Why did communist leaders feel they had scored a victory in kora?

In military and political terms the Korean War ended with a stalemate and the preservation of the North and South Korean status quo. Regardless of being overrun by American and United Nations forces, North Korea was able to survive due to the Chinese intervention ordered by Mao Zedong. Due to political considerations and to avoid escalation of broader land war into the Chinese mainland the United States decided to an armistice. Due to these circumstances some Chinese and North Koreans drew the conclusion the Korean War was in fact a victory as opposed to a military stalemate.