North Korean leader Kim Jong Un issued a chilling warning on February 26 that his country could “completely destroy” South Korea if threatened, reaffirming Pyongyang’s hardened nuclear stance at a major party congress.
Kim emphasized expanding the nuclear arsenal and advancing weapons systems, while framing South Korea as a permanent enemy. He also left a slim opening for talks with the United States under a Trump-era framework, provided Washington abandons what Pyongyang considers hostile policies.
The remarks underscore the deep-rooted tensions that have defined the Korean Peninsula for more than seven decades. Following the end of fighting in the Korean War in 1953, the peninsula was effectively split in two, divided by a demilitarized zone that carved the nation apart.
Two separate states emerged: North Korea and South Korea. In the decades since, the South has developed into a thriving democracy and economic powerhouse. By contrast, the North remains one of the world’s most isolated countries, a communist dictatorship ruling over a tightly controlled and impoverished society. Some differences are strikingly visible; others are more subtle. With unification still a distant prospect, the two Koreas remain as divided today as they were over 70 years ago.
What exactly sets them apart? Click through to explore the key differences between these two nations.