Park Geun Hye on North Korea Policy

Park Geun Hye's North Korea policy, termed 'trustpolitik,' was introduced as a bold initiative intended to correct the perceived flaws of previous administrations, which she viewed as either too lenient or excessively hardline. Her core position sought a balanced approach, demanding that Pyongyang first adhere to existing international and inter-Korean agreements to establish a minimum level of trust, while assuring firm consequences for any breach of peace. This philosophy led to a policy of 'alignment' that involved a tough stance coupled with flexibility for negotiations, allowing for engagement while also maintaining strong security deterrence against North Korean provocations, such as missile and nuclear tests.

This conditional engagement ultimately faced significant obstacles, leading to diplomatic faltering. The policy struggled because its conditional nature provided little incentive for the North Korean leadership, who, under Kim Jong Un, adopted the 'Byungjin' policy—pursuing nuclear development alongside economic reform—signaling no intent to accommodate Seoul's demands. Furthermore, Park's political standing was weakened by domestic issues, culminating in the 2016 general election setback and her eventual impeachment in 2017, which effectively ended the trajectory of her inter-Korean policy and highlighted the deep domestic divisions on the approach to the North.