Japan and
the
Koreas
Location
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East Asia
Eastern Hemisphere
Human Characteristics
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Most people live in the valleys and the
coastal plains
North Koreans have less freedom than
others in the region
Physical Characteristics
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Japan is a string of Islands
Korean peninsula
Plate tectonics lie close to the countries
Typhoons- seasonal winds bring heavy
rainfall
Environment Affects Peoples Lives
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Scarcity of flatland
Farming is costly
Countries are Interdependent on each otherdepend on each other
People use/affect the environment
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Rice is an important crop
Farming is difficult
Nuclear power plants for energy
Movement
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Ideas:
Japanese pop culture
tae kwon do
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Products and People:
Imports:
Fuel
Food
Raw material
Exports:
Motor vehicles
Electrical equipment
Region
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Religion: Buddhism, Shinto, and
Christianity
Countries are very mountainous
Japan and the Koreas since WWII
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After WWII, the U.S. occupied the southern
part of Korea and the Soviet Union occupied
the northern part
The two countries disagreed about how to
unite the two parts
Two governments developed, a communist
one in the North and a democratic one in
the South
Korean War
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North Korea invaded South Korea in 1950
signaling the beginning of the Korean War
The US led United Nations troops in
defending South Korea
The two sides agreed to stop fighting in 1953
A border was drawn with a demilitarized
zone where neither army is allowed to enter
Korean War continued:
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The peninsula was split into two countries:
1.) The communist Democratic People’s
Republic of Korea in the North
2.) Republic of Korea in the south
Japan Today
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Japan is a constitutional monarchy
Constitutional Monarchy- the constitution
limits the powers of the emperor.
After WWII, the Japanese economy grew
due to improved infrastructure and new
businesses.
Issues: recession and an aging population
North Korea Today
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It has a command economy that is not
managed well
The economy is NOT growing like South
Korea’s economy
Nuclear weapons are a threat and a response
to the military drills between the US and
South Korea
South Korea
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South Korea’s economy is booming due to
exports
Cultural borrowing has introduced new
sports into South Korea and Japan
Christianity has spread across the country