People remember that former South Korean presidents like Kim Dae-jung and Moon Jae-in were friendly toward the North,” said a resident of North Hamgyong Province who requested anonymity for safety reasons. “But their policies did nothing to improve the living standards of ordinary North Koreans. So there’s a lot of cynicism now.”
The source added that while Lee’s stated interest in inter-Korean dialogue had generated some initial attention, many in the North believe that hostility between the two governments—still technically at war—will limit any real progress.
Another source in North Pyongan Province echoed the sentiment. “No matter who becomes the president in the South, it’s always the same,” the resident said. “They talk about peace and unification, but nothing ever really changes for us.”
North Korean traders are upbeat
Some officials within North Korea’s foreign trade sector, however, appeared more optimistic.
In Dalian and Shenyang, two Chinese cities where many North Korean business officials are based, news of Lee’s election was met with guarded hope. One trade official in Dalian told RFA that he had been closely following South Korean media coverage throughout the election and was “glad” to see Lee, a Democratic Party candidate, win.
“Some of us gathered this morning at the logistics center in Dandong,” he said. “People were saying Lee’s victory could be a good sign for inter-Korean economic cooperation.”
Restaurant operators and businesspeople in China, many of whom rely on South Korean clientele, also welcomed the news. “When inter-Korean tensions rise, we see a steep drop in South Korean customers,” said a North Korean restaurant owner in Shenyang. “So a president like Lee, who might revive cross-border ties, gives us hope for better business.”
