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How does the La Perouse Strait connect the Sea of Okhotsk with the Sea of Japan?

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Vertical physical map showing the seas of Japan and Okhotsk, highlighting underwater basins, trenches, and ridges, as well as the coastlines and boundaries of Russia, China, North Korea, South Korea, and Japan. Major cities, islands, and peninsulas such as Vladivostok, Tokyo, Hokkaido, Sakhalin, Kamchatka Peninsula, and the Kuril Islands are labeled. Water depths are indicated with color shading, and an inset locator map shows the region's position in East Asia.
Sea of Okhotsk

The La Perouse Strait serves as an international waterway that physically separates the Sea of Okhotsk from the Sea of Japan. Located between the islands of Sakhalin (Russia) and Hokkaido (Japan), the strait facilitates the movement of water between these two seas.1

Hydrologically, this connection is significant because water flows from the Sea of Japan into the Sea of Okhotsk through the strait, which contributes to the relative warmth of the Sea of Okhotsk's southwestern region. The strait is approximately 27 miles (43 km) wide at its narrowest point and is known for its strong marine currents, though it is closed by ice during the winter months.21