South Korea’s pursuit of peace and coexistence with North Korea could increase the risk of conflict if Pyongyang interprets Seoul’s restraint as weakness—underscoring the historical lesson that lasting peace requires credible strength and deterrence.

Despite Seoul’s engagement efforts, the Kim regime continues to label South Korea as its number one enemy because hostility toward the South is essential both to counter the internal threat posed by K-culture and to strategically pressure a conciliatory South Korean government into concessions in the name of peace.