A New Kind of Tinderbox on the Korean Peninsula

Recent events on the Korean Peninsula have heightened tensions to what may be their most dangerous level since the 1950–53 Korean War. The breakdown of the 2018 Comprehensive Military Agreement and North Korea’s abandonment of its longstanding unification policy have marked significant shifts in inter-Korean relations, amid a realignment of regional powers into opposing alliances. A historical survey of Korean reunification efforts reveals the cross-cutting implications of recent diplomatic and military developments, while an analysis of the derailed inter-Korean peace process—particularly after the failed 2019 Hanoi summit between North Korea and the United States—highlights lost opportunities for regional integration and peaceful interconnection.