Korea is a region in East Asia; since 1945 it has been divided into
what are now two distinct sovereign states: North Korea (officially
the "Democratic People's Republic of Korea") and South Korea
(officially the "Republic of Korea"). Korea consists of the Korean
Peninsula, Jeju Island, and several minor islands near the peninsula.
It is bordered by China to the northwest and Russia to the northeast.
It is separated from Japan to the east by the Korea Strait and the Sea
of Japan (East Sea).During the first half of the 1st millennium, Korea
was divided between the three competing states of Goguryeo, Baekje,
and Silla, together known as the "Three Kingdoms of Korea". In the
second half of the 1st millennium, Silla defeated and conquered Baekje
and Goguryeo, leading to the "Unified Silla" period. Meanwhile, Balhae
formed in the north, superseding former Goguryeo. Unified Silla
eventually collapsed into three separate states due to civil war,
ushering in the Later Three Kingdoms. Toward the end of the 1st
millennium, Goguryeo was resurrected as Goryeo, which defeated the two
other states and unified the Korean Peninsula as a single sovereign
state. Around the same time, Balhae collapsed and its last crown
prince fled south to Goryeo. Goryeo (also spelled as KoryÅ ), whose
name developed into the modern exonym "Korea", was a highly cultured
state that created the world's first metal movable type in 1234.
However, multiple incursions by the Mongol Empire during the 13th
century greatly weakened the nation, which eventually agreed to become
a vassal state after decades of fighting. Following military
resistance under King Gongmin that ended Mongol political influence in
Goryeo, severe political strife followed, and Goryeo eventually fell
to a coup led by General Yi Seong-gye, who established Joseon in 17
July 1392.The first 200 years of the Joseon era were marked by
relative peace. During this period, the Korean alphabet was created by
Sejong the Great in the 15th century and there was increasing
influence of Confucianism. During the later part of the dynasty,
Korea's isolationist policy earned it the Western nickname of the
"Hermit Kingdom". By the late 19th century, the country became the
object of imperial design by the Empire of Japan. After the First
Sino-Japanese War, despite the Korean Empire's effort to modernize,
the country was annexed by Japan in 1910 and ruled by it until the end
of World War II in August 1945.
what are now two distinct sovereign states: North Korea (officially
the "Democratic People's Republic of Korea") and South Korea
(officially the "Republic of Korea"). Korea consists of the Korean
Peninsula, Jeju Island, and several minor islands near the peninsula.
It is bordered by China to the northwest and Russia to the northeast.
It is separated from Japan to the east by the Korea Strait and the Sea
of Japan (East Sea).During the first half of the 1st millennium, Korea
was divided between the three competing states of Goguryeo, Baekje,
and Silla, together known as the "Three Kingdoms of Korea". In the
second half of the 1st millennium, Silla defeated and conquered Baekje
and Goguryeo, leading to the "Unified Silla" period. Meanwhile, Balhae
formed in the north, superseding former Goguryeo. Unified Silla
eventually collapsed into three separate states due to civil war,
ushering in the Later Three Kingdoms. Toward the end of the 1st
millennium, Goguryeo was resurrected as Goryeo, which defeated the two
other states and unified the Korean Peninsula as a single sovereign
state. Around the same time, Balhae collapsed and its last crown
prince fled south to Goryeo. Goryeo (also spelled as KoryÅ ), whose
name developed into the modern exonym "Korea", was a highly cultured
state that created the world's first metal movable type in 1234.
However, multiple incursions by the Mongol Empire during the 13th
century greatly weakened the nation, which eventually agreed to become
a vassal state after decades of fighting. Following military
resistance under King Gongmin that ended Mongol political influence in
Goryeo, severe political strife followed, and Goryeo eventually fell
to a coup led by General Yi Seong-gye, who established Joseon in 17
July 1392.The first 200 years of the Joseon era were marked by
relative peace. During this period, the Korean alphabet was created by
Sejong the Great in the 15th century and there was increasing
influence of Confucianism. During the later part of the dynasty,
Korea's isolationist policy earned it the Western nickname of the
"Hermit Kingdom". By the late 19th century, the country became the
object of imperial design by the Empire of Japan. After the First
Sino-Japanese War, despite the Korean Empire's effort to modernize,
the country was annexed by Japan in 1910 and ruled by it until the end
of World War II in August 1945.
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