... for the history impaired. The Korean War was a very nasty 'hot' chapter of the Cold War. It was fought for three years (1950-1953) between US/ United Nations forces and North Korean- Chinese Communist forces. The USSR was the sponsor and director of the Communist effort. Total casualties, both soldiers and civilians on both sides, exceeded five million.
There were no winners. It ended in a 'draw' with everyone back where they had started.
Although both sides had nuclear weapons they chose not to use them and it stayed a 'conventional' war. This bloody, bitter, battle of wills had a huge influence on strategy and emotions for the rest of the Cold War.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Korean_War
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Korean_War