The Korean War (1950-1953) did not gain widespread public support. World War II left Korea divided into northern and southern halves, each supported by a world power. Territorial disputes were common, and when the North, supported by the Soviets (and, to a more limited extent, the Chinese) attacked the South, the United States responded with support. Overall, there were no winners. At the end of the war, in 1953, the established borders were very similar to the previous ones. South Korea gained 1,500 square miles of territory, and a 2-mile-wide demilitarized zone was established between the two nations. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Although unpopular, the Korean War was also an unjust war on both sides. There are six main conditions for a war to be just. First, it must be fought with good overall intentions. Second, it must aim to right a wrong committed against a nation, such as an unwanted attack. Furthermore, if possible, other means to resolve the dispute should be sought first. It should not cause more harm than necessary, as this would outweigh the benefits for which the war is being fought. War should be fought openly and honestly, with the nations involved declaring their intentions and desires. Finally, a war should only be fought if there is a reasonable chance of success. Even wars have to be conducted in a certain way to be fair. To be fair, nations must be discriminating in their attacks and civilians should never be targeted. Furthermore, attacks should not cause more damage than necessary, prohibiting scorched earth or similar policies. We will examine the requirements for a just war and compare them to the Korean War. First, the origins of the war are very important. North Korea justified its invasion by claiming that South Korean troops had attacked first. This has not been verified, but the response to an invasion is not justified simply because of a border skirmish. Furthermore, the North aimed to execute Syngman Rhee, the South Korean leader. With this knowledge, the United States became involved to help the defense forces in the South but also to stop the spread of communism, something the United States deemed a major threat to world democracy. Under the first two conditions of just cause and just intention, the North was unjustified in starting the war, but the South and the United States were justified in their defense. The third condition of a just war is more vague. The North could have explored other options to stop the border skirmishes other than an all-out invasion, which means they were unfair. Whether the United States and South Korea had the capacity to negotiate peace is up for debate. However, the North's forces were moving quickly and reached the South Korean capital Seoul within 3 days. The swiftness of the attack adds to the argument that South Korea had no reason to negotiate and was justified in its defense. The United States felt a great need to help the South, and forces arrived within weeks of the initial attack. The fourth condition of political proportionality is also the subject of debate. North Korea was fighting primarily over territory, although the border clashes would have ended if they had won, eliminating future political disputes and loss of life. South Korea was committed to defense and was.