The Korean War was primarily sparked by the division between North and South Korea, which occurred as a result of the power struggles between the Soviet Union and the United States after World War II. The country became divided along the 38th parallel, with the North adopting a communist regime under Kim Il-sung and the South embracing a capitalist system led by Syngman Rhee. Tensions escalated when North Korea, supported by the Soviet Union and China, invaded the South in 1950, aiming to reunite the country under communism. The conflict was also influenced by the geopolitical interests of the United States, who feared the spread of communism in the region.
