The splitting of Korea first started in 1920 when Rhee Syngman, a dogmatic demagogue who lived in the United States for much of his life, saw the United States as the savior of Korea. Rhee believed that Korea would be better off as an American protectorate. Opposing Rhee were the communists who believed that the Soviet Union was the savior of Korea. Caught between these two world powers were the nationalists who believed that the Koreans themselves should liberate Korea. The fights intensified after 1945, culminating in the Korean War. Pro-US elements took control of South Korea while pro-Soviet elements ruled North Korea
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