The North Korean army invaded South Korea on June 25, 1950, crossing the 38th parallel, which was the border between the two countries. The South Korean army and a division of U.S. soldiers who had remained in South Korea were pushed all the way to the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula. The U.S. counterattacked by landing Marines at Inchon, thereby cutting the supply lines to the North Korean forces. The North Korean army retreated out of South Korea. U.S. and United Nations forces followed them into North Korea and pushed the North Korean army all the way to the Chinese border. The U.S. and United Nations forces were pushed back by the Chinese and North Korean forces into a stalemate. The war had lasted from 1950-1953. Today, North Korea remains a communist country and South Korea remains a democracy.