The pivotal conflict that arose from ideological differences between NATO and the Warsaw Pact during the Cold War was the Korean War, which lasted from 1950 to 1953. The war stemmed from North Korea's invasion of South Korea, with the North backed by the Soviet Union and China, while the South was supported by United Nations forces largely composed of American troops. This conflict exemplified the larger struggle between communism and capitalism, highlighting the Cold War's global reach and the extent to which ideological divides could lead to armed conflict.