The Korean war began in June, 1950 when North Korea, led by Kim Il Sung, invaded South Korea along the 38th parallel. Kim Il Sung wanted to unite Korea together but under a communist rule. Because of this, the USSR supported the invasion but were wary of becoming physically involved due to the fact that World War II had only just ended. In response, the US tried to intervene due to their fear of communism spreading throughout Asia. China, which had completed its transition to a communist state in 1949, also supported North Korea, and eventually committed large numbers of its troops to the war.
The War lasted for 3 years and over 3 million people were killed and more than 1.5 million were injured. A ceasefire stopped the fighting on July 27, 1953. There was an armistice signed by North Korea, China and the UN but not South Korea. Korea was split into North Korea, which is communist, and South Korea which is non-communist. The border, protected by a demilitarized zone, was established along the 38th parallel. The demilitarized zone which designates the border between North and South Korea has remained one of the most heavily-armed stretches of land on Earth.
The War lasted for 3 years and over 3 million people were killed and more than 1.5 million were injured. A ceasefire stopped the fighting on July 27, 1953. There was an armistice signed by North Korea, China and the UN but not South Korea. Korea was split into North Korea, which is communist, and South Korea which is non-communist. The border, protected by a demilitarized zone, was established along the 38th parallel. The demilitarized zone which designates the border between North and South Korea has remained one of the most heavily-armed stretches of land on Earth.