North Korea’s May 2026 constitutional amendments, which removed all references to reunification and formally designated South Korea as a separate hostile state with defined territorial borders, represent the dominant factor behind the 97.4% trader consensus against direct talks by June 30. These changes codified Pyongyang’s long-standing “two hostile states” doctrine, eliminated any institutional basis for inter-Korean engagement, and coincided with Kim Jong Un’s rejection of Seoul’s overtures in favor of bilateral diplomacy with the United States on nuclear recognition terms. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has continued to pursue peaceful coexistence proposals and special envoy mechanisms, yet Pyongyang has issued no invitations or responses through official channels in recent months. While a surprise high-level announcement or external mediation could theoretically shift momentum within the narrow remaining window, the combination of codified hostility, North Korea’s focus on northern alliances, and the absence of active dialogue structures makes meaningful progress before the deadline highly improbable.