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Korea, an Asian peninsula of mountains and valleys, was divided after World War II. The United States occupied the territory below the 38th parallel and the Soviet Union occupied the territory above the 38th parallel. While the plan was unification of the country, both sides proceeded to build regimes. The United States supported the 70-year-old anti-communist Syngman Rhee in the South while the Soviet Union supported the 33-year-old Kim Il Sung in the North. Division of Korea was formalized in 1948. The Republic of Korea, under Rhee and supported by the United States and the United Nations, emerged in the South; the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea [DPRK], under Kim and supported by the Soviet Union and China, emerged in the North. The United States and the Soviet Union withdrew their troops in 1948; however, border tensions escalated throughout 1949 and early 1950. On June 25, 1950, the North invaded South Korea. The United Nations demanded withdrawal of the North from the South and pledged support as necessary to the South.