Byung-Yeon Kim, a professor at Seoul National University, asserts that North Korea's decision to abandon its unification agenda is a defensive strategy based on pragmatic assessments of inter-Korean relations, geopolitical dynamics, and its domestic economic crisis. Kim highlights that Kim Jong Un sees limited benefits from South Korea, prefers China and Russia as more reliable partners, and aims to maintain regime stability amid economic hardships. Therefore, he believes South Korea should maintain and improve its existing goal of unification, as North Korea's decision does not indicate a fundamental change in its principles toward inter-Korean relations.

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