The Political Realm: Journal of Undergraduate Research in Political Science and International Relations
Abstract
This article argues that contemporary DPRK–ROK relations are best understood as a relationship structured by mutual fear, deep historical grievances, and profound distrust, rooted in the legacies of Japanese occupation, ideological division, and the unresolved Korean War. Although North Korea’s nuclear program has intensified South Korean insecurity, the paper shows that Pyongyang’s behavior is largely defensive rather than aggressively expansionist, and that past opportunities for invasion went unexploited. Recent gestures of engagement—such as sports diplomacy during the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics—suggest that while reconciliation remains difficult, cautious and incremental improvement in inter‑Korean relations is possible.
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Recommended Citation
Dammers, Reese
(2026)
"A begrudging acknowledgement: An Analysis of the relationship between the DPRK and ROK,"
The Political Realm: Journal of Undergraduate Research in Political Science and International Relations: Vol. 35, Article 10.
Available at:
https://knightscholar.geneseo.edu/political-realm/vol35/iss1/10