Korea Strait - Definition and Overview

The Korea Strait is a sea passage between the East China Sea and the Sea of Japan (in Korea also known as the South Sea and the East Sea respectively). To the north it is bounded by the south coast of the Korean peninsula, to the south by the Japanese islands of Kyushu and Honshu. The strait has a depth of about 90 metres and is split by the Tsushima islands. The eastern channel of the Korea Strait is also referred to as Tsushima Strait, and the West Channel the Korea Strait.

A branch of the Kuroshio (Japan Current) passes through the strait. It is the warm branch called Tsushima Current. Originating along the Japanese islands this currents eventually flows into the Pacific and the Sea of Okhotsk near Sakhalin. The Korean Strait was the location where in 1905, during the Russo-Japanese War, the Japanese fleet annihilated their Russian counterpart. This key battle is often referred to as the Battle of Tsushima (In Japan, it is called the "Sea of Japan naval battle.").

See also

• List of Korea-related topics