B. a unified Korea did not exist at the time of the Korean War from 1950-1953. Korea was divided into two separate countries after World War II, with the Soviet Union occupying the northern part of the peninsula and the United States occupying the southern part. North Korea and South Korea were established as separate countries in 1948, two years before the start of the Korean War. The war resulted in a ceasefire and the establishment of a demilitarized zone, which has separated the two Koreas ever since.