<P> General Abe Nobuyuki, the last Japanese Governor - General of Korea, had established contact with a number of influential Koreans since the beginning of August 1945 to prepare the hand - over of power . Throughout August, Koreans organized people's committee branches for the "Committee for the Preparation of Korean Independence" (CPKI, 조선 건국 준비 위원회), headed by Lyuh Woon - hyung, a left - wing politician . On September 6, 1945, a congress of representatives was convened in Seoul and founded the short - lived People's Republic of Korea . </P> <P> In December 1945, at the Moscow Conference, the Allies agreed that the Soviet Union, the US, the Republic of China, and Britain would take part in a trusteeship over Korea for up to five years in the lead - up to independence . Many Koreans demanded independence immediately; however, the Korean Communist Party, which was closely aligned with the Soviet Communist party, supported the trusteeship . The US President Franklin Roosevelt had initiated the idea of the trusteeship for Korea in 1943 . </P> <P> A Soviet - US Joint Commission met in 1946 and 1947 to work towards a unified administration, but failed to make progress due to increasing Cold War antagonism and to Korean opposition to the trusteeship . Meanwhile, the division between the two zones deepened . The difference in policy between the occupying powers led to a polarization of politics, and a transfer of population between North and South . In May 1946 it was made illegal to cross the 38th parallel without a permit . </P> <P> With the American government fearing Soviet expansion, and the Japanese authorities in Korea warning of a power vacuum, the embarkation date of the US occupation force was brought forward three times . </P>

When did south korea and north korea split