The Republic of the Marshall Islands is an independent island nation in the southwest Pacific Ocean. It has 34 islands, with a total area of 70 square miles. The Spanish were the first Europeans to discover the islands in 1526, and in 1788 British sea captain John Marshall visited. Held by Germany from 1885-1914, when they passed to Japan, the Marshall Islands were captured by the United States in 1944. From 1947-1990 the Marshalls were part of the U.N. Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands and administered by the United States. The Marshalls became internally self-governing in 1979. A compact of free association with the United States was approved by the islanders in 1983, by the United States in 1986, but not by the U.N. Security Council until December 22, 1990.