The Japanese are the first foreign power…

The Japanese are the first foreign power in recent history to succeed in penetrating Korea's isolation.

After a warlike Japanese provocation against Korea in 1875 (when China failed to come to Korea's aid), the Japanese force an unequal treaty on Korea in February 1876.

The treaty gives Japanese nationals extraterritorial rights and opens up three Korean ports to Japanese trade.

In retaliation, China seeks to counter Japan by extending Korea's external relations and playing off one Western power against another.

Accordingly, Korea signs treaties with the United States, Britain, Italy, Russia, and other countries within the decade after the one with Japan.