South Vietnam, with the support of the United States, wanted to make the division permanent. The United States were afraid and weary of the spread of what they termed “international communism” in the region should North Vietnam succeed in holding the elections. However, this was only the beginning of the difficult times for the country. Millions of South Vietnamese fearing reprisal from the North fled the country and became the ‘boat people.’ The Vietnamese army attacked and removed the Khmer Rouge from power in Cambodia.