How did the Korean Conflict reflect the political competition between the Soviet Union and the United States? The Soviet Union sent troops into Korea to gain a naval base on the Sea of Japan, while the United States convinced the United Nations to enact sanctions against the Soviets to reverse their gains. The Soviet Union sent troops and supplies to defend North Korea’s communist government after the United States and South Korea attempted to unify the two nations under one democratic government. The Soviet Union allied with Vietnam to reclaim the Korean Peninsula under communist control, while the United States accepted Great Britain’s assistance in opposing Vietnamese aggression. The Soviet Union supported North Korea’s attempt to unite the Korean Peninsula under a communist government, while the United States sent troops and supplies to defend the democratic government in South Korea.