Editing North Korea–South Korea relations (section)

== Sunshine Policy ends ==
=== Lee Myung-bak government ===
[[File:Joint Security Area, Korean DMZ, looking south.jpg|thumb|The Korean DMZ in 2012, viewed from the north.]]
The Sunshine Policy was formally abandoned by the new South Korean President [[Lee Myung-bak]] in 2010.<ref>[https://www.voanews.com/a/south-korea-formally-declares-end-to-sunshine-policy--108904544/130750.html South Korea Formally Declares End to Sunshine Policy], [https://www.voanews.com Voice of America], 18 November 2010</ref>

On 26 March 2010, the 1,500-ton [[ROKS Cheonan sinking|ROKS ''Cheonan'']] with a crew of 104, sank off [[Baengnyeongdo]] in the [[Yellow Sea]]. Seoul said there was an explosion at the stern, and was investigating whether a torpedo attack was the cause. Out of 104 sailors, 46 died and 58 were rescued. Lee convened an emergency meeting of security officials and ordered the military to focus on rescuing the sailors.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://app.response.stratfor.com/e/es.aspx?s=1483&e=3399&elq=05cf8be54ef54e1da76265c30506d3cd |title=Geopolitical Weekly |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610193339/http://app.response.stratfor.com/e/es.aspx?s=1483&e=3399&elq=05cf8be54ef54e1da76265c30506d3cd |archive-date=10 June 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8589507.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |title='Blast' sinks S Korea navy ship |date=26 March 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327065313/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8589507.stm |archive-date=27 March 2010 }}</ref> On 20 May 2010, a team of international researchers published results claiming that the sinking had been caused by a North Korean torpedo; North Korea rejected the findings.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10131683 |work=[[BBC News]] |title=Anger at North Korea over sinking |date=20 May 2010 |access-date=23 May 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523031829/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/asia_pacific/10131683.stm |archive-date=23 May 2010 }}</ref> South Korea agreed with the findings from the research group and Lee declared afterwards that Seoul would cut all trade with North Korea as part of measures primarily aimed at striking back at North Korea diplomatically and financially.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/world/south-korea-cuts-trade-ties-with-north-over-sinking-20100524-w7y6.html|title=South Korea cuts trade ties with North over sinking|last=Choe Sang-Hun|date=24 May 2010|work=The Age|access-date=17 December 2024|location=Melbourne, Australia}}</ref> North Korea denied all such allegations and responded by severing ties between the countries and announced it abrogated the previous non-aggression agreement.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64O3YU20100525 Text from North Korea statement] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100605153427/http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64O3YU20100525 |date=5 June 2010 }}, by Jonathan Thatcher, Reuters, 25 May 2010</ref>

On 23 November 2010, [[Bombardment of Yeonpyeong|North Korea's artillery fired]] at South Korea's [[Daeyeonpyeong|Yeonpyeong]] island in the Yellow Sea and South Korea returned fire. Two South Korean marines and two civilians were killed, more than a dozen were wounded, including three civilians. About 10 North Koreans were believed to be killed; however, the North Korean government denies this. The town was evacuated and South Korea warned of stern retaliation, with Lee ordering the destruction of a nearby North Korea missile base if further provocation should occur.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2010/11/23/81/0301000000AEN20101123013700315F.HTML |title=(LEAD) S. Korea vows 'stern retaliation' against N. Korea's attacks |language=ko |publisher=[[Yonhap News Agency]] |date=23 November 2010 |access-date=5 April 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617105614/http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2010/11/23/81/0301000000AEN20101123013700315F.HTML |archive-date=17 June 2012 }}</ref> The official North Korean news agency, KCNA, stated that North Korea only fired after the South had "recklessly fired into our sea area".<ref name=nyt-20101123>{{Cite news|last=McDonald |first=Mark |title=North and South Korea Exchange Fire, Killing Two |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/24/world/asia/24korea.html?src=mv |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=23 November 2010 |access-date=23 November 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125081055/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/24/world/asia/24korea.html?src=mv |archive-date=25 November 2010 }}</ref>

In 2011 it was revealed that North Korea abducted four high-ranking South Korean military officers in 1999.<ref>{{cite news|first=Rahn |last=Kim |title=North Korea abducted 4 South Korean military officers' |date=20 May 2011 |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/05/113_87371.html |work=[[The Korea Times]] |access-date=31 July 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522000420/http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/05/113_87371.html |archive-date=22 May 2011 }}</ref>

===Park Geun-hye government===
On 12 December 2012, North Korea launched the [[Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 Unit 2]], a scientific and technological satellite, and it reached orbit.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kcna.co.jp/item/2012/201212/news08/20121208-23ee.html |title=KCST Spokesman on Launching Time of Satellite |publisher=Kcna.co.jp |date=8 December 2012 |access-date=5 April 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141012074854/http://www.kcna.co.jp/item/2012/201212/news08/20121208-23ee.html |archive-date=12 October 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kcna.co.jp/item/2012/201212/news12/20121212-08ee.html |title=DPRK Succeeds in Satellite Launch |publisher=Kcna.co.jp |date=12 December 2012 |access-date=5 April 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130102060136/http://www.kcna.co.jp/item/2012/201212/news12/20121212-08ee.html |archive-date=2 January 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kcna.co.jp/item/2012/201212/news12/20121212-09ee.html |title=KCNA Releases Report on Satellite Launch |publisher=Kcna.co.jp |date=12 December 2012 |access-date=5 April 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130102060142/http://www.kcna.co.jp/item/2012/201212/news12/20121212-09ee.html |archive-date=2 January 2013 }}</ref> In response, the United States deployed its warships in the region.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-20636671 |title=US moves warships to track North Korea rocket launch |publisher=[[BBC News]]|date=7 December 2012 |access-date=5 April 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130319182002/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-20636671 |archive-date=19 March 2013 }}</ref> January–September 2013 saw an escalation of tensions between North Korea and South Korea, the United States, and Japan that began because of [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 2087]], which condemned North Korea for the launch of Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 Unit 2. The crisis was marked by extreme escalation of rhetoric by the new North Korean administration under [[Kim Jong Un]] and actions suggesting imminent nuclear attacks against South Korea, Japan, and the United States.<ref>{{cite news|title=In Focus North Korea's Nuclear Threats |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/04/12/world/asia/north-korea-questions.html|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130416011036/http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/04/12/world/asia/north-korea-questions.html?_r=0 |archive-date=16 April 2013 }}</ref>

On 24 March 2014, a crashed North Korean drone was found near [[Paju]], the onboard cameras contained pictures of the [[Blue House]] and military installations near the DMZ. On 31 March, following an exchange of artillery fire into the waters of the NLL, a North Korean drone was found crashed on Baengnyeongdo.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/Article.aspx?aid=2987297 |title=Mystery drones found in Baengnyeong, Paju |publisher=[[Korea JoongAng Daily]] |date=2 April 2014 |access-date=16 September 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140916170346/http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/Article.aspx?aid=2987297 |archive-date=16 September 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27321668 |title=South Korea: Drones 'confirmed as North Korean' |work=[[BBC News]] |date=8 May 2014 |access-date=16 September 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140916170543/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27321668 |archive-date=16 September 2014 }}</ref> On 15 September, wreckage of a suspected North Korean drone was found by a fisherman in the waters near Baengnyeongdo, the drone was reported to be similar to one of the North Korean drones which had crashed in March 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-drones-idUSKBN0HA0ZC20140915 |title=South Korea finds wreckage in sea of suspected North Korean drone |work=[[Reuters]]|date=15 September 2014 |access-date=16 September 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140916031615/http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/15/us-northkorea-drones-idUSKBN0HA0ZC20140915 |archive-date=16 September 2014 }}</ref>

According to a 2014 [[BBC World Service]] poll, 3% of South Koreans viewed North Korea's influence positively, with 91% expressing a negative view, making South Korea, after Japan, the country with the most negative feelings of North Korea in the world.<ref>[http://www.globescan.com/images/images/pressreleases/bbc2014_country_ratings/2014_country_rating_poll_bbc_globescan.pdf 2014 World Service Poll] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150305012202/http://www.globescan.com/images/images/pressreleases/bbc2014_country_ratings/2014_country_rating_poll_bbc_globescan.pdf |date=5 March 2015 }} [[BBC]]</ref> However, a 2014 government-funded survey found 13% of South Koreans viewed North Korea as hostile, and 58% of South Koreans believed North Korea was a country they should cooperate with.<ref name=diplomat-20140530>{{cite news |url=https://thediplomat.com/2014/05/south-koreans-view-north-korea-as-cooperative-partner/ |title=South Koreans View North Korea as Cooperative Partner |author=Zachary Keck |publisher=The Diplomat |date=30 May 2014 |access-date=30 May 2014}}</ref>

On 1 January 2015, Kim in his New Year's address to the country, stated that he was willing to resume higher-level talks with the South.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/north-korean-leader-open-summit-south-073027307.html |title=Yahoo! News |work=Yahoo News |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305035158/http://news.yahoo.com/north-korean-leader-open-summit-south-073027307.html |archive-date=5 March 2016 }}</ref>

In the first week of August 2015, a mine went off at the DMZ, wounding two South Korean soldiers. The South Korean government accused the North of planting the mine, which the North denied. After that South Korea restarted propaganda broadcasts to the North.<ref>{{cite news|title=Land Mine Blast South Korea Threatens North with Retaliation |url=https://www.smh.com.au/world/land-mine-blast-south-korea-threatens-north-with-retaliation-20150810-givjim.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150813021912/http://www.smh.com.au/world/land-mine-blast-south-korea-threatens-north-with-retaliation-20150810-givjim.html |archive-date=13 August 2015 }}</ref>

On 20 August 2015, North Korea fired a shell on the city of [[Yeoncheon]]. South Korea launched several artillery rounds in response. There were no casualties in the South, but some local residents evacuated.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-34001126 |title=South Korea evacuation after shelling on western border |date=20 August 2015 |publisher=[[BBC News]]|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150822205709/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-34001126 |archive-date=22 August 2015 }}</ref> The shelling caused both countries to adopt pre-war statuses and a talk that was held by high level officials in the [[Panmunjeom]] to relieve tensions on 22 August 2015, and the talks carried over to the next day.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rival Koreas Restart Talks, Pull Back from Brink for Now |url=https://news.yahoo.com/korea-us-brace-n-korea-deadline-tension-mounts-051323500.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305114934/http://news.yahoo.com/korea-us-brace-n-korea-deadline-tension-mounts-051323500.html |archive-date=5 March 2016 }}</ref> Nonetheless, while talks were going on, North Korea deployed over 70 percent of their submarines, which increased the tension once more on 23 August 2015.<ref>{{cite news|title=North Korea Deploys Submarines while Talks with Seoul Resume |url=https://news.yahoo.com/korea-us-brace-n-korea-deadline-tension-mounts-051323500.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305114934/http://news.yahoo.com/korea-us-brace-n-korea-deadline-tension-mounts-051323500.html |archive-date=5 March 2016 }}</ref> Talks continued into the next day and finally concluded on 25 August when both parties reached an agreement and military tensions were eased.

Despite peace talks between South Korea and North Korea on 9 September 2016 regarding the North's missile test, North Korea continued to progress with its missile testing. North Korea carried out its [[List of North Korean missile tests|fifth nuclear test]] as part of the state's 68th anniversary since its founding.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-nuclear-idUSKCN11F02N |title=South Korea says North's nuclear capability 'speeding up', calls for action |first=Jack |last=Kim |work=[[Reuters]]|access-date=27 September 2016 |date=10 September 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927020337/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-nuclear-idUSKCN11F02N |archive-date=27 September 2016 }}</ref> In response South Korea revealed that it had a plan to assassinate Kim.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2016/09/23/asia/south-korea-plan-to-assassinate-kim-jong-un/ |title=South Korea reveals it has a plan to assassinate Kim Jong Un |first=Paula |last=Hancocks |work=[[CNN]]|access-date=27 September 2016 |date=23 September 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160926192126/http://edition.cnn.com/2016/09/23/asia/south-korea-plan-to-assassinate-kim-jong-un |archive-date=26 September 2016 }}</ref>

According to a 2017 Korea Institute for National Unification, 58% of South Korean citizens had responded that unification is necessary. Among the respondents of the 2017 survey, 14% said 'we really need unification' while 44% said 'we kind of need the unification'. Regarding the survey question of 'Do we still need unification even if ROK and DPRK could peacefully coexist?', 46% agreed and 32% disagreed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kinu.or.kr/main/kinu |script-title=ko:통일연구원 |language=ko|publisher=Kinu.or.kr |access-date=12 June 2018}}</ref>