The Korean War began on June 25, 1950, when North Korean forces, backed by the Soviet Union and China, invaded South Korea. This invasion prompted a swift response from the United Nations, leading to a military intervention led primarily by the United States, which sought to counter the spread of communism in Asia. The conflict resulted in significant casualties and destruction, ultimately ending in a stalemate with an armistice signed on July 27, 1953. The Korean Peninsula remains divided at the 38th parallel, continuing to be a focal point of geopolitical tensions.