What South Korea's April 15 elections could mean for inter-Korean relations | NK News
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September 25, 2026Sep 25, 2026

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What South Korea’s April 15 elections could mean for inter-Korean relations

While voters list other issues as greater concerns, who wins next week stands to have a major impact on North-South ties

South Korea’s 21st legislative elections will be held on April 15, with the candidates — all mask-clad and avoiding handshakes in a bid to prevent the spread of COVID-19 — having begun their official campaigns last week.

And amid a more-than-year-long impasse between the two Koreas, it perhaps doesn’t come as a surprise that other issues, such as the government’s management of the coronavirus and the economy, have outranked voter interest in the DPRK.

Nevertheless, most political parties running in the general election have shared detailed plans for their North Korea policy.

To get a grasp on what to expect