<P> Though not officially belligerent during the Korean War (1950--1953), the Soviet Union played a significant, covert role in the conflict . It provided material and medical services, as well as Soviet pilots and aircraft, most notably MiG 15 fighter jets, to aid the North Korean - Chinese forces against the United Nations Forces . </P> <P> The Soviet 25th Army took part in the Soviet advance into northern Korea immediately after World War II had ended, and was headquartered at Pyongyang for a period . Like the American forces in the south, Soviet troops remained in Korea after the end of the war to rebuild the country . </P> <P> Soviet soldiers were instrumental in the creation and early development of the North Korean People's Army and Korean People's Air Force, as well as for stabilizing the early years of the Northern regime . The Shineuiju Air Force Academy was founded under Soviet leadership on 25 October 1945 in order to train new pilots . </P> <P> Because at the time the war broke out in 1950, the Communist Soviet Union, China and their allies were already locked into a "Cold War" with capitalist countries, both sides felt that the Korean Conflict carried the potential to further destabilize the precarious relations between both sides, while also offering possible advantages . </P>

Who supplied north korea with weapons in the korean war