SEA OF JAPAN (EAST SEA)

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Picture Courtesy: https://www.voanews.com/a/chinese-destroyer-on-long-distance-exercises-in-sea-of-japan/6619760.html

Context: North Korea's recent ballistic missile launch into the Sea of Japan (East Sea) has raised concerns among regional powers and the international community.

About the Sea of Japan (East Sea)

• The Sea of Japan (East Sea) is bordered by:
  • Japanese archipelago to the east
  • Sakhalin to the north
  • Korean Peninsula to the west
  • Russian Far East to the northeast.
• Its geographical location and isolation from the Pacific Ocean have influenced its unique characteristics.
• The Sea of Japan (East Sea) is a marginal sea enclosed by landmasses, which results in almost no tides and lower faunal diversity and salinity compared to the open ocean. Its water balance is primarily influenced by the inflow and outflow through connecting straits.
• The sea's high biological productivity, characterised by an elevated concentration of dissolved oxygen, makes it conducive to fishing activities. Fishing is the dominant economic activity in the region, contributing significantly to the local economy.