The Korean Peninsula
The Korean Peninsula is located in East Asia. It borders China to the northwest and Russia to the northeast, with Japan to the southeast across the Korean Strait. The peninsula consists of North Korea and South Korea, which are separated by the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) at the 38th parallel north.
The peninsula is largely a mountainous region with the Taebaek Mountains that run along the eastern coast and the Sobaek Mountains in the south. Major rivers on the Korean Peninsula include the Amnok River which helps to form the border between North Korea and China, and the Duman River which helps to create the border between North Korea and Russia. The Han River is the major river in South Korea and flows through its capital, Seoul.
North Korea mainly experiences a continental climate with cold, dry winters, and hot, humid summers. The country experiences all four seasons, however, their summer coincides with the East Asian monsoon season that brings heavy rainfall to the southern and eastern regions.
South Korea typically has a temperate climate, but its mountainous regions in the north often experience heavy snowfall and below-freezing temperatures during the winter months. The country also experiences all four seasons and is affected by the monsoon season during July and August.
Throughout history, the Korean Peninsula has been inhabited by various kingdoms including the Gojoseon Kingdom (the first kingdom on the peninsula), Goguryeo Kingdom, Baekje Kingdom, and the Silla Kingdom. From 1910 to 1945, the Korean Peninsula came under Japanese colonial rule until Japan’s defeat in World War II. The peninsula was split into two separate nations at the 38th parallel north, with North Korea adopting communism and South Korea embracing capitalism.
Both nations wanted to unite Korea, but under their own ideologies. This caused several border skirmishes at the DMZ until North Korea launched a surprise attack on South Korea in June 1950 with the support of both China and the Soviet Union. This led to the Korean War which ended in 1953 with neither side claiming victory and both signing an armistice. However, an official peace treaty was never signed.
While these two nations share a common history and cultural heritage, they have significantly diverged since the end of World War II. The differences between a totalitarian regime and the bustling economy of South Korea have caused ongoing tensions between the two nations.
Korean is the official language spoken in both countries, Confucianism, Buddhism, and Christianity are the main religions practiced there, and both enjoy traditional dishes such as kimchi, but their political cultures are vastly different.
North Korea is governed by the Kim Dynasty, which operates as a single-party state from the capital of Pyongyang, with a command economy and strict controls over information, media, and the lives of its citizens. Even though North Korea is rich in natural resources, the country experiences severe economic challenges due to isolation, sanctions, and centralized economic planning.
South Korea has one of the world’s largest economies. With bustling cities like Seoul (the capital), Busan, Incheon, and Daegu, the country is home to major companies like Samsung, Hyundai, and LG. Even the rise of K-pop within the music industry shows the stark contrasts between the two nations and how their cultures are allowed to manifest.
