The Korean War

What happened

Communist North Korea invaded the South in June 1950. A United Nations force led by the United States pushed the invaders back, but the intervention of Communist China in late 1950 turned the war into a bloody stalemate near the 38th parallel, ending in an armistice in 1953.

Why it matters

The first 'hot war' of the Cold War killed millions, entrenched the division of Korea that endures today, and confirmed that containment would be enforced by force.

Sources

• Office of the Historian, U.S. Department of State. The Korean War, 1950–1953 · Reputable source
• Imperial War Museums. A Short History Of The Korean War · Reputable source