This book surveys the circumstances of Korea's division, the contemporary situation, and prospects for the future. The Korean peninsula is home to a country that has been divided since the end of the Second World War. Because the Korean nation enjoyed a long dynastic history, its postwar partition was particularly traumatic. The ensuing Cold War years spawned a very 'hot' Korean War, and decades of strained inter-Korean relations and tensions in the region surrounding the peninsula. This volume provides readers who are unfamiliar with Korea's heritage with an insight into the division of the peninsula and the accompanying international geopolitical tensions, providing expert analysis of this rendered nation's background, modern circumstances, and future prospects. After a survey of Korea's geographic setting and historic legacy, Olsen details the circumstances of Korea's liberation and subsequent division. Drawing on that background, he analyzes the evolution of both South Korea and North Korea as separate states, surveying the politics, economics, and foreign policy of each. What are the key issues for each state from an international perspective? What are the prospects for reuniting the two into one nation? What challenges would a united Korea be likely to face? Olsen determines that stability in Korea is essential to future peace in the region. He concludes that a successful move toward unification is the best way to resolve issues connected to North Korea's nuclear agenda. It has been published under the new Praeger Security International imprint and provides a concise history of this volatile and important region. It is ideal for policy makers, students, and travellers.