The Korean War (1950-1953) occurred in the context of the Cold War, a geopolitical struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union. Following World War II, Korea was divided into communist North Korea, supported by the USSR and China, and capitalist South Korea, backed by the U.S. In June 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea, prompting U.S. intervention under the auspices of the United Nations to contain the spread of communism. The war heightened tensions in East Asia and solidified military alliances, shaping U.S. foreign policy in Asia for decades.