Pyongyang’s policy of tearing down symbols of reconciliation with South Korea

North Korea’s recent ban on the song “Glad to Meet You” — long considered a cultural symbol of reconciliation with South Korea — marks a significant move in the country’s growing efforts to sever ties with its southern neighbour. Though seemingly minor on the surface, analysts say this ban is emblematic of a broader, deliberate shift by Pyongyang to distance itself from South Korea, both symbolically and politically.

The song, known in Korean as “Bangapseumnida,” was first performed in 1991 and stood out among North Korean music for lacking overt political messaging.  The Deutsche Welle publication highlights in their recent article on the Korean rift that the song became popular during North-South exchanges and was often played at events focused on improving inter-Korean relations. However, recent constitutional changes in North Korea have designated South Korea as its “principal enemy,” prompting a crackdown on cultural expressions suggesting unity or fraternity.

This cultural purge has extended beyond music. North Korea has reportedly modified the lyrics of its national anthem to eliminate references to the South. Maps on state-run television broadcasts now exclude South Korea altogether. These symbolic acts are part of a larger political shift toward defining the two Koreas as separate and hostile entities.

Another significant development reinforcing this division is the demolition of the Mount Kumgang Tourist Area, once a beacon of inter-Korean cooperation. Located just north of the Demilitarized Zone, the area included hotels, restaurants, and resorts built with South Korean investment. It hosted family reunions and drew Southern tourists until a fatal shooting incident in 2008 brought operations to a halt. In 2019, Kim Jong Un ordered the entire complex torn down, and recent satellite imagery from 38 North confirms that most of the structures have been reduced to their foundations.

Experts believe this hardening of Pyongyang’s stance is rooted in disappointment following the failed 2019 summit in Hanoi between Kim Jong Un and then-U.S. President Donald Trump. According to Rah Jong-yil, a former South Korean diplomat and intelligence officer, Kim had expected sanctions relief and foreign investment but instead walked away empty-handed, losing face internationally. This failure appears to have prompted a strategic recalibration, favouring isolation and realignment with other global powers, such as Russia.

Today, diplomatic communication between the Koreas is virtually non-existent. A recent example highlights the frozen ties: when two North Korean fishermen were rescued by the South’s Coast Guard in March, both stated they wished to return home. Despite repeated notifications from South Korean authorities and the United Nations Command, Pyongyang has not responded.

Observers like Kim Sang-woo, a former South Korean lawmaker and peace advocate, told the publication that they believe even a potential victory by the liberal Democratic Party in South Korea’s June 3 general election would do little to reverse the North’s position. He suggests that Kim Jong Un sees greater strategic and economic value in strengthening ties with Moscow rather than pursuing détente with Seoul. This distancing has further been fuelled by South Korea’s increasing military co-operation with the US and Japan, reflected in multiple joint military drills in the recent past.

Ultimately, North Korea's rejection of even symbolic links to South Korea signals a more permanent and hostile stance, undermining decades of efforts toward reunification and peace on the Korean Peninsula.

By Nazrin Sadigova