In February, the North Korean Economic Research Forum discussed the current situation in the Korean Peninsula and South Korea's response. The latter half of the post-Cold War era has been less favorable to South Korea due to the cooling of U.S.-China and Korea-China cooperative relations. South Korea needs to revise its perspective on its North Korea policy and inter-Korean economic cooperation. South Korea faces increased discussions on its nuclear options due to North Korea's intensified provocations since 2022. However, it is crucial to recognize that denuclearization can only occur when the two Koreas ease their groundless nuclear myth. Additionally, strategic thinking and policy-making posture are also necessary to prepare for the potential nuclear era. The February issue features a special article on North Korea's informatization projects and the Electronic Payment Act enacted in 2021. Despite a series of currency reforms, North Korea's financial authorities are still struggling with idle money. To address this issue, they intend to expand the socialist payment system called "no cash currency" internally through electronic payment cards and the mobile payment application "Woollim" while improving the distribution structure of idle money externally.