The Korean War began as a civil war between North and South Korea, but it soon became an international conflict. After World War Two, the peninsula was divided into a Russian and China backed north and an American backed South, and each claimed the right to the other half in an effort to unify both. The country was eventually divided at the 39th parallel. In June 1950, North Korea launched a surprise attack against South Korea, and the United Nations Security Council asked U.N. nations to send troops to the region under a U.N. flag. Fifteen nations sent troops, with most sent by America, and command was given to Gen. Douglas MacArthur. After many hard fought battles, the war became one of static warfare as both sides entrenched their positions. Peace talks started at Panmunjom and lasted 2 years. An armistice was signed in 1953, ending the fighting. In all, some five million soldiers and civilians lost their lives, the Korean peninsula remains divided, the United States incurred over 33000 battle deaths and more than 103,000 wounded, and more than 8000 missing in action still remain unaccounted for.