Korea is a region in East Asia[3] consisting of the Korean Peninsula, Jeju Island, and several

minor islands near the peninsula. Korea has been divided since 1948 between
two distinct sovereign states, North Korea and South Korea. Korea is bordered by Russia to
the northeast, China to the northwest, and neighbours Japan to the east via 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 Koryŏ),
whose name developed into the modern exonym "Korea", was a highly cultured state that
created the world's first metal movable type in 1234.[4][5][6][7][8][9] 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 July 17, 1392.