Explain in 3-5 sentences the causes and impacts of the proxy wars in Korea and Vietnam.
The proxy wars in Korea and Vietnam were caused by the larger Cold War rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union, with each side supporting different factions in these conflicts. In Korea, the conflict arose in 1950 when North Korea, with support from China and the Soviet Union, invaded South Korea, which was supported by the United States and its allies. In Vietnam, the United States backed the South Vietnamese government in its fight against the communist Viet Cong, who were supported by North Vietnam and the Soviet Union.
The impacts of these proxy wars were devastating, resulting in high casualties and widespread destruction in both countries. In Korea, the war ended in a stalemate in 1953, leaving the country divided at the 38th parallel, with ongoing tensions between North and South Korea. In Vietnam, the war dragged on for nearly two decades, causing immense suffering for the Vietnamese people and leading to the eventual unification of North and South Vietnam under communist rule. Both conflicts left lasting legacies of trauma and division in these countries.