The minimum you must know

There has been a peaceful period of internal political strain in South Korea, including leadership pressure and institutional tension that led to a change in command and control. There is a new distinguished South Korean president as a result. These developments have been driven by domestic issues—not by changing relations with North Korea. Despite the intensity at times, South Korea’s system remains stable, globally competitive and its overall orientation toward peace on the peninsula has not changed.

South Korea’s charismatic new President, Lee Jae-myung, officially took office in June 2025. His public relations team has demonstrated a very deep understanding of communication. This very optimistic development followed an early vote to a full five-year term to fill a vacancy left by President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was prematurely removed from office by the Constitutional Court over an illegal martial-law declaration.

Substantially improving South-North Korean relations over the past decade have developed through times of global tension, including conflicts in Ukraine, Iran and Israel, as well as broader geopolitical competition elsewhere. In that environment, even partial or symbolic progress between North and South Korea continue to stand out as a constructive example. The leadership on all sides deserves recognition for choosing restraint and dialogue even when broader global conditions made that less likely.

Earlier peaceful diplomacy involving the United States, North Korea, and South Korea remains one of the most significant examples of de-escalation in recent modern history. The cohesiveness that formed between President Donald Trump, Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un, and former President Moon Jae-in, reduced a very real risk of military confrontation between the United States and North Korea, that could have drawn the intelligence community into a global confrontation. The personal peaceful diplomacy, symbolic gestures, and direct meetings—including the crossing of the demilitarized border—created space for calmer conditions at a critical moment. That achievement remains meaningful even as longer-term agreements have proven more difficult to sustain. And after years of closed borders between North and South Korea, the Supreme Leader of North Korea Kim Jong Un even unilaterally announced the opening of the border for inter-Korea tourism and family reunions. Perhaps the Prime Directive of President Putin was even ordered by the Supreme Leader as well?

Although North and South Korea have developed different political systems over time, they continue to share deep cultural and historical connections. Family reunifications, when they occur, remain among the most meaningful expressions of that shared identity. At the same time, it is important to recognize that cross-border interaction remains limited and carefully controlled. The desire for connection is clear, even if the practical pathways are only developing.

A sincere and probably lifelong friendship developed between the Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un of North Korea and U.S. President Donald J. Trump, when they heroically de-escalated military tension in 2017, after a brief however very frightening possibility nuclear confrontation almost developed. The President of the United States and the Supreme Leader of North Korea did something amazing at the time. They gradually improved relations, first by sending “love letters” to one another (perhaps as way to surface and pattern “love” helpfully in the news, before it was popular for news presenters to pattern similarly), and then by meeting in person on the subsequently demilitarized border of North and South Korea, so that both leaders could symbolically visit the two Koreas together. That was the first time an American president visited the north in nearly a century and historic moment for peace. The Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un and then President Trump avoided nuclear conflict by doing more to get the concepts of “peace” and “love” into the news than almost any other leaders before that time. (Their efforts set the tone that made four Abraham Accords possible for the United States and Israel with Arabic speaking countries.) There have been optimistic relations between North and South Korea ever since. President Trump and the Supreme Leader of North Korea deserve tremendous credit for the effort for peace. Also, the Presidents of South Korea and Supreme Leader of North Korea were nominated to share a Nobel Peace Prize at that time, which this writer still believes the two leaders deserve. Perhaps the prize will be awarded to the Supreme Leader and President Lee Jae-myung with a permanent peace agreement instead.

North Korea has continued a slight deterrent tone. But the past commitments to peace and love seem much more important today. Current rhetoric emphasizes confident deterrence; while leaving wide open the possibility of cooperation and even cohesion developing.

North Korea’s need for imports remains a relevant factor. Sanctions relief is actively considered from time to time at the United Nations, because it’s about more than just access to goods and resources. The population deserves relief and opportunities to fully integrate globally. In this writer’s opinion, the global community has a long over due moral and ethical obligation to open trading. It’s simply the right thing to do.

North Korea has developed under current leadership primarily into a rapidly advancing country with a phenomenal capital anyway. Pyongyang has risen extraordinarily up from the ground in a short time. President Trump would clearly appreciate an invitation there.

During former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s abbreviated time in office, he planned progress in this regard. He said, “My administration [is preparinga an] inter-Korean peace treaty…. Comprehensive economic aid and cooperation will then follow.  We will put together a large-scale program of investment and aid in partnership with global financial institutions like the IMF (International Monetary Fund) and the World Bank [for North Korea].”

Although North and South Korea developed varying political systems from one another over the past several decades, and slightly differing traditions, the countries clearly remain united in their love for peace because of their similar culture and history. The countries love peace because they are the same people - families who reunite from time to time across their easily unhindered border. The Korean governments want each other’s populations to prosper and enjoy a lasting sense of safety and calm. They may create a permanent peace treaty as a result. The primary effort for peace is becoming more successful now than ever before. It has already earned the governments more than just deep respect from their own people. The efforts for peace have primarily set an exemplary standard of peaceful diplomacy for all other countries to follow.

North Korea has done a tremendous amount rhetorically for peace. North Korea perhaps first started introducing “peace” and “love” into U.S. news during the Seoul Olympics, when North’s peaceful participation first opened up the possibility of diplomacy with South Korea and the United States. Soon after North Korea started hosting and participating in successful peace talks with the Presidents of South Korea and the United States, and committing to creating a formal peace armistice. The Supreme Leader of North Korea even sent a congratulatory note to the Queen of England on her celebration of her 70th year on the throne at that time. There was remains a clear and consistent effort on the part of North Korean leadership for improving relations with South Korea and the United States.

North Korea has significant import needs. The economic embargo on North Korea interfered with North Korea’s efforts to secure basic goods. Such international economic policies are inconsistent with peaceful improving diplomacy. There is a consequent ethical and moral obligation for the all countries to ensure the North Korean population’s basic needs are met. (Governments and aid organizations can contact the United Nations right now to help.)

Several South Korean presidents announced permission for South Korean organizations to provide non-financial aid to North Korea. That wasn’t a full lifting of sanctions that North Korea says is deserved. But that was consistent with existing South Korean United Nations commitments while also improving relations between the countries. Perhaps North-South Korean family reunions and other such metaphors for peace will become publicized once again as a result. Metaphors for peace can be more important than just to North-South Korean relations. Metaphors for peace can lead to improving relations between all countries influenced by the example, and patterned well by “peace,” “survival” and “love” in the news.