Article

On February 8, 1904, Japan initiated the Russo-Japanese War with a surprise attack on the Russian fleet at Jemulpo, Korea. This marked the first military engagement between the two nations, following significant tensions over territorial control in East Asia. Japan's military advantage, with approximately 250,000 troops compared to Russia's 100,000, and its strategic actions in Korea led to the capture of Seoul and the collapse of diplomatic relations with Russia by February 12.