South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol is often described as a North Korea hawk — skeptical of engagement, supportive of sanctions, tough on human rights and staunchly pro-alliance.

But nothing about Yoon’s stated inter-Korean policies thus far demonstrates an interest in pressing the kind of buttons that typify a hawk. Indeed, relations with Pyongyang are already nonexistent enough that it’s difficult to envision any pressure points the new administration could leverage even if it wanted to.

For all the broad smiles and handshakes with Kim Jong Un, Moon Jae-in oversaw very little real, sustained working-level interaction between the two Koreas. The