Korea Strait
34°35′58″N 129°47′48″E / 34.59944°N 129.79667°E
Korea Strait | |
---|---|
Japanese name | |
Kanji | 対馬海峡/朝鮮海峡 |
Hiragana | つしまかいきょう/ちょうせんかいきょう |
Revised Hepburn | Tsushima Kaikyō /Chōsen kaikyō |
South Korean name | |
Hangul | 대한해협 |
Hanja | 大韓海峽 |
Revised Romanization | Daehan Haehyeop |
North Korean name | |
Chosŏn'gŭl | 조선해협 |
Hancha | 朝鮮海峽 |
McCune–Reischauer | Chosŏn Haehyŏp |
The Korea Strait is a sea passage in East Asia between Korea and Japan, connecting the East China Sea, the Yellow Sea and the Sea of Japan in the northwest Pacific Ocean. The strait is split by the Tsushima Island into the Western Channel and the Tsushima Strait or Eastern Channel. It is economically important, as many shipping lanes pass through the strait, and both Japan and Korea permit free passage through it. In ancient times, both Buddhism and Mongol invaders passed over the strait to reach Japan. More recently, it was the site of the Battle of Korea Strait in the Korean War. A tunnel running underneath the strait connecting Japan and Korea, the Japan–Korea Undersea Tunnel, has been proposed to connect the two countries.
Geography
To the north, the Korea Strait is bounded by the southern coast of the
Tsushima Island divides the Korea Strait into the western channel and the Tsushima Strait. The western channel is deeper (up to 227 meters) and narrower than the Tsushima Strait.
Currents
A branch of the
Economic significance
Numerous international shipping lanes pass through the strait, including those carrying much of the traffic bound for the ports of southern South Korea. Both South Korea and Japan have restricted their territorial claims in the strait to 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) from shore, so as to permit free passage through it.[1][2]
Passenger ferries travel numerous routes across the strait. Commercial ferries run from South Korean
Japan's territorial waters extend to three nautical miles (5.6 km) into the strait instead of the usual twelve, reportedly to allow nuclear-armed United States Navy warships and submarines to transit the strait without violating Japan's prohibition against nuclear weapons in its territory.[3]
Naming of the strait
Korean Peninsula - Kyushu | Korean Peninsula - Tsushima Island | Tsushima Island - Kyushu | |
---|---|---|---|
International name (commonly used in English) |
Korea Strait | Western Channel | Eastern Channel |
South Korean name | 대한해협 / 大韓海峽 Daehan Haehyeop "Korea Strait" |
동수로 / 東水路 Dong-suro "Eastern Channel" |
서수로 / 東水路 Seo-suro "Western Channel" |
North Korean name | 조선해협 / 朝鮮海峽 Chosŏn Haehyŏp "Korea Strait" |
(None) | |
Japanese name | 対馬海峡 Tsushima Kaikyō "Tsushima Strait" |
朝鮮海峡 or 西水道 Chōsen Kaikyō or Nishi-suidō "Korea Strait" or "Western Channel" |
対馬海峡 or 東水道 Tsushima Kaikyō or Higashi-suidō "Tsushima Strait" or "Eastern Channel" |
Historic impact
Land bridge
During the
Early history
Historically, these narrows served as a highway for high risk voyages. The shortest distance between Busan, South Korea, and Tsushima Island is about 50 km, as is the shortest distance from Tsushima to Iki Island, Japan.
In the 6th century, Buddhism (Mahāyāna Buddhism) was transmitted by Baekje people to the easternmost Japan of the Emperor Kinmei's era over this strait (See also: East Asian Buddhism and Buddhism in Japan).
Mongol invasion
A joint Mongol-Korea fleet crossed this strait and attempted to invade Japan in 1274 and 1281. The force severely ravaged the Tsushima Island on the way to Japan but failed to defeat Japan.
Wokou and Ōei Invasion
After the Mongolian invasion ravaged Tsushima, it became a base of the Wokou (Japanese pirates). The Korean
Battle of Tsushima
The Battle of Tsushima, fought between the Japanese and Russian navies on May 27 and May 28, 1905, took place in the Tsushima Strait part of the Korea Strait, east of the north part of Tsushima and due north of Iki Island. The Russian fleet was destroyed by the Japanese.
Battle of Korea Strait
The
Future
The possibility of a Japan–Korea Undersea Tunnel or bridge, similar to the Channel Tunnel running under the English Channel between France and the United Kingdom, has been discussed for decades.
See also
- Geography of Korea
- List of Japan-related topics
- Geography of Japan
- Russo-Japanese War
- Tsushima City
- Sea of Japan
- Namhae
References
- ^ "The Republic of Korea's Maritime Boundaries, page 18". Retrieved June 23, 2005.
- ^ "Designated Area of Japan". Hydrographic and Oceanographic Department, Japan Coast Guard. Archived from the original on 2004-08-22.
- ^ "Japan left key straits open for U.S. nukes". The Japan Times. 2017-04-01. Archived from the original on 2017-04-01. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
- S2CID 128476723.
- Naval History & Heritage Command. Archived from the originalon 29 June 2007. Retrieved 20 November 2010.