East Asia has only five UN member states, but one of them, China, is among the largest countries on Earth. North of South Asia and the Himalayas, East Asia reaches the Pacific.
| Country | Capital |
|---|---|
| China | Beijing |
| Mongolia | Ulaanbaatar |
| North Korea | Pyongyang |
| South Korea | Seoul |
| Japan | Tokyo |
Key idea
China (capital Beijing), Mongolia (Ulaanbaatar), North Korea (Pyongyang), South Korea (Seoul) and Japan (Tokyo). Taiwan, an island off China's coast, governs itself but is not a UN member.
Why it works
Taiwan is governed by the Republic of China, with its capital at Taipei. The People's Republic of China, whose capital is Beijing, claims Taiwan as part of China. Taiwan is not a UN member; a small number of countries recognize the Republic of China, and many others keep unofficial ties with Taiwan. Maps show it hatched, and it is not counted among the five. Mongolia is landlocked between Russia and China, and the Korean Peninsula has been divided into two countries since the 1940s.
Worked example: The Korean Peninsula
Which capital is in the north of the peninsula, and which in the south?
- North Korea's capital is Pyongyang.
- South Korea's capital is Seoul, close to the border between the two.
Answer: Pyongyang (north); Seoul (south).
Worked example: Biggest city or capital?
Shanghai is China's largest city. What is the capital?
- Shanghai is the giant port at the mouth of the Yangtze.
- The capital is Beijing, in the north.
Answer: Beijing.
Common mistake
People say Shanghai for China or Osaka for Japan. The capitals are Beijing and Tokyo.