Which two countries have occupied the Korean Peninsula aside from North and South Korea?

• A. United States and Japan
• B. Japan and China
• C. China and Vietnam
• D. France and the Soviet Union

Answer: (B)

The most accurate answer identifies Japan and China as the two countries that have occupied the Korean Peninsula outside of North and South Korea. Japan's control over Korea began in 1910 when it formally annexed the peninsula, and this lasted until the end of World War II in 1945. During this period, Japan exerted strong political, military, and cultural influence over Korea, significantly shaping its modern history.

China, particularly during earlier dynastic periods, exerted influence over Korea through tributary relations and military incursions. The most notable period of occupation occurred during the First Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895), when Japan defeated China and began its rise as a colonial power in East Asia, impacting Korea's sovereignty and paving the way for subsequent Japanese rule.

The other options are misaligned with historical facts regarding occupations of the Korean Peninsula. The United States did play a role in Korea after World War II, mainly managing the southern part, but it never occupied the entire peninsula in the manner described. While France and the Soviet Union had some influence in East Asia, the Soviet Union's presence was primarily evident after World War II during the establishment of North Korea, rather than prior occupations. Thus, Japan and China are the two nations with