The Korean War began on June 25, 1950 when North Korea invaded South Korea. The war lasted for three years and involved North Korea, China, and the Soviet Union against South Korea, the United States, and other countries like the UK and France. Over 3 million people died in the war, which ended in 1953 with an armistice that divided Korea along the original border. The Korean War is often called the "Forgotten War" because it was overshadowed by World War II and the Vietnam War, even though many countries participated and there were massive casualties.