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Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)
The official name of North Korea, established on 9 September 1948 under Kim Il Sung with Soviet backing. The DPRK also claimed sovereignty over the entire peninsula, making both Korean states rival governments from the moment of their founding.
Republic of Korea (ROK)
The official name of South Korea, established on 15 August 1948 under Syngman Rhee with American backing. The ROK claimed sovereignty over the entire Korean peninsula and was recognised by the United Nations as the legitimate government of Korea.
Trusteeship
A system of administration in which a territory is placed under the supervision of an external power or international body rather than being granted immediate independence. After 1945, the US and USSR agreed in principle to a joint trusteeship over Korea before full independence could be arranged.