It’s really very complicated. There is a sizeable contingent of South Koreans that see North Korea as harmless, misguided brothers and sisters united by common blood. It’s unimaginable to them that their northern brethren would actually act out on their verbal rhetoric and threats.

Many of these same people view modern Japan as a real mortal enemy just waiting to strike. Many of those fancy weapons South Korea develops? They’re just as intended to be pointed at a hypothetical hostile Japan as they are to North Korea.

These people are mostly represented by the current opposition party, who already control the legislative branch, and will likely take the presidency.