On 14 May of that year, "Waller" headed west to participate in the Korean War and, upon arrival near the "Land of the Morning Calm", immediately joined Task Force 95 (TF 95) as it was proceeding to Wonsan harbor. For 10 days, she fired shore bombardment missions against North Korean targets, hurling some 1,700 rounds of 5 inch shells on enemy positions. During the following summer, the destroyer acted as an escort for 7th Fleet units exercising in waters off Okinawa before returning to the seaborne blockade lanes in October 1951 for a two-week tour of duty before again returning to the United States.