America’s first military action in Korea was in 1871 during what is known as the General Sherman Incident. The General Sherman was an American flagged vessel that sailed to Korea in 1866 and was destroyed by Korean forces. With no diplomatic solution reached, an American naval squadron sailed to Korea and on June 10, 1871 landed a force of Marines that attacked and occupied several forts near the Han River. The American force withdrew and sailed away in July. American military forces were again in Korea during the later stages of World War II. Russian forces were also driving into Korea and the Allies eventually agreed to divide the country into two zones at the 38th parallel. By 1948 the de facto establishment of North Korea and South Korea occurred, both claiming sovereignty over the entire peninsula. These competing political agendas led to active hostiles in 1950 when the North invaded the South drawing the United States, and the Marines, into another war on the Korean peninsula.