South Korean people are deeply divided on the issue of North Korea's nuclear threat

On September 12, 2024, news from Pohang, South Korea. Although South Korea and North Korea are on the same Korean Peninsula, there is a serious division within South Korea on the perception of North Korea's nuclear threat.

The division among South Korean people on this issue has a complex historical background, including war, dictatorship, poverty, and uneven economic growth. Nowadays, views on North Korea are becoming more and more acute. Under the influence of Pyongyang's attack vows and nuclear capability building, South Korean people have formed opposing camps of views. The elderly and conservatives are usually more uneasy than liberals and young people, but this cannot be generalized.

The relationship between South Korea and North Korea has changed under different governments. The relationship improved during the period of liberal governments and declined under conservative leadership. Many South Koreans think the nuclear danger is empty because North Korea has not put its attack vows into action, but some people are deeply worried about North Korea's nuclear program.

For example, 22-year-old Kim Jae-hyun stocks up on military equipment such as bulletproof vests, worrying about a sudden attack from North Korea. 34-year-old Shin Nari rates her worry about a nuclear war at 8 points and has also stocked up on supplies. South Koreans have long been divided on the North Korea issue. After the Korean War in 1950, the peninsula has been in an unstable ceasefire state.

North Korea has been building its nuclear program for many years. Some experts estimate that it has as many as 60 nuclear warheads. Many people question the U.S. "nuclear umbrella" commitment, and more than half of people hope South Korea has nuclear weapons. Some experts believe that Kim Jong Un "makes a strategic decision to start a war."

It is difficult to measure South Korean people's views on North Korea. Some people think that North Korea is intensifying tensions for negotiations, while others firmly believe in the U.S.-South Korea alliance. Surveys show that 45% of people are worried about North Korea's nuclear program, and 30% are not worried. The alarm will rise after major provocations by North Korea. Trump's words and deeds also trigger nuclear anxiety in South Korea. The conflict between South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and Kim Jong Un's vision of reunification may exacerbate tensions.

After North Korea's satellite launch and the Seoul city government's wrong evacuation alarm, 73-year-old Chung Myung-ja hired a company to build a shelter. The division among South Korean people on the issue of North Korea's nuclear threat reflects the uncertainty and worry of South Korean society about the future.