The Korean War (1950-1953) had significant impacts for both North and South Korea, solidifying the division of the Korean Peninsula. North Korea, backed by the Soviet Union and China, sought to unify the country under a communist regime, while South Korea, supported by U.N. forces mainly from the U.S., defended its sovereignty. The war ended in an armistice, establishing a demilitarized zone (DMZ) that remains one of the most fortified borders in the world. The conflict also intensified Cold War tensions and influenced military strategies in the region, contributing to ongoing hostilities and competition between the two Koreas that persist today.