China–Korea (Principia Moderni IV Map Game)

Korea (조선왕국, Joseon Wangguk) is a Korean kingdom based in the , expanse of land stretching from the Yalu River to the East Sea. It borders the to the West and the  to the East, and is home to over nine million people.

With the first Korean state being, Korea had not emerged as a single state until the seventh century, after centuries of conflict among the ; , , and. Under, Buddhism became cemented into Korean culture. However, a rigid caste system led to a period of power-struggles between the aristocracy, culminating in its dissolution into. In 935, Silla and its sucessor states were unified again under, ending the period.

Goryeo was a highly cultured state and highly influenced by, creating the Jikji document in the 14th century. In the 13th century, however, invasions by the prompted it to submit as a Mongolian vassal. After the had collapsed, severe political strife ensued, culminating in an uprising led by General, who established the the current  in 1388.

The Yi dynasty strengthened its rule over its territory, overseeing peace and tranquility and the height of Korean culture, trade, science, technology, and the arts. Initially suppressed in favour of,  under the Yi sect (formed by King Sejong) became once again ingrained into Korean culture. Korea enjoys the highest in East Asia and is one of the most technologically sophisticated countries in the world, having an entrenched naval tradition responsible for its naval prowess, having independently discovered, first to use meteorology in agriculture, among other scientific advancements.

Etymology
The term Korea is the modern spelling of Corea, it is an exonym derived from Cauli, a transcription of the Chinese 高丽 (Pinyin: Gāolì), which was the Hanja characters for Goryeo.

Koreans refer to Korea as either 조선 (Romanisation: Joseon) whose Hanja characters mean the "Morning Calm", or 한국 (Romanisation: Hanguk). The first term was derived from the earlier term Gojoseon, the oldest known Korean polity. Go– is simply a prefix meaning "ancient" or "old", added so that the two could be distinguished.

Government and Politics
Korea is an absolute monarchy under the Yi imperial household, with Yi Bang-won being its current King. The Joseon state-council is its legislative body, however, there is a decree that states all laws implemented must receive prior approval from the King.

Prominent members of the nobility are required to swear total allegiance to the royal family and the state-council, and to perform the humiliating ritual of godu monthly. The act consists of three kneelings, with each involving three prostrations before the king.

Administrative divisions
Korea is divided into eight provinces (Hangul: 도, Hanja: 道 , translit. do). Since their establishment, the provincial boundaries have remained unchanged and formed a geographic pattern in the Korean's regional cultural distinctions.

Ming dynasty
Relations with the Ming are very favourable. Korea, while independent and having its right to and, partakes within the Chinese , making it a  of China. It sends (eunuchs and concubines, as well as ) to China every two years.

Yakuts
Relations with the Yakuts are favourable

Tondo
Relations with Tondo are favourable

Mining
Korea, particularly in the northern portion of the peninsula, and the Buk-in province encompassing Manchuria, has large deposits of minerals and precious metals.

Korea is known to be one of the greatest gold producing countries in the world; even as far back as the ninth century, rumours of its great mineral wealth attracted Arab merchants and their agents, who traveled to Korea to trade for gold and silver utensils, along with copper, ginseng, paper and fans.

Korea is also a major exporter of silver, with China being its largest importer (Korea supplies much of the precious metals within Chinese banks). Silver plays an important role in Korean–Chinese trading relations, as silver forms the basis of both of the countries' currencies. There are sixty-eight silver mines across Korea, most in the Hamgyeong province.

Military
Joseon is one of largest military powers within Asia, second only to the Ming. The Korean military is divided into four branches, the Korean Royal Navy, the Korean Royal Army, the Imperial Guard, and the Special Forces (used in the northemost Buk-in province to quell Jurchen insurgencies). Joseon can draw as high as three-hundred thousand levies, but during peacetime the number is much lower, currently at sixty thousand levies. The figures do not include the members of the and Jurchen auxiliaries.

Navy
Joseon has one of the best navies within Asia, second only to the Ming. Joseon can attribute its naval prowess to, who developed a strong navy in response to Japanese piracy. While it had temporarily declined under the reign of, Japanese aggression and piracy has prompted to initiate a naval build-up and the consolidation of maritime borders.

The Joseon royal navy consists of about 1,000 naval vessels, with the composition as followed: 700, 180 , 100 , and 20. Korean naval vessels are usually equipped with artillery (such as and ), and typically have a complement of a hundred sailors. Most of Korea's ships are stationed in the ports of Busan, Ulsan, and Incheon, with Korea's largest shipyard being in Ulsan.