South Korea's North Korea policy now centers on peaceful coexistence, respecting the North's political system and avoiding hostile actions. While reunification isn't abandoned, coexistence is the immediate priority.

South Korea has made peaceful coexistence the central objective of its North Korea policy. As outlined in a recent white paper, Seoul has not formally abandoned reunification but has chosen to prioritise the more immediate and achievable objective of establishing a stable framework for coexistence. The document articulates three guiding principles: respect for North Korea’s political system, rejection of unification by absorption, and avoidance of hostile actions. Underscoring the urgency of...