Korean War: A Historical Overview

Origins of the Conflict

The Korean War, a conflict that lasted from 1950 to 1953, was triggered by the invasion of South Korea by North Korea on June 25, 1950. The division of Korea into two separate entities, the Communist North and the capitalist South, along the 38th parallel, following World War II sowed the seeds for this conflict.

Escalation and International Involvement

The North Korean invasion drew swift condemnation from the United Nations (UN), which quickly passed a resolution authorizing military assistance to South Korea. The United States, as a UN member, led an international coalition that intervened on South Korea's behalf, while China and the Soviet Union supported North Korea. This international involvement transformed the conflict into a proxy war between the major superpowers of the Cold War era.