Key takeaways from AP’s examination of South Korea’s split views on North Korea’s nuclear threats

POHANG, South Korea (AP) — The Associated Press spoke with dozens of South Koreans for a detailed look at the nation’s stark division in views about North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s aggressive pursuit of nuclear-tipped missiles targeting the South and its major ally and protector, the United States.

How South Korea sees its northern rival is a famously complicated subject, split along deep societal fault lines: Age, wealth, politics, status, history, sex.

The result is that some see little danger in North Korea’s threatening rhetoric, weapons tests and aggressive military maneuvers — and some are stocking bunkers with goods meant to get them through a nuclear strike.

Here are some key takeaways from the AP examination of South Korea’s unique, fragmented perception of its biggest enemy and closest neighbor, North Korea.

North Korea is fast becoming a nuclear power