Chun In-bum

In December of 2024, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un announced that North and South Koreans are no longer the same people. To fully grasp the significance of this statement will require careful consideration over time, but the announcement holds special resonance for generations of Koreans, as we have always identified ourselves as Korean, a distinct people among many. North Korea’s first leader started a war in the name of freeing the Southern people from the tyranny of the United States and ever since then, the North has justified its existence by explaining its mission to liberate South Koreans from the evils of the Americans and their South Korean lackeys.

Confusion and questions arise regarding the intent behind this statement. Has North Korea abandoned the pursuit of unification, or is this another calculated move to manipulate South Korean public opinion? The initial step in addressing this question is: what defines a Korean?

To address this question, one must delve into the earliest writings about Koreans, which can be traced back to China's Shang dynasty. The Shang dynasty, also known as the Yin dynasty, reigned in the Yellow River valley from the 16th........

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