Korean War

American  

[kuh-ree-uhn wawr, kaw-, koh-] / kəˈri ən ˈwɔr, kɔ-, koʊ- /

noun

1. a war begun on June 25, 1950, when North Korea, supported by the Soviet Union and China, invaded South Korea, which was subsequently supported by the United States and numerous allies within the United Nations: armistice signed July 27, 1953.

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Korean War British  

noun

1. the war (1950–53) fought between North Korea, aided by Communist China, and South Korea, supported by the US and other members of the UN

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Korean War Cultural  

1. A war, also called the Korean conflict, fought in the early 1950s between the United Nations, supported by the United States, and the communist Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea). The war began in 1950, when North Korea invaded South Korea. The United Nations declared North Korea the aggressor and sent military aid to the South Korean army. President Harry S. Truman declared the war a “police action” because he never asked Congress to pass an official declaration of war. He thereby established a precedent for President Lyndon Johnson, who committed troops to the Vietnam War without ever seeking a congressional mandate for his action. General Douglas MacArthur commanded the United Nations troops, who were mostly from the United States. The tide turned against North Korea with the landings at Inchon, and its troops were pushed back into the north; but reinforcements from the People's Republic of China soon allowed the North Koreans to regain lost territory. In 1953, with neither side having a prospect of victory, a truce was signed. In the course of the war, President Truman removed MacArthur from his command for insubordination. (See Truman-MacArthur controversy.)

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Compare meaning

How does korean-war compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Korean War vs. Vietnam War

Example Sentences

The Korean War ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty in 1953, meaning North and South Korea remain technically at war.

From BBC • May 29, 2026

Taxes were levied in 1914, 1916, 1917 and 1919 to fund World War I; in 1940, 1941, 1942 and 1944 for World War II; and in 1950 and 1951 for the Korean War.

From MarketWatch • May 28, 2026

The last time a budget increase of this proportion was approved was in 1952 during the Korean War.

From Salon • May 8, 2026

The outbreak of the Cold War, soon followed by the Korean War, halted demobilization and led to the largest standing military in American history.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

The core class included farm workers, families of soldiers killed during the Korean War, families of troops who had served with Kim II Sung fighting against Japanese occupation, and government workers.

From "Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West" by Blaine Harden