South Korea's peace push a chance for stability in Northeast Asia
Inter-Korean relations have long cycled between retaliatory and conditional, quid pro quo engagements. In this context, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung's administration is seen as creating a new opening for reconciliation and cooperation. While ideological differences persist in how successive South Korean governments have approached North Korea, both progressive and conservative administrations have consistently prioritised stability and peace on the Korean peninsula.
Conservatives have focused on peacekeeping and progressives on peacebuilding. The current administration's approach emphasises
easing tensions and building trust based on coexistence. Unlike past peace processes that relied heavily on formal negotiations, this initiative seeks to foster trust through parallel and multilayered channels.
Past progressive administrations achieved meaningful cooperation through inter-Korean summits, the
Kaesong industrial complex and rail reconnections. Though suspended, these projects could still spark broader change.
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