The Korean War marked a pivotal moment in Cold War history, representing the first major military confrontation between communist and capitalist forces. The conflict began in 1950 when North Korea invaded South Korea, leading to a three-year struggle that ultimately reinforced the policy of containment.

• The Role of UN in Korean War was unprecedented, with UN forces intervening to support South Korea after Soviet absence prevented a Security Council veto
• The war demonstrated the effectiveness of the Korean War containment vs rollback strategy, as attempts to roll back communism proved unsuccessful
• The conflict established the pattern of proxy warfare that would characterize much of the Cold War
• The Korean War impact on Cold War intensified US-China tensions and solidified the division of Korea along ideological lines
• The war ended in stalemate at the 38th parallel, establishing a precedent for limited warfare in the nuclear age