South Korea

Located across the Sea of Japan from Japan, South Korea is much more hospitable than its northern neighbor, North Korea. The south has major agricultural production, as well as its industrial base.

It is industry for which South Korea is generally most noted; the country supports a large number of manufacturing industries, from automobile production and shipbuilding to clothing and footwear.

Although North and South Korea have officially been at war since 1950, the active conflict known as the Korean War lasted from 1950 to 1953. The capital city of Seoul is located only 30 miles from the line of battle, now marked by the DMZ

Unlike the North, with its communist government, South Korea is a republic; this status has given it support over the years from Western countries, including the U.S.