Yoon wants to get tough on North Korea but lacks options to be true hardliner | NK News
NK News Logo
January 10, 2025

NK News is hiring

Analysis

Yoon wants to get tough on North Korea but lacks options to be true hardliner

Inter-Korean economic exchanges ended years ago, leaving few ways to apply pressure beyond more hawkish rhetoric

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol is often described as a North Korea hawk — skeptical of engagement, supportive of sanctions, tough on human rights and staunchly pro-alliance.

But nothing about Yoon’s stated inter-Korean policies thus far demonstrates an interest in pressing the kind of buttons that typify a hawk. Indeed, relations with Pyongyang are already nonexistent enough that it’s difficult to envision any pressure points the new administration could leverage even if it wanted to.

Try unlimited access
Only $1 for four weeks

  • Unlimited access to all of NK News: reporting, investigations, analysis
  • Year-one discount if you continue past $1 trial period
  • The NK News Daily Update, an email newsletter to keep you in the loop
  • Searchable archive of all content, photo galleries, special columns
  • Contact NK News reporters with tips or requests for reporting
Get unlimited access to all NK News content, including original reporting, investigations, and analyses by our team of DPRK experts.
Subscribe now

All major cards accepted. No commitments – you can cancel any time.