Add NE Asian Balkans: Japan, Korea, Jianzhou Republic, Mongol Khanate

Japan: Pacific industrial power (Tier 1.5), Jianzhou rivalry, Alaska/Kamchatka empire
- Core: catch up to Tier 1, Sakhalin dispute, Pacific expansion vs consolidation
- 150yr modernization legacy, fur empire declining, naval dominance

Korea: "Belgium of NE Asia", small industrial mining state
- Nationalized mining, squeezed between 3 powers, survival through balance
- Identity question: Korean vs Chinese-influenced vs independent nationalism

Jianzhou Republic: industrial city-state, oligarchic republic
- World's oldest industrial zone (400yr), porcupine deterrence strategy
- Arms dealer to everyone, Song reconquest threat, Sakhalin dispute with Japan

Mongol Khanate: vast, sparse, mineral-rich
- Resource curse vs resource blessing dilemma
- Multi-vector diplomacy between great powers
- Genghis Khan legitimacy, nomad vs miner cultural split

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

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+# Korea — V3 Start 1836
+
+## Basic Info
+- **Capital**: Hanyang (Seoul equivalent)
+- **Head of State**: King (Korean dynasty — possibly Goryeo continuation or successor)
+- **Government**: Monarchy with noble council. Former Song garrison officers integrated as military aristocracy (~1650). Mixed Korean-Chinese elite.
+- **State Religion**: Confucian (state ideology) + Buddhism (popular). Strong Song cultural influence.
+- **Technology Tier**: 2-2.5 (nationalized heavy mining + some manufacturing, but not fully industrialized across the economy)
+- **Population**: Medium (~10-15M?)
+- **Literacy**: Moderate-high (Confucian education tradition)
+
+## Territory
+- Korean Peninsula (full — no division)
+- No overseas territories
+- Northern border: Jianzhou Republic (Liaodong)
+- Western: Yellow Sea → New Song across the water
+- Eastern: Sea of Japan → Japan
+- Southern: Korea Strait → Japan
+
+## The Belgian Parallel
+Korea is **V3's Belgium**: small, industrial, surrounded by great powers, everybody's potential target or buffer.
+
+```
+  New Song (huge, wants Korea back in its orbit)
+       │
+  Yellow Sea
+       │
+  KOREA (industrial mining state)
+       │
+  ├── North: Jianzhou Republic (rival industrial micro-state)
+  └── East/South: Japan (Pacific power, invaded twice historically)
+```
+
+## Opening Situation
+
+### Strengths
+```
+  ├ Nationalized mining industry (iron, coal, gold) — real industrial base
+  ├ Integrated Chinese military-technical class (from 1650 garrison absorption)
+  ├ 185 years of independence — established institutions
+  ├ Confucian education → literate bureaucracy
+  ├ Defensible peninsula geography (mountains in north)
+  └ Nobody wants to start a war on the peninsula (too many great powers involved → mutual deterrence)
+```
+
+### Weaknesses
+```
+  ├ Small (squeezed between three larger powers)
+  ├ Mining-dependent economy (what happens when mines deplete?)
+  ├ Military aristocracy (ex-Song garrison) dominates → blocks democratic reform
+  ├ Cultural split: Korean traditionalists vs Chinese-influenced modernizers
+  ├ No navy to speak of (can't project power)
+  ├ Song cultural gravity: Korean elites write in Chinese, study Chinese classics → independence of MIND not fully achieved
+  └ Everyone has a claim or interest: Song (former suzerain), Japan (historical invader), Jianzhou (neighbor)
+```
+
+## Core Gameplay
+
+### Survival Through Balance
+Korea can't beat ANY of its neighbors in a straight fight. Gameplay = diplomacy:
+```
+  Strategy options:
+  ├ Lean toward Song: cultural affinity, trade access, but risk re-vassalization
+  ├ Lean toward Japan: Pacific trade, naval protection, but historical enemy
+  ├ Lean toward Jianzhou: fellow industrial state, but direct competitor + border friction
+  ├ Lean toward England: distant, non-threatening ally (England wants Pacific access, Korea is a useful friend)
+  └ True neutrality: armed neutrality like Switzerland — but harder (Korea isn't a mountain fortress)
+```
+
+### Industrial Deepening
+Mining isn't enough for long-term survival:
+```
+  ├ Expand from mining → manufacturing (steel, machinery, weapons)
+  ├ Build a navy (can't survive without one — Japan showed this)
+  ├ Develop indigenous technology (reduce dependency on Song/Jianzhou imports)
+  ├ Railway: connect mines to ports to factories
+  └ Goal: from Tier 2.5 → Tier 2 → eventually Tier 1.5
+```
+
+### The Identity Question
+```
+  Korea absorbed Song garrison officers in 1650 → mixed elite
+  
+  Korean Traditionalists: "We are Korean, not Chinese. Purge Chinese influence."
+    → Risk: alienates the military-technical class (ex-garrison families who run the mines/factories)
+  
+  Sinophile Modernizers: "Chinese civilization is superior. We should rejoin Song's cultural orbit."
+    → Risk: path to re-vassalization
+  
+  Independent Nationalists: "We are Korean — neither Chinese nor Japanese. Our own path."
+    → The "sweet spot" but requires building a distinct Korean national identity
+    → Korean alphabet (if it exists — historical Hangul 1443) as tool for national identity
+    → Korean language education replacing Chinese classics?
+```
+
+## Relationships
+| Country | Relationship | Notes |
+|---|---|---|
+| New Song | **Former suzerain, cultural magnet** | Song wants Korea back in orbit. Trade partner but threat to sovereignty. |
+| Japan | **Historical enemy, possible ally** | Two invasions not forgotten. But shared interest vs Song/Jianzhou. |
+| Jianzhou | **Neighbor rival** | Both are ex-Song industrial states competing in same niche. Border friction. |
+| England | **Potential distant ally** | England wants Pacific partners. Korea wants a protector who's far enough away to not dominate. |
+| Mongol Khanate | **Minor neighbor** | Shares no border but close. Irrelevant unless Mongol Khanate collapses. |