Seoul:Less than 40 percent of South Koreans believe unification with North Korea is necessary, according to a recent poll, with younger generations showing even less support.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the poll was conducted by Seoul National University's Institute for Peace and Unification Studies. It revealed that only 39 percent of respondents consider unification necessary, a decrease from 41.1 percent the previous year. In contrast, 32.2 percent of respondents now view unification as unnecessary, up from 30.4 percent last year and significantly higher than the 15.1 percent recorded in 2007 when the survey was first conducted.

The poll highlighted generational differences, with just 25.2 percent of those in their 20s and 27 percent of those in their 30s supporting unification. Meanwhile, 44.8 percent and 47 percent of these age groups, respectively, believe it is not necessary. Additionally, 39.1 percent of all respondents think unification is impossible, the highest figure since 2007. A record 31.5 percent prefer maintaining the status quo of division between the Koreas.

Distrust towards North Korea has grown, with 78.3 percent indicating that dialogue and compromise with the North are impossible, an increase from 66.5 percent last year. Furthermore, 83.3 percent of respondents believe the North Korean regime does not desire unification, and 90.4 percent doubt North Korea would abandon its nuclear weapons.

The poll also recorded that 61.1 percent of South Koreans now support the country developing its nuclear arsenal, up from 51.8 percent the previous year. However, the institute cautioned against interpreting this result as considering the potential costs or diplomatic repercussions.

The survey was conducted by Gallup Korea, involving 1,200 adults between July 1 and 26, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level.