Division

MOSCOW CONFERENCE OF FOREIGN MINISTERS

The Moscow conference decided Korea's fate. The U.S.-U.S.S.R. Joint Commission on Korea was established as a result. Role of solving political, economic problems, and unification of Korea was in their hand.

Ernest Bevin (left), British foreign secretary; V.M. Molotov (center), Soviet foreign minister, and James F. Byrnes, U.S. secretary of state (December 27th 1945 at Moscow Conference)

“The Administration of Korea has been a trying problem since 

the surrender of Japan. For purposes of Military operations the 

occupation of Korea was divided North and South of latitude 38 into 

Soviet and American areas. The continuation of this 

division after the surrender has been very unsatisfactory. The 

movement of persons and goods and the functioning of public services on 

a nationwide scale have been greatly hampered. Under our 

agreement at Moscow the two military commands are to form a joint 

Soviet-American Commission to solve immediate economic 

and administrative problems. They will make recommendations to 

the governments of The United States, The Soviet Union, Great Britain 

and China for the formation of a Korean Provisional Democratic 

government. They will also make proposals to these governments 

regarding a four-power trusteeship to prepare Korea for its 

independence within five years.”


- James F. Byrnes, U.S. secretary of state 

Cold War

United Nations