Advantages and disadvantages of the Korean war for the USA

The cost and the casualties were high but it showed that the USA had the will and the means to contain Communism. South Korea remained out of Communist hands. But it showed the limits of the policy. The USA had to accept that North Korea remained Communist. It also highlighted tensions among American leaders. Hardline anti-Communist politicians and military leaders wanted to go beyond containment - to push back Communism and thought that Truman had shown weakness in not going for outright victory.