Artificial Borders of Belonging: The Securitisation of Identity and Its Role in the Inter-Korean Conflict in the 21st Century

The inter-Korean conflict, long defined by political and military tensions between North and South Korea, is increasingly influenced by the securitisation of identity. This process, where identity becomes framed as a security issue, plays a crucial role in shaping the narratives of national belonging, sovereignty, and legitimacy. While geopolitical rivalries have historically defined the conflict, the construction and manipulation of collective identity have increasingly emerged as powerful drivers of inter-Korean relations, particularly in the 21st century. This paper investigates the role of identity securitisation in the ongoing inter-Korean conflict, addressing the research problem of how the construction of "artificial borders" between North and South Korea—rooted in ideological, cultural, and historical narratives—affects the dynamics of conflict. Central to this analysis is the question of how each state employs identity as a tool for maintaining political legitimacy and managing national security concerns, while also shaping public perceptions of the other. The objective is to explore the ways in which both North and South Korea have securitised their respective national identities through rhetoric, state policies, and media representations, and how these efforts reinforce division. The study highlights key moments such as North Korea's emphasis on "juche" (self-reliance) and South Korea’s promotion of "global" and democratic identity to create a sharp contrast between the two. Findings indicate that the securitisation of identity has made the conflict more entrenched by transforming deeply-rooted cultural and historical narratives into security imperatives. This framing inhibits reconciliation and sustains the divide, as both states view the other's identity as a direct threat to their own survival. The implications of this analysis suggest that resolving the inter-Korean conflict requires not only addressing political and military issues but also deconstructing the security dimensions of identity. A shift toward recognizing shared historical and cultural ties could foster a more cooperative path forward, contributing to a more stable and peaceful Korean Peninsula. This paper adopts an ontological security framework to analyze how both North and South Korea's national identities are securitized as essential to their state survival, emphasizing the centrality of identity narratives in shaping existential concerns and national cohesion. Drawing from critical security studies, the study interrogates the dominant state-centric and military-focused discourses of security, positioning the conflict as a contested space where identity, legitimacy, and sovereignty are discursively constructed, with implications for both inter-Korean relations and broader regional stability.