North Korea's history is far more complex than 25 years of aggression

Although it's easy to focus on the last quarter-century of North Korean aggression — ushered in by all three Kim rulers — where we are today is very much a result of 70-plus years of historical dominoes.

North Korea in its current form traces its roots back to the end of World War II when the Korean Peninsula was split in two: The Soviet Union controlled the north, and the U.S. controlled the south.

Over the decades, several key moments convinced Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-il and Kim Jong-un a nuclear North Korea was their best chance to survive.

SEE MORE: The North Korean Standoff Is (And Isn't) Like The Cuban Missile Crisis

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