This month, South Korea has wasted no time pitching an array of ideas designed to bring North Korea back to the negotiating table — and despite the ongoing diplomatic deadlock, the country’s Ministry of Unification patted itself on the back on Wednesday, saying that tensions are not that bad and that Pyongyang could be acting even worse.

Considering that North Korea launched a ballistic missile just a month ago, some might think that Seoul’s nonstop outreach and self-flattery is a bit untimely. But with only a year left in office and an ongoing diplomatic dry spell