There's a large degree of racism in Korean society which is the ideological driver of the cult of personality in North Korea. North Koreans see themselves as 'pure' and too pure to go out into the dangerous world without the stewardship of their Dear Leader. Sadly this racism doesn't end at the DMZ. Many many South Koreans also ascribe to this idea and view the North Koreans with a sort of pastoral purity and reverence.
Dealing with NK for the South Korean government is politicially challenging because of this segment. The South Korean government doesn't want to be perceived as being too harsh. There's also a strong conspiracy theory movement in SK which attempts to pin NK actions as deceptions of the imperialist west notably the U.S. Strong statements against NK aggression are therefore difficult from the SK government because they risk being perceived as lap dogs to American interests.
It is notable that in the collective history of South Koreans they barely regard the American role in the war. On their national day of victory there is no mention of American military aid and their recognition of the heroes of war pays no mention to American losses. This lapse in a collective memory among South Koreans is a sad but significant driver of the complex political relationship it has to the North.
A whole other post can be written on how NK exploits this relationship and the lack of an honest collective history in SK.
|