Why might the Korean war be called a defeat for the US?

The Korean War might be considered a defeat for the U.S. because, despite its military superiority and initial successes, it failed to achieve its primary objective of unifying Korea under a pro-Western government. The conflict ended in a stalemate with the Korean Armistice Agreement in 1953, leaving the Korean Peninsula divided along the 38th parallel. Additionally, the war resulted in significant American casualties and expenditures, while failing to contain the spread of communism in Asia, ultimately leading to a perception of diminished U.S. influence in the region.