“The Korean Peninsula is a region located in Eastern Asia extending south from the Asian continent for about 683 miles (1,100 km). Today, it is politically divided into North Korea and South Korea. North Korea is located on the northern part of the peninsula and it extends from China south to the 38th parallel of latitude . South Korea then extends from that area and encompasses the rest of the Korean Peninsula.
The Korean Peninsula was in the news for much of 2010, and especially toward the end of the year, because of growing conflicts between the two nations. Conflict on the Korean Peninsula is not new however as North and South Korea have long had tensions with one another that dates back prior to the Korean War, which ended in 1953.”

http://geography.about.com/od/northkorea/a/korean-conflict.htm http://geography.about.com/od/northkorea/a/korean-conflict.htm

http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/regions/asia/north-east-asia/north-korea.aspx

NORTH KOREA – OCTOBER 11: In this frame grab made off undated North Korea’s Korean Central Television (KCTV) footage aired on October 11, 2008 North Korean leader Kim Jong Il claps as he inspects a female military unit in North Korea. It marked the first time in 58 days that photos of Kim in public have been broadcast by North Korean news media showing the reclusive ruler looking well despite reports he had suffered serious health problems. (Photo by Korean Central Television/Yonhap via Getty Images)