South Korea has hosted US troops since the cessation of fighting at the end of the Korean War in 1953. The conflict, which saw North Korea fight for control of the peninsula with South Korea, was a central event of the Cold War (the geopolitical situation which lasted from the end of World War II until the early 1990s.)
South Korea has transitioned from that time from an authoritarian nation to a liberal democracy with a rising standard of living. Its economy transformed from agriculture to high technology and exports, although like other nations, standards of living have struggled in recent years.
The ceasefire in the Korean War, which has held since 1953, sees North Korea and South Korea in a state of continual tension – with Pyongyang frequently testing the resolve of Seoul with rocket launches and threats.
South Korea hosts approximately 38,000 US troops.
North Korea, led by Kim Jong-un, is a Stalinist authoritarian regime. In recent years, it has grown closer to Russia with which it shares a border.
South Korea along with Japan are key allies in the US-led security alliance in Asia, a grouping which has been pressured by the rise of China. For this reason, any sudden political shocks within South Korea are watched carefully.
