The United States and the USSR Use Proxies Fighting proxy wars: During the Cold War, the United States and Soviet Union each wanted to make their political and economic systems dominant. They engaged in proxy wars, each supporting the side with a matching political orientation.

The Korean War Involved the Soviet Union, China, and the United States A divided Korea: After World War II, the Soviet Union and the United States divided Korea into two zones, with the plan of holding elections to reunify Korea. As U.S.- Soviet relations grew worse, two separate governments emerged in Korea—a communist government in the North and an anti-communist government in the South. The Korean War: War broke out in Korea in 1950 when, with the approval of Joseph Stalin, the Communist government in North Korea invaded South Korea. Fearing further communist expansion, the United States sent troops to help repel the invaders. The Chinese sent troops to reinforce the North. The war continued until 1953 with neither side a victor and with Korea divided at the 38th parallel, just as it had been at the war's outset.

Discussion What roles did the Soviet Union, China, and the United States play in the Korean War? Stalin, the head of the Soviet Union, gave North Korea permission to attack South Korea. The United States sent troops to repel the invaders, and China sent troops to aid North Korea.

Background Because Japan had controlled Korea since 1910, Korea did not have its own government at the end of World War II. Claimants to power were divided into two main groups—committed Marxists who had fought the Japanese as part of Chinese guerrilla armies and members of a Korean nationalist movement. The United States and the Soviet Union agreed to divide the country at the 38th parallel for administrative purposes. When the two sides could not agree on a formula for a unified Korea, President Truman persuaded the United Nations to assume responsibility for the country. Military forces in the North and South increased; however, resistance by communist supporters in the South slowed the growth and training of its army. In early 1949, North Korean leader Kim Il- Sung asked Soviet leader Joseph Stalin for permission to launch a conventional invasion of the South. In early 1950, Stalin approved an invasion.

Discussion the Soviet Union was a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council with the power to veto any resolution that comes before the Council. At the time the UN Security Council approved a resolution condemning the invasion of South Korea, the Soviet Union could not veto the proposal because its delegate had been boycotting the meetings to protest China's having no representation in the United Nations.

Discussion How do you think UN involvement affected the Korean War? when the UN gets involved on one side of an issue, it might sway world opinion in favor of that side.