[kuh-ree-uh, kaw-, koh-] 
| 1. | a former country in E Asia, on a peninsula SE of Manchuria and between the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea: a kingdom prior to 1910; under Japanese rule 1910–45; now divided at 38° N into North Korea and South Korea. Compare Korean War. |
| 2. | Democratic People's Republic of, official name of North Korea. |
| 3. | Republic of, official name of South Korea. |
| a country in E Asia: formed 1948 after the division of the former country of Korea at 38° N. 24,317,004; 50,000 sq. mi. (129,500 sq. km). Capital: Pyongyang. Compare Korea. |
Historic region consisting of North Korea and South Korea; peninsula off northeastern China separating the Yellow Sea and Sea of Japan, two arms of the Pacific Ocean.
Note: Korea was under Japanese rule in the early twentieth century. At the end of World War II, Korea was divided at the thirty-eighth parallel of north latitude into two zones, with troops of the Soviet Union in the north and troops of the United States in the south. By 1948, two separate governments had emerged, the communist Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the north and the noncommunist Republic of Korea in the south. American and Soviet troops were withdrawn by 1949. The Korean War (1950–1953) began when North Korean forces invaded South Korea. Forces of the United Nations under General Douglas MacArthur aided South Korea, whereas Chinese forces aided North Korea.
Republic on northern Korean Peninsula on east coast of Asia, bounded on the north by China, on the northeast by Russian Siberia, on the east by the Sea of Japan, on the south by South Korea, and on the west by the Yellow Sea and Korea Bay. Its capital and largest city is P'yongyang.
Note: A communist country that used to have close ties with the Soviet Union, North Korea, continues to maintain a close relationship with China.
Note: It was established in 1948 after two occupation zones were set up in northern and southern Korea during World War II.
Note: The Korean War began in 1950, when North Korean forces invaded South Korea. Supplied by the Soviets, and eventually joined by the Chinese, North Korea fought forces of South Korea and the United Nations.
Note: Run by one most closed and repressive regimes on Earth, North Korea has suffered from food shortages and a deteriorating economy.
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