including the 
Greek islands of Petalioi and Euboea
Turkey
IranCaspian Sea 
Turkmenistan Iran Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan
Tajikistan
Afghanistan Tajikistan
ChinaYellow Sea 
North Korea
South KoreaSea of Japan 
JapanIslands of Sado and Honshū Pacific Ocean 
United StatesCalifornia
Nevada
Utah
Colorado
Kansas
Missouri
Illinois
Indiana
Kentucky
West Virginia
VirginiaChesapeake Bay United StatesMaryland
VirginiaAtlantic Ocean Passing between São Miguel and Pico islands in the Azores ( 
Portugal) Portugal
SpainMediterranean Sea
Korea
The 38th parallel was first suggested as a dividing line for Korea in 1902citation needed. Russia was attempting to pull Korea under its control, while Japan had just secured recognition of its rights in Korea from the British. In an attempt to prevent any conflict, Japan proposed to Russia that the two sides split Korea into separate spheres of influence along the 38th parallel. However, no formal agreement was ever reached, and Japan later took full control of Korea.
After the surrender of Japan in 1945, the parallel was established as the boundary by Dean Rusk and Charles Bonesteel of the US State-War Navy Coordinating Committee in Washington, during the night 10-11 August 1945 4 days before the complete liberation of Korea. The parallel divided the peninsula roughly in the middle. In 1948, the dividing line became the boundary between the newly independent countries of North and South Korea. After the ceasefire that effectively ended the Korean War (1950-1953), a new border was established through the middle of the Demilitarized Zone, which cuts across the 38th parallel at an acute angle, from southwest to northeast. The 38th Parallel was also the place where the cease-fire was called to end the fighting.
- See also: Division of Korea and Panmunjeom
See also
Further Reading
- Oberdorfer, Don. The Two Koreas: A Contemporary History. (1997)
External links
- [1], 38th parallel north at MSN maps
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Wikipedia content modification information:
- This page was last modified on 3 January 2009, at 10:54.
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