38th parallel facts for kids

The 38th parallel north is an imaginary line that goes all the way around the Earth. Think of it like a belt around the middle of the planet, but this one is 38 degrees north of the equator. The equator is the main imaginary line that divides the Earth into northern and southern halves.

This special line crosses many places, including Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America, and the Atlantic Ocean. It's most famous because it was used to divide North Korea and South Korea.

What is a Parallel?

A parallel is a circle of latitude. These are imaginary lines that run east to west around the Earth. They help us measure how far north or south a place is from the equator. The 38th parallel north is just one of these many lines.

The 38th Parallel and Korea

The 38th parallel became very important in the history of Korea. After World War II ended in 1945, Korea was freed from Japanese rule. The United States and the Soviet Union (now mostly Russia) agreed to divide Korea temporarily. They used the 38th parallel as the dividing line.

A Divided Nation

The Soviet Union's forces occupied the area north of the 38th parallel. The United States' forces occupied the area to the south. This temporary division soon became permanent. Two separate countries were formed:

• North Korea (officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea)
• South Korea (officially the Republic of Korea)

The Korean War

In 1950, the Korean War began when North Korea invaded South Korea. The war lasted for three years. Many countries, including the United States, fought to help South Korea. China helped North Korea. The fighting was very intense and caused a lot of damage.

The Demilitarized Zone

The Korean War ended in 1953 with an armistice, which is a ceasefire agreement. The fighting stopped, but a peace treaty was never signed. A new dividing line was created, called the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). This zone is about 250 kilometers (155 miles) long and 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) wide. It runs near the 38th parallel, but it's not exactly the same line.

The DMZ is one of the most heavily guarded borders in the world. It acts as a buffer zone between North and South Korea. Even today, the two countries are technically still at war. The 38th parallel remains a symbol of this division.