An armed conflict fought on the Korean Peninsula, initially between North Korea and South Korea, that quickly escalated into an international conflict. The war began with the invasion of South Korea by North Korean forces. An international coalition under the auspices of the United Nations came to the aid of South Korea and China entered the war to assist North Korea. In June 1953, after three years of inconclusive fighting with heavy losses on both sides, a truce was signed at P'anmunjom.