Answer: The Korean War was different from World War 2 in several ways that contributed to the frustrating stalemate and armed hostile peace. Some of these differences include:
Cold War context: The Korean War was fought in the context of the Cold War between the Western powers, led by the United States, and the communist countries, led by the Soviet Union. The war was seen as a test of the new international order and a proxy conflict between the two superpowers.
Limited objectives: The United States and its allies only sought to restore the status quo ante in Korea, while the communist side sought reunification. This limited objective on the side of the U.S. and its allies reduced their motivation to take the war to a total victory.
Difficult terrain: The Korean peninsula is mountainous, with limited infrastructure and transportation. This made it difficult for either side to make major territorial gains, which contributed to the stalemate.
Interventions: The intervention of the People's Republic of China on the side of the North Koreans, and the limited use of nuclear weapons by the U.S., added to the complexity of the conflict, making it more difficult to bring to a conclusion.
Overall, the limited objectives, difficult terrain, and complex interventions made the Korean War different from World War 2 and contributed to the frustration and armed hostile peace that resulted from the conflict.