Why Did Kim Jong-un Delete Unification? Issues and Implications of North Korea's Position on 'Hostile Relations Between Two States'

Abstract: In 2024, North Korea deleted 'unification strategy' from its national strategy and declared its pursuit of a policy toward South Korea founded on the recognition of two states coexisting on the Korean Peninsula, thus disregarding South Korea as a counterpart for reconciliation and unification. This fundamental policy shift toward South Korea is based on an aggressive perception of the current political situation, and appears to be a mid-to-long term strategic level decision. Since the failure of the US-North Korea summit meeting in Hanoi in 2019, North Korea appears to be cultivating a new identity for itself as a self-reliant 'nuclear power' in order to gain superiority over South Korea, pressure the United States, and gain recognition as a nuclear state from the international community. Pyongyang seeks superiority over Seoul by contrasting North Korea's 'great power identity' as an independent socialist country with South Korea's 'colonial identity' as a capitalist colony of the United States. This fundamental policy shift will inevitably affect South Korea's overall national strategy, including Seoul's diplomatic, security, and unification strategies.