China Sea | sea, Pacific Ocean | Britannica.com sea, Pacific Ocean Manila Bay China Sea, part of the western Pacific Ocean bordering the Asian mainland on the east-southeast. A portion of the delta of the Mekong River as it flows through southern Vietnam and empties into … M. Gifford/De Wys Inc. The China Sea consists of two parts, the South China Sea (Chinese: Nan Hai) and the East China Sea (Chinese: Dong Hai), which connect through the shallow Taiwan Strait between Taiwan and mainland China. The South China Sea is bounded on the west by the Asian mainland, on the south by a rise in the seabed between Sumatra and Borneo, and on the east by Borneo, the Philippines, and Taiwan. The sea’s northern boundary extends from the northernmost point of Taiwan to the coast of Fujian province, China. As the largest marginal sea of the western Pacific, it covers an area of about 1,423,000 square miles (3,685,000 square km) and has a mean depth of 3,478 feet (1,060 m).

The major topographic feature of the South China Sea is a deep, rhombus-shaped basin in the eastern portion, with reef-studded shoal areas rising up steeply within the basin to the south and northwest. The deepest section, called the China Sea Basin, has a maximum depth of 16,457 feet (5,016 m). A broad, shallow shelf extends up to 150 miles (240 km) in width between the mainland and the northwestern side of the basin and includes the Gulf of Tonkin and Taiwan Strait. To the south, off southern Vietnam, the shelf narrows and connects with the Sundra Shelf, which is one of the largest sea shelves in the world. The Sundra Shelf covers the area between Borneo, Sumatra, and Malaysia, including the southern portion of the South China Sea. The major rivers draining into the sea are the tributaries forming the Zhu (Pearl) River delta between Hong Kong and Macau, the Xi River, which enters near Macau, and the Red and Mekong rivers, which enter in Vietnam. Weather in the region is tropical and largely controlled by monsoon winds.

Annual rainfall varies from about 80 inches (2,000 mm) to as much as 160 inches around the southern basin; summer typhoons are frequent. Monsoons also control the sea-surface currents as well as the exchange of water between the South China Sea and adjacent bodies of water. Similar Topics Tasman Sea The East China Sea extends northeastward from the South China Sea and is bounded on the west by the Asian mainland and on the east by the Ryukyu Islands chain, Japan’s southernmost main island of Kyushu, and Cheju Island , off South Korea . An imaginary east-west line connecting Cheju Island with the mainland of China separates the East China Sea from the Yellow Sea to its north. The East China Sea, with an area of 290,000 square miles (751,100 square km), is generally shallow, having an average depth of only 1,145 feet (349 m). The Okinawa Trough, its deepest section, extends alongside the Ryukyu Island chain and has a maximum depth of 8,912 feet (2,717 m).

The western edge of the sea is a continuation of the shelf that extends from the South China Sea north to the Yellow Sea. The weather of the East China Sea is also dominated by the monsoon wind system. Warm, moist winds from the western Pacific bring a rainy summer season accompanied by typhoons, but in the winter the monsoons reverse and bring cold, dry air from the Asian continent in the northwest. The winds influence the water circulation of the Kuroshio (Japan Current), a northward-flowing branch of the warm North Equatorial Current that flows near Taiwan. China Sea - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up) The arm of the western Pacific Ocean known as the China Sea borders several countries in East and Southeast Asia. It has two main parts: the South China Sea, which lies to the south of Taiwan, and the East China Sea, which lies to the north of Taiwan. The two parts are connected by the shallow Taiwan Strait between Taiwan and mainland China. The South China Sea is enclosed by southeastern mainland China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Borneo, and mainland Southeast Asia.

The East China Sea is bounded by eastern China; Cheju Island of South Korea; Kyushu, the southernmost main island of Japan; the Ryukyu Islands; and Taiwan. It borders the Yellow Sea to the north. Article History Map of South Korea Map of South Korea Free Maps, Map Puzzles and Educational Software: Owl and Mouse Educational Software South Korea South Korea is on the southern part—roughly one half of—the Korean peninsula, which juts off from the main body of Asia into the Pacific Ocean, plus islands off its southern tip. Its only land border is 238 km it shares with North Korea, which is the most heavily fortified border in the world. South Korea has water borders on three sides—the Yellow Sea to the west, the Korea strait, separating South Korea from Japan, on the southeast, and the Sea of Japan to the east and northeast. From the 7th century until WWII, South Korea and North Korea were a single country. The Korean War (1950-1953—see M.A.S.H.) was fought between South Korea (w/ US and UN forces) and North Korea (with Chinese and Soviet Union support).

An armistice—but not a peace treaty—was signed in 1953, creating a demilitarized zone at about the 38th parallel. South Korea has had rapid economic growth since the war, giving it a per capita (per person) income of about 14 times that of North Korea. We welcome all comments on your experience with our maps and software. E-Mail us at: "Owl and Mouse" <owlmouse at yourchildlearns dot com> All Material Copyright 1998-2015 Owl and Mouse Educational Software except as noted. All pages and downloadable software may be freely used for individual and classroom instruction but may not be sold, redistributed or reposted without permission. Javascript and CSS coding by Ashton Shapcott. South Korea vs. North Korea - Country Comparison South Korea vs. North Korea North Korea Background An independent kingdom for much of its long history, Korea was occupied by Japan beginning in 1905 following the Russo-Japanese War. In 1910, Tokyo formally annexed the entire Peninsula. Korea regained its independence following Japan's surrender to the United States in 1945.

After World War II, a democratic-based government (Republic of Korea, ROK) was set up in the southern half of the Korean Peninsula while a communist-style government was installed in the north (Democratic People's Republic of Korea, DPRK). During the Korean War (1950-53), US troops and UN forces fought alongside ROK soldiers to defend South Korea from a DPRK invasion supported by China and the Soviet Union. A 1953 armistice split the peninsula along a demilitarized zone at about the 38th parallel. PARK Chung-hee took over leadership of the country in a 1961 coup. During his regime, from 1961 to 1979, South Korea achieved rapid economic growth, with per capita income rising to roughly 17 times the level of North Korea. South Korea held its first free presidential election under a revised democratic constitution in 1987, with former ROK Army general ROH Tae-woo winning a close race. In 1993, KIM Young-sam (1993-98) became the first civilian president of South Korea's new democratic era.

President KIM Dae-jung (1998-2003) won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 for his contributions to South Korean democracy and his "Sunshine" policy of engagement with North Korea. President PARK Geun-hye, daughter of former ROK President PARK Chung-hee, took office in February 2013 and is South Korea's first female leader. South Korea holds a non-permanent seat (2013-14) on the UN Security Council and will host the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. Serious tensions with North Korea have punctuated inter-Korean relations in recent years, including the North's attacks on a South Korean ship and island in 2010, nuclear and missile tests, and its temporary closure of the inter-Korean Kaesong Industrial Complex in 2013. An independent kingdom for much of its long history, Korea was occupied by Japan beginning in 1905 following the Russo-Japanese War. Five years later, Japan formally annexed the entire peninsula. Following World War II, Korea was split with the northern half coming under Soviet-sponsored communist control.

After failing in the Korean War (1950-53) to conquer the US-backed Republic of Korea (ROK) in the southern portion by force, North Korea (DPRK), under its founder President KIM Il Sung, adopted a policy of ostensible diplomatic and economic "self-reliance" as a check against outside influence. The DPRK demonized the US as the ultimate threat to its social system through state-funded propaganda, and molded political, economic, and military policies around the core ideological objective of eventual unification of Korea under Pyongyang's control. KIM Il Sung's son, KIM Jong Il, was officially designated as his father's successor in 1980, assuming a growing political and managerial role until the elder KIM's death in 1994. KIM Jong Un was publicly unveiled as his father's successor in September 2010. Following KIM Jong Il's death in December 2011, the regime began to take actions to transfer power to KIM Jong Un and KIM has now assumed many his father's former titles and duties.

After decades of economic mismanagement and resource misallocation, the DPRK since the mid-1990s has relied heavily on international aid to feed its population. The DPRK began to ease restrictions to allow semi-private markets, starting in 2002, but then sought to roll back the scale of economic reforms in 2005 and 2009. North Korea's history of regional military provocations; proliferation of military-related items; long-range missile development; WMD programs including tests of nuclear devices in 2006, 2009, and 2013; and massive conventional armed forces are of major concern to the international community. The regime in 2013 announced a new policy calling for the simultaneous development of the North's nuclear weapons program and its economy.

Geography North Korea Location Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and South Korea Geographic coordinates 37 00 N, 127 30 E 40 00 N, 127 00 E Map references slightly smaller than Pennsylvania; slightly larger than Indiana slightly larger than Virginia; slightly smaller than Mississippi Land boundaries border countries: North Korea 237 km total: 1,607 km border countries: China 1,352 km, South Korea 237 km, Russia 18 km Coastline territorial sea: 12 nm; between 3 nm and 12 nm in the Korea Strait contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: not specified territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm note: military boundary line 50 nm in the Sea of Japan and the exclusive economic zone limit in the Yellow Sea where all foreign vessels and aircraft without permission are banned Climate temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter temperate

 with rainfall concentrated in summer Terrain mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west and south mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys; coastal plains wide in west, discontinuous in east Elevation extremes lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m highest point: Halla-san 1,950 m lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m highest point: Paektu-san 2,744 m Natural resources coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead, hydropower potential coal, lead, tungsten, zinc, graphite, magnesite, iron ore, copper, gold, pyrites, salt, fluorspar, hydropower Land use Natural hazards occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods; low-level seismic activity common in southwest volcanism: Halla (elev.

1,950 m) is considered historically active although it has not erupted in many centuries late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding; occasional typhoons during the early fall volcanism: Changbaishan (elev.

2,744 m) (also known as Baitoushan, Baegdu or P'aektu-san), on the Chinese border, is considered historically active Environment - current issues air pollution in large cities; acid rain; water pollution from the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents; drift net fishing water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; waterborne disease; deforestation; soil erosion and degradation Environment - international agreements party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea Geography - note strategic location on Korea Strait strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and Russia; mountainous interior is isolated and spars

ely populated Total renewable water resources total: 25.47 cu km/yr (26%/12%/62%) per capita: 548.7 cu m/yr (2003) total: 8.66 cu km/yr (10%/13%/76%) per capita: 360.6 cu m/yr (2005) Demographics 0-14 years: 14.1% (male 3,603,943/female 3,328,634) 15-24 years: 13.5% (male 3,515,271/female 3,113,257) 25-54 years: 47.3% (male 11,814,872/female 11,360,962) 55-64 years: 12.4% (male 3,012,051/female 3,081,480) 65 years and over: 12

.7% (male 2,570,433/female 3,639,083) (2014 est.) 0-14 years: 21.5% (male 2,709,580/female 2,628,456) 15-24 years: 16.3% (male 2,041,861/female 1,997,413) 25-54 years: 44% (male 5,465,889/female 5,456,850) 55-64 years: 8.6% (male 1,007,667/female 1,127,455) 65 years and over: 9.7% (male 826,175/female 1,590,281) (2014 est.) Median age female: 41.6 years (2014 est.) total: 33.4 years female:

 35 years (2014 est.) Population growth rate 8.26 births/1,000 population (2014 est.) 14.51 births/1,000 population (2014 est.) Death rate 6.63 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.) 9.18 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.) Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.) -0.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.) Sex ratio 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2014 est.) at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.51 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2014 est.) Infant mortality rate total: 3.93 deaths/1,000 live births male: 4.13 deaths/1,000 live births female

: 3.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.) total: 24.5 deaths/1,000 live births male: 27.18 deaths/1,000 live births female: 21.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.) Life expectancy at birth female: 83.13 years (2014 est.) total population: 69.81 years female: 73.86 years (2014 est.) Total fertility rate 1.25 children born/woman (2014 est.) 1.98 children born/woman (2014 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate less than 0.1% (2009 est.) NA homogeneous (except for about 20,000 Chinese) racially homogeneous; there is a small Chinese community and a few ethnic Japanese HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS 9,500 (2009 est.) NA Religions Christian 31.6% (Protestant 24%, Roman Catholic 7.6%),

 Buddhist 24.2%, other or unknown 0.9%, none 43.3% (2010 survey) traditionally Buddhist and Confucianist, some Christian and syncretic Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way) note: autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent; government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion of religious freedom HIV/AIDS - deaths fewer than 500 (2009 est.) NA Korean, English (widely taught in junior high and high school) Korean definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.9% definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100% urban population: 83.2% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization: 0.71% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.) urban population: 60.3% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization: 0.63% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.) Drinking water source total: 2.2% of population (2012 est.) improved:

 total: 1.9% of population (2012 est.) Sanitation facility access 0% of population (2012 est.) improved: total: 18.2% of population (2012 est.) Major cities - population SEOUL (capital) 9.736 million; Busan (Pusan) 3.372 million; Incheon (Inch'on) 2.622 million; Daegu (Taegu) 2.447 million; Daejon (Taejon) 1.538 million; Gwangju (Kwangju) 1.503 million (2011) PYONGYANG (capital) 2.843 million (2011) Maternal mortality rate 16 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) 81 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) Physicians density note: percent of women aged 15-44 (2009) 68.6% (2002) potential support ratio: 5.8 (2

014 est.) total dependency ratio: 44.9 % potential support ratio: 7.2 (2014 est.) Government conventional long form: Republic of Korea conventional short form: South Korea local long form: Taehan-min'guk conventional long form: Democratic People's Republic of Korea conventional short form: North Korea local long form: Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk geographic coordinates: 37 33 N, 126 59 E time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) name: Pyongyang geographic coordinates: 39 01 N, 125 45 E time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) Administrative divisions 9 provinces (do, singular and plural), 6 metropolitan cities (gwangyoksi, singular and plural), 1 special city, and 1 special self-governing city provinces: Chungbuk (North Chungcheong), Chungnam (South Chungcheong), Gangwon, Gyeonggi, Gyeongbuk (North Gyeongsang), Gyeongnam (South

 Gyeongsang), Jeju, Jeonbuk (North Jeolla), Jeonnam (South Jeolla) metropolitan cities: Busan (Pusan), Daegu (Taegu), Daejeon (Taejon), Gwangju (Kwangju), Incheon (Inch'on), Ulsan special city: Seoul special self-governing city: Sejong 9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 2 municipalities (si, singular and plural) provinces: Chagang-do (Chagang), Hamgyong-bukto (North Hamgyong), Hamgyong-namdo (South Hamgyong), Hwanghae-bukto (North Hwanghae), Hwanghae-namdo (South Hwanghae), Kangwon-do (Kangwon), P'yongan-bukto (North P'yongan), P'yongan-namdo (South P'yongan), Yanggang-do (Yanggang) municipalities: Nason-si, P'yongyang-si (Pyongyang) 15 August 1945 (from Japan) 15 August 1945 (from Japan) National holiday Liberation Day, 15 August

 (1945) Founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), 9 September (1948) Constitution effective 17 July 1948; amended several times, last in 1987 (2013) previous 1948, 1972 (revised several times); latest adopted 1998 (during KIM Jong Il era); revised 2009, 2012 (2012) Legal system mixed legal system combining European civil law, Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought civil law system based on the Prussian model; system influenced by Japanese traditions and Communist legal theory Suffrage 19 years of age; universal 17 years of age; universal Executive branch chief of state: President PARK Geun-hye (since 25 February 2013) head of government: (vacant); note - Prime Minister CHUNG Hong-won resigned 27 April 2014; MOON Chang-keuk was nominated Prime Minister 10 June 2014 and awaits parliamentary confirmation; Deputy Prime Minister HYUN Oh-seok (since 26 June 

2013) cabinet: State Council appointed by the president on the prime minister's recommendation elections: president elected by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held on 19 December 2012 (next to be held in December 2017); prime minister appointed by president with consent of National Assembly election results: PARK Geun-Hye elected president; percent of vote - PARK Geun-Hye (NFP) 51.6%, MOON Jae-In (DUP) 48%, others 0.4% chief of state: KIM Jong Un (since 17 December 2011); note - in 2014, the rubberstamp Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) re-elected KIM Yong Nam president of its Presidium with responsibility of representing the state and receiving diplomatic credentials head of government: Premier PAK Pong Ju (since 2 April 2013); Vice Premiers: KIM Tok Hun (since 30 April 2014), KIM Yong Jin (since 6 January 2012), RI Chol Man (since 13 April 2012), RI Mu Yong (since 

31 May 2011), RO Tu Chol (since 3 September 2003) cabinet: Naegak (cabinet) members, except for the Minister of People's Armed Forces, are appointed by SPA elections: last election on 9 March 2014; date of next election NA election results: KIM Jong Un elected unopposed note: the Korean Workers' Party continues to list deceased leaders KIM Il Sung and KIM Jong Il as Eternal President and Eternal General Secretary respectively Legislative branch unicameral National Assembly or Gukhoe (300 seats; 246 members elected in single-seat constituencies, 54 elected by proportional representation; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 11 April 2012 (next to be held in April 2016) election results: percent of vote by party - NFP 42.8%, DUP 36.5%, UPP 10.3%, LFP 3.2%, others 7.2%; seats by party - NFP 152, DUP 127, UPP 13, LFP 5, independents 3 note:

 seats by negotiation group as of April 2014 - NFP 156, NPAD 130, UPP 6, Justice Party 5, Independents 1; note - 2 seats are vacant unicameral Supreme People's Assembly or Ch'oego Inmin Hoeui (687 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 9 March 2014 (next to be held in March 2019) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; ruling party approves a list of candidates who are elected without opposition; a token number of seats are reserved for minor parties Judicial branch highest court(s): Supreme Court of South Korea (consists of a chief justice and 13 justices); Constitutional Court (consists of a court head and 8 justices) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the president with the consent of the National Assembly; other justices appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the chief justice and consent of the National Assembly; position of the chief justice is a 6-year non-renewable term; other justices serve 6-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court justices

 appointed - 3 by the president, 3 by the National Assembly, and 3 by the Supreme Court chief justice; court head serves until retirement at age 70, while other justices serve 6-year renewable terms with mandatory retirement at age 65 subordinate courts: High Courts; District Courts; Branch Courts (organized undeer the Branch Courts); specialized courts for family and administrative issues highest court(s): Supreme Court or Central Court (consists of the chief justice and two "People's Assessors" and for some cases, 3 judges) judge selection and term of office: judges elected by the Supreme People's Assembly for 5-year terms subordinate courts: provincial, municipal, military, special courts; people' courts (lowest level) Political parties and leaders Liberty Forward Party or LFP (merged with NFP in October 2012) New Frontier Party (NFP) or Saenuri (formerly Grand National Party) [HWANG Woo-yea] New Politics Alliance for Diplomacy or NPAD [KIM Han-gil and AHN Cheol-soo] (merger of the Democratic Party or DP (formerly DUP) [Kim Han-gil] and the New Political Vision Party or NPVP [AHN Cheol

-soo] in March 2014) Progressive Justice Party or PJP [ROH Hoe-chan and CHO Joon-ho] Unified Progressive Party or UPP [LEE Jung-hee] major party: Korean Workers' Party or KWP [KIM Jong Un] minor parties: Chondoist Chongu Party [RYU Mi Yong] (under KWP control) Social Democratic Party [KIM Yong Dae] (under KWP control) Political pressure groups and leaders Catholic Priests' Association for Justice Citizen's Coalition for Economic Justice Federation of Korean Industries Federation of Korean Trade Unions Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Korean Veterans' Association Lawyers for a Democratic Society National Council of Churches People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy none International organization participation ADB, AfDB (nonregional member), APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, CD, CICA, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, FATF, G-20, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO

, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club (associate), PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC ARF, FAO, G-77, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador AHN

 Ho-young (since 7 June 2013) chancery: 2450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-5600 FAX: [1] (202) 797-0595 consulate(s) general: Agana (Guam), Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle consulate(s): Anchorage (AK), Dallas, Hagatna (Guam) none; North Korea has a Permanent Mission to the UN in New York Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Sung Y.

KIM (since 3 November 2011) embassy: 188 Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-710 mailing address: US Embassy Seoul, Unit 15550, APO AP 96205-5550 telephone: [82] (2) 397-4114 none; note - Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang represents the US as consular protecting power Flag description white with a red (top) and blue yin-yang symbol in the center; there is a different black trigram from the ancient I Ching (Book of Changes) in each corner of the white field; the South Korean national flag is called Taegukki; white is a traditional Korean color and represents peace and purity; the blue section represents the negative cosmic forces of the yin, while the red symbolizes the opposite positive forces of the yang; each trigram (kwae) denotes one of the four universal elements, which together express the principle of movement and harmony three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in white; on the hoist side of the red band is

 a white disk with a red five-pointed star; the broad red band symbolizes revolutionary traditions; the narrow white bands stands for purity, strength, and dignity; the blue bands signify sovereignty, peace, and friendship; the red star represents socialism National anthem name: "Aegukga" (Patriotic Song) lyrics/music: YUN Ch'i-Ho or AN Ch'ang-Ho/AHN Eaktay note: adopted 1948, well-known by 1910; both North Korea and South Korea's anthems share the same name and have a vaguely similar melody but have different lyrics name: "Aegukka" (Patriotic Song) lyrics/music: PAK Se Yong/KIM Won Gyun note: adopted 1947; both North Korea and South Korea's anthems share the same name and have a vaguely similar melody but have different lyrics; the North Korean anthem is also known as "Ach'imun pinnara" (Let Morning Shine) International law organization participation North Korea Economy - overview South Korea over the past four decades has demonstrated incredible growth and global integration to become a high-tech industrialized economy.

In the 1960s, GDP per capita was comparable with levels in the poorer countries of Africa and Asia. In 2004, South Korea joined the trillion-dollar club of world economies, and is currently the world's 12th largest economy. Initially, a system of close government and business ties, including directed credit and import restrictions, made this success possible. The government promoted the import of raw materials and technology at the expense of consumer goods, and encouraged savings and investment over consumption. The Asian financial crisis of 1997-98 exposed longstanding weaknesses in South Korea's development model including high debt/equity ratios and massive short-term foreign borrowing. GDP plunged by 6.9% in 1998, and then recovered by 9% in 1999-2000. South Korea adopted numerous economic reforms following the crisis, including greater openness to foreign investment and imports. Growth moderated to about 4% annually between 2003 and 2007.

South Korea's export focused economy was hit hard by the 2008 global economic downturn, but quickly rebounded in subsequent years, reaching 6.3% growth in 2010. The US-Korea Free Trade Agreement was ratified by both governments in 2011 and went into effect in March 2012. Throughout 2012 and 2013 the economy experienced sluggish growth because of market slowdowns in the United States, China, and the Eurozone. The administration in 2014 is likely to face the challenge of balancing heavy reliance on exports with developing domestic-oriented sectors, such as services. The South Korean economy's long term challenges include a rapidly aging population, inflexible labor market, dominance of large conglomerates (chaebols), and heavy reliance on exports, which comprise about half of GDP. North Korea, one of the world's most centrally directed and least open economies, faces chronic economic problems. Industrial capital stock is nearly beyond repair as a result of years of underinvestment, shortages of spare parts, and poor maintenance. Large-scale military spending draws off resources needed for investment and civilian consumption.

Industrial and power output have stagnated for years at a fraction of pre-1990 levels. Frequent weather-related crop failures aggravated chronic food shortages caused by on-going systemic problems, including a lack of arable land, collective farming practices, poor soil quality, insufficient fertilization, and persistent shortages of tractors and fuel. Large-scale international food aid deliveries have allowed the people of North Korea to escape widespread starvation since famine threatened in 1995, but the population continues to suffer from prolonged malnutrition and poor living conditions. Since 2002, the government has allowed private "farmers' markets" to begin selling a wider range of goods. It also permitted some private farming - on an experimental basis - in an effort to boost agricultural output. In December 2009, North Korea carried out a redenomination of its currency, capping the amount of North Korean won that could be exchanged for the new notes, and limiting the exchange to a one-week window. A concurrent crackdown on markets and foreign currency use yielded severe shortages and inflation, forcing Pyongyang to ease the restrictions by February 2010.

In response to the sinking of the South Korean warship Cheonan and the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island, South Korea's government cut off most aid, trade, and bilateral cooperation activities, with the exception of operations at the Kaesong Industrial Complex. In preparation for the 100th anniversary of KIM Il-sung's birthday in 2012, North Korea continued efforts to develop special economic zones with China and expressed willingness to permit construction of a trilateral gas pipeline that would carry Russian natural gas to South Korea. The North Korean government often highlights its goal of becoming a "strong and prosperous" nation and attracting foreign investment, a key factor for improving the overall standard of living. In this regard, in 2013 the regime rolled out 14 new Special Economic Zones set up for foreign investors, though the initiative remains in its infancy. Nevertheless, firm political control remains the government's overriding concern, which likely will inhibit changes to North Korea's current economic system.

GDP (purchasing power parity) note: data are in 2013 US dollars $40 billion (2012 est.) $40 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars; North Korea does not publish reliable National Income Accounts data; the data shown here are derived from purchasing power parity (PPP) GDP estimates for North Korea that were made by Angus MADDISON in a study conducted for the OECD; his figure for 1999 was extrapolated to 2011 using estimated real growth rates for North Korea's GDP and an inflation factor based on the US GDP deflator; the results were rounded to the nearest $10 billion.

GDP - real growth rate 0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.) Natural gas - proved reserves 5.269 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.) 0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.) Natural gas - production 424.9 million cu m (2012 est.) 0 cu m (2011 est.) Natural gas - consumption 49.66 billion cu m (2012 est.) 1 cu m (2011 est.) Natural gas - exports 0 cu m (2012 est.) 0 cu m (2011 est.) Natural gas - imports 47.34 billion cu m (2012 est.) 0 cu m (2011 est.) Electricity - installed generating capacity 84.66 million kW (2010 est.) 9.5 million kW (2011 est.) Refined petroleum products - production 2.83 million bbl/day (2012 est.) 6,965 bbl/day (2010 est.) 2.301 million b

bl/day (2012 est.) 15,000 bbl/day (2012 est.) Telephone system general assessment: excellent domestic and international services featuring rapid incorporation of new technologies domestic: fixed-line and mobile-cellular services widely available with a combined telephone subscribership of roughly 170 per 100 persons; rapid assimilation of a full range of telecommunications technologies leading to a boom in e-commerce international: country code - 82; numerous submarine cables provide links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, and US; satellite earth stations - 66 (2011) general assessment: adequate system; nationwide fiber-optic network; mobile-cellular service expanding beyond Pyongyang domestic: fiber-optic links installed down to the county level; telephone directories unavailable; GSM mobile-cellular service initiated in 2002 but suspended in 2004; Orascom Telecom Holding, an Egyptian company, launched W-CDMA mobile service on 15 December 2008 for the Pyongyang area, has expanded service to several large cities and now has a 1-million-person subscriber base international: country code - 850; satellite earth stations - 2 (1 Intels

at - Indian Ocean, 1 Russian - Indian Ocean region); other international connections through Moscow and Beijing (2011) Internet country code 1,600 km (most navigable only by small craft) (2011) 2,250 km (most navigable only by small craft) (2011) Pipelines gas 2,216 km; oil 16 km; refined products 889 km (2013) oil 6 km (2013) major seaport(s): Incheon, Pohang, Busan, Ulsan, Yeosu container port(s) (TEUs): Busan (16,163,842), Kwangyang (2,061,958), Incheon (1,924,644) LNG terminal(s) (import): Incheon, Kwangyang, Pyeongtaek, Tongyeong, Yeosu major seaport(s): Ch'ongjin, Haeju, Hungnam (Hamhung), Namp'o, Senbong, Songnim, Sonbong (formerly Unggi), Wonsan Merchant

 marine total: 786 by type: bulk carrier 191, cargo 235, carrier 8, chemical tanker 130, container 72, liquefied gas 44, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 15, petroleum tanker 55, refrigerated cargo 15, roll on/roll off 10, vehicle carrier 6 foreign-owned: 31 (China 6, France 2, Japan 14, Taiwan 1, US 8) registered in other countries: 457 (Bahamas 1, Cambodia 10, Ghana 1, Honduras 6, Hong Kong 3, Indonesia 2, Kiribati 1, Liberia 2, Malta 2, Marshall Islands 41, North Korea 1, Panama 373, Philippines 1, Russia 1, Singapore 3, Tuvalu 1, unknown 8) (2010) total: 158 by type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 131, carrier 1, chemical tanker 1, container 4, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 12, refrigerated cargo 

2 foreign-owned: 13 (Belgium 1, China 3, Nigeria 1, Singapore 1, South Korea 1, Syria 4, UAE 2) registered in other countries: 6 (Mongolia 1, Sierra Leone 2, unknown 3) (2010) Airports Republic of Korea Army; Navy (includes Marine Corps); Air Force (2011) North Korean People's Army: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force; civil security forces (2005) Military service age and obligation 20-30 years of age for compulsory military service, with middle school education required; conscript service obligation - 21 months (Army, Marines), 23 months (Navy), 24 months (Air Force); 18-26 years of age for voluntary military service; women, in service since 1950, admitted to 7 service branches, including infantry, but excluded from artillery, armor, anti-air, and chaplaincy corps; HIV-positive individuals are exempt from military service (2012) 18 is presumed to be the legal minimum age for compulsory military service; 16-17 is the presumed

 legal minimum age for voluntary service (2012) Manpower available for military service males age 16-49: 13,185,794 females age 16-49: 12,423,496 (2010 est.) males age 16-49: 6,515,279 females age 16-49: 6,418,693 (2010 est.) Manpower fit for military service males age 16-49: 10,864,566 females age 16-49: 10,168,709 (2010 est.) males age 16-49: 4,836,567 females age 16-49: 5,230,137 (2010 est.) Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually male: 365,760 North Korea Disputes - international Military Demarcation Line within the 4-km-wide Demilitarized Zone has separated North from South Korea

 since 1953; periodic incidents with North Korea in the Yellow Sea over the Northern Limit Line, which South Korea claims as a maritime boundary; South Korea and Japan claim Liancourt Rocks (Tok-do/Take-shima), occupied by South Korea since 1954 risking arrest, imprisonment, and deportation, tens of thousands of North Koreans cross into China to escape famine, economic privation, and political oppression; North Korea and China dispute the sovereignty of certain islands in Yalu and Tumen rivers; Military Demarcation Line within the 4-km-wide Demilitarized Zone has separated North from South Korea since 1953; periodic incidents in the Yellow Sea with South Korea which claims the Northern Limiting Line as a maritime boundary; North Korea supports South Korea in rejecting Japan's claim to Liancourt Rocks (Tok-do/Take-shima) Refugees and internally displaced persons stateless persons: 179 (2012)

Question: What is the name of the branch of the Pacific Ocean between China and Korea?
Answer: Yellow Sea