A very early post-war philatelic cover issued for the landing at Incheon in 1945

In line with agreements regarding the planned post-WW2 dismantling of the Japanese Empire reached by the allies at the Yalta Conference in February 1945, Japan would be forced to relinquish control of all the territories it had conquered during the war or annexed prior to the outbreak of hostilities (including Korea). Korea would be divided at the 38th Parallel into two zones of occupation: the northern zone would be occupied by Soviet troops, the southern by US forces. The division would eventually lead to the establishment of two separate Korean governments, one in the north and one in the south, and ultimately to the Korean War in 1950.

While the Red Army entered Pyongyang on 24 August 1945, American troops did not reach Korea until 8 September 1945. In order to implement the surrender and disarmament of Japanese troops in Korea, the United States dispatched XXIV Corps from Japan. This force would form what was to become the United States Army Military Government in Korea (USAMGIK).