A Google map of the Korean peninsula

2017 saw tense relations between North Korea and the US, hovering around missile tests, threats of war, and tightened sanctions. In a New Year message, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un expressed his goodwill to enter a dialogue with the South. President Moon Jae-in has grasped every fragile opportunity to improve the inter-Korean relationship and play an intermediary role between North Korea and the US.

Surprising moves

High-ranking delegations from North Korea attend the opening and closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang and the South Korean President sent a delegation to North Korea, two positive signs that the situation is changing.

Messages of conciliation and peace have been sent by both countries’ leaders. At a meeting with the special envoy from President Moon Jae-in, Kim Jong-un expressed his “firm will to vigorously advance inter-Korean ties” and his desire to “write a new history of national reunification”. The two sides have agreed on a date to hold a 3^rd Inter-Korean summit.

North Korea reaffirmed its commitment to denuclearization provided its security is ensured. It has pledged not to use nuclear weapons or other kinds of weapons to attack South Korea. Pyongyang has said it is willing to have frank talks with the US on denuclearization and normalizing bilateral relations. Kim Jong-un has changed his stance after previously saying that North Korea’s nuclear program will not be a topic of any negotiation.

President Trump’s agreeing to a direct meeting with Kim Jong-un surprised the international community after a year of verbal battles.  It’s hoped the meeting will boost peace and conciliation on the Korean peninsula.

Doubt remains

The public welcomes any progress on the Korean Peninsula, but North Korea appears to be cautious about sharing information concerning summits with South Korea or the US. North Korea’s official media has no information about a meeting between Kim Jong-un and President Trump. Chosun Sinbo, a pro-North Korean online newspaper in Japan, posted an article on an inter-Korean meeting, but removed it a day later. The South Korean government has had to refuse requests by businesses to visit the Kaesong industrial zone, because there has been no response from the North.

Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the Workers’ Party of North Korea, ran an article saying the North’s nuclear power is necessary to counter nuclear threats from the US. The White House is setting tough conditions for a US-North Korea meeting, saying that the North must take “concrete steps” toward denuclearizing. The US army’s military drills on or near the Korean peninsula will continue while both sides prepare for the meeting.