The Korean War began in 1950 due to the invasion of South Korea by North Korean forces on June 25. This conflict was rooted in post-World War II tensions, as Korea had been divided along the 38th parallel into two separate governments: a communist regime in the north and a democratic government in the south. The North's aspirations for reunification under its regime led to military aggression, prompting a response from the United States and other United Nations member states in support of South Korea. This war would endure until 1953, resulting in significant loss of life and a continued division of the Korean peninsula.