Koryo, or otherwise known in America as the southern portion of Korea, is a very diverse nation with a long history of cultural influences, and war. Nevertheless, it still manages to be a tasteful nation with an incomparable culture.
             A brief history of Korea: Korea, one of the oldest nations in the world, was first united in the 7th century. In 1905 the country was occupied by Japan and formally annexed in 1910. During World War II, Korea was promised independence following the defeat of Japan. However, at the end of the war, however, it was divided at the 38th parallel of latitude. Soviet troops occupying Korea north of this line, and American forces south of the parallel In 1948, the U.S. military government ended, and the Republic of Korea was born. On Sept. 9, 1948, a Communist-controlled government in North Korea proclaimed the independence of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea under Premier Kim Il Sung. Both governments claimed rights to the entire peninsula.
             In 1950, North Korea invaded the South in the first phase of the Korean War, and the United States quickly came to the aid of the South. In 1953 the war ended inconclusively, and the cease-fire line was placed at about the 38th parallel. The truce has been an uneasy one, marked by frequent border skirmishes. Reunification talks have been held and proposed periodically since 1972 without result.
             The climate of Korea is both continental and monsoonal(shifting with the ocean). During the winter, cold dry north and northwest winds blowing from the interior of the Asian continent usually sweep the peninsula.
             Korea is well endowed with mineral resources, including large deposits of coal, iron ore, copper, gold, silver, and tungsten. The political division of Korea left most the best agricultural land and a large labor force to the south.
             Koreans are ethnically homogenous peoples who have shared a common history, language, and culture for 1400 years...