Korea, called Chos\u014fn<\/b> in North Korea and Hanguk<\/b>\u00a0in South Korea, is a\u00a0Northeast Asian territory that is divided into two distinct sovereign states: North Korea, formally the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), and South Korea, formally the Republic of Korea (ROK). Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by\u00a0China to the northwest and Russia to the northeast. It is separated from Japan to the east by the Korea Strait and the East sea.<\/p>\n
Korea emerged as a singular political entity after centuries of conflict among the Three Kingdoms of Korea, which were unified as\u00a0Silla (57 BC \u2013 AD 935) and Balhae (AD 698 \u2013 926). The united Silla was eventually succeeded by Goryeo in 935 at the end of the\u00a0Later Three Kingdoms period. Goryeo, which gave name to the modern exonym “Korea”, was a highly cultured state and created the Jikji in the 14th century. The invasions by the Mongol Empire in the 13th century, however, greatly weakened the nation, which forced it into vassalage. After the Yuan dynasty’s collapse, severe political strife followed. Goryeo eventually fell to an uprising led by General Yi Seong-gye, who established Joseon in 1388.<\/b><\/p>\n