With wars dragging on in Europe and the Middle East, the risk of conflict spilling over to Taiwan and the Korean peninsula is coming into sharper focus. Against this backdrop, it is a welcome development that South Korea’s new government has signalled its commitment to easing inter-Korean tensions.

Reflecting the maxim of “the best victory is to win without fighting”, the South Korean government, inaugurated in June, has made peacebuilding the core of its North Korea policy. Its first step was halting propaganda leaflets and loudspeaker broadcasts aimed at the North, followed by dismantling related facilities, to which North Korea responded by ending its own broadcasts, briefly easing tensions.

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.
A 2018 comprehensive military agreement, aimed at preventing clashes in the demilitarised zone (DMZ), has received renewed attention amid discussion of a Korean peninsula peace and security cooperation initiative. The government is also reportedly considering long-term ideas – such as an inter-Korean basic agreement as a treaty between states – that some see as moving towards greater recognition of North Korea. However, these are not confirmed policies.