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Recently, North Korea has displayed two clearly contradictory developments simultaneously. On the one hand, it is institutionalizing its break from inter-Korean relations by declaring that North and South Korea are “two hostile states.” On the other hand, it appears to be defusing tensions by reacting in an unusually positive manner to South Korea’s apology regarding a drone incident.

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These contradictory developments should not be viewed merely as short-term shifts in policy or temporary reactions. Rather, they indicate that North Korea is pursuing a dual strategy: on the one hand, it is structurally entrenching hostility; on the other, it is attempting to deliberately manage and contain the escalation of local tensions.

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Structured hostility

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North Korea's hostile policy toward South Korea is no longer limited to rhetorical statements. Instead, Pyongyang is realigning its strategy to redefine the fundamental nature of inter-Korean relations.

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This shift is clearly evident in the recent characterization of relations between North and South Korea as a “relationship between two hostile states,” coupled with the de facto abandonment of long-standing guiding principles such as reunification, reconciliation, and cooperation.

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This development represents far more than a mere linguistic adjustment. At the same time, it was announced that all concepts related to reunification would be removed from state policy. Institutional changes further reinforce this shift. The restructuring and downsizing of agencies responsible for inter-Korean affairs, as well as the curtailment of related policy areas, make it clear that relations between North and South Korea are no longer viewed as a distinct political priority.

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Taken together, these developments point to a fundamental change in the nature of inter-Korean relations. The central question is therefore no longer how to restore these relations, but how to manage tensions in a stable and sustainable way under these changed conditions.

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Calculated Flexibility

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South Korean President Lee Jae-myung’s public apology for a drone incident—“Although this was not an action taken by our government, I express my regret to North Korea for the unnecessary military tensions caused by such irresponsible behavior”—was met with an unusually conciliatory tone from the North Korean side. The swift and comparatively positive reaction to South Korea’s statement represents a notable departure from North Korea’s recent patterns of behavior. Nevertheless, it would be premature to view this as a sign of improved inter-Korean relations. This is because North Korea also called on South Korea to “abandon any attempts to establish contact.”

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Although hostility remains the fundamental strategy, there appears to be a clear awareness in Pyongyang that an uncontrolled slide into military conflict would be neither desirable nor strategically advantageous. While North Korea is structurally distancing itself more and more from inter-Korean relations, it simultaneously seems intent on avoiding an unnecessary escalation of the situation.

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Redefining the Concept of Peace

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Peace is therefore increasingly understood not as the result of improved relations, but rather as a state designed to prevent conflict and ensure stability despite ongoing hostility. This development necessitates a fundamental redefinition of the concept of peace: the traditional paradigm of rapprochement should be replaced by the concept of coexistence. Coexistence does not require the restoration of mutual trust or the normalization of relations; instead, it assumes that mutual hostility will persist. It is about managing a stable division and, above all, preventing conflict.

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Recent developments should not be interpreted merely as a phase of heightened tension or a temporary crisis. Rather, they point to the emergence of a new pattern in which conflicts are actively managed even within a structurally hostile relationship. This suggests that the Korean Peninsula is undergoing a comprehensive transition phase.

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Peace is increasingly understood as a state maintained through the controlled management of conflicts under conditions of insistent antagonism.

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The Beginning of a New Equilibrium

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The current situation should therefore not be viewed exclusively as a crisis. Instead, it marks the initial phase of a new equilibrium characterized by "hostile coexistence." The Korean Peninsula appears to be moving toward a new form of stability that can be described as "controlled tensions within a permanently hostile relationship."

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Peace on the Korean Peninsula is therefore no longer to be understood merely as a desirable end state, but as a continuous process of conflict management.

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Dr. Park Eun-joo is an Associate Research Fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) in Seoul. She studied Business Administration and International Organizations at Sookmyung Women's University before earning her Master's and PhD in North Korean Studies at Korea University, where she serves as a visiting scholar at the Institute for Public Policy. She is also a member of several South Korean government advisory boards.

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