(VOVWORLD) -Positive signs from the Korean peninsula suggest that inter-Korean relations are warming up. Diplomatic announcements and gestures from both sides could lead to an eventual resolution.
Tensions last year kept the Korean peninsula on the verge of war. The new positive signs have brought a measure of relief.
Good news
Early this month Kim Jung-un made a surprise offer to send athletes to the Winter Olympics in South Korea in February and pledged direct talks on the issue. Kim then revived the hotline with South Korea, which had been shut down for the past 2 years. It’s a reserval of attitude after a year of tension and hostility toward the US, South Korea, and Japan. South Korean President Moon Jae-in welcomed Kim’s proposal. The US and South Korea say they won’t hold military drills during the Winter Olympics.
After 3 rounds of inter-Korean negotiations in Panmunjom, North Korea agreed to send a 140-member art troupe to perform in South Korea during the Winter Olympics next month, agreed in principle to field a joint women’s ice hockey team, and to march under a unified Korea flag at the Olympics opening ceremony.
These unprecedented breakthroughs have thawed the icy relations between the two Koreas, renewing hope that North Korea will become more receptive to resolving the nuclear issue.
From opportunities to actions: goodwill from both sides will be required
The international community is hoping all parties will grasp this opportunity to get things back on track and resume a constructive dialogue.
But analysts say this is just a start. There will now have to be specific agreements, goodwill, and trust from all parties.
The US has shown no interest in North Korea’s proposals. The US envoy to the UN, Nikki Haley, said the US will not take any talks seriously until Pyongyang abandons its nuclear arsenal. Haley said North Korea has often used its nuclear program to gain economic concessions and this time will be no exception.