The significance of the Korean War in the context of the Cold War lies in its role as a direct military confrontation between communism and capitalism. Fought from 1950 to 1953, the conflict pitted the communist North, supported by China and the Soviet Union, against the capitalist South, backed by the United States and its allies. This war exemplified the global struggle between these ideologies, heightened tensions, and solidified military alliances, leading to lasting divisions in Korea and influencing U.S. foreign policy for decades.