Gyeongui Line (1904–1945)
Following Japan's defeat in the Pacific War and the subsequent partition of Korea, the Gyeongui Line was divided at the 38th parallel between North and South Korea. On 25 August 1945, the Soviet Army began operating trains on the line north of Sariwon, whilst trains in the south terminated at Gaeseong. In 1946, the railways in both North and South were nationalised, creating the Korean National Railroad in the South and the Korean State Railway in the North. After the Korean War, the Gyeongui Line was split into three sections. In the South, the Seoul–Jangdan section became the KNR's Gyeongui Line, retaining the same name; in the North, the Bongdong–Pyeongyang section became the P'yŏngbu Line, whilst the Pyeongyang–Sinuiju section became the P'yŏngŭi Line.
History of Japan–Korea relations
At the end of [[World War II]], Korea regained its independence after 35 years of [[Korea under Japanese rule|imperialist Japanese rule]]. Per the [[Yalta Conference]] agreements, [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] forces accepted [[Surrender of Japan|surrender of Japanese forces]] in northern Korea above the [[38th parallel north|38th parallel]], and [[United States|U.S.]] forces south of that line. [[Division of Korea|Korea was then divided]] into Soviet (North Korean) and U.S. (South Korean) spheres. South Korea refused diplomatic and trade relations with Japan, using Japan as a domestic bugbear to rally support for the South Korean government. The early ROK (Republic of Korea; South Korea) government derived its legitimacy from its opposition to Japan and North Korea, portraying South Korea as under threat from the North and South. The diplomatic relationship between Japan and South Korea was established in 1965, when the [[Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea|Treaty on Basic Relations]] was signed; Japan subsequently recognized the [[Republic of Korea]] (the official name of South Korea) as the only legitimate government on the [[Korean Peninsula]]. As such, [[North Korea]] does not have official diplomatic ties with Japan.