North Korea seems to have given a tacit call for the U.S. to commence talks to de-escalate mutual tensions.
This provides hope for the future, which the stakeholders much capitalise on to build an environment of trust and co-operation.
How did the “detente” evolve?
The situation in the Korean Peninsula heated as U.S. President Trump had been towing a harsh line towards North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs.
While Washington kept up economic pressure with biting new sanctions, the South Korean President Moon Jae-in kept diplomatic channels open.
The strategy of the latter seems to be paying off as a South Korean delegation that visited Pyongyang recently has brought back the message of peace.
It is said that North’s leader, Kim Jong-un was willing to enter talks with the U.S. and even denuclearise if the military threat to the North is eliminated.
For now, both Koreas have agreed for a summit between Mr. Kim and Mr. Moon, and the North has promised to suspend its nuclear and ballistic missiles programs when talks commence with the U.S.
It is also notable that South Korea’s diplomatic manoeuvres is what secured North Korea participation in the recent “Winter Olympics” in South Korea.
What is the significance of these developments?
Hope - The brewing diplomacy is a marked shift from the aggressive foreign policy that North Korea had pursued since Mr. Kim took over in 2011.
It also signals that - Mr. Kim’s aggressive weapons policy is to ensure the survival of his regime, for which he willing to negotiate with his detractors.
Raising hopes further, Mr. Trump has responded prudently, and has called the diplomatic outreach “a serious process for all parties concerned”.
Challenges – Bitter experiences of previous engagements has entrenched a strong trust deficit between Pyongyang and Washington.
While South Korea has issued a statement about North’s willingness to enter into negotiations for denuclearisation, North Korea hasn’t confirmed it yet.
Guarded silence of Pyongyang could be in anticipation of a more concrete response from the U.S., as Mr. Trump hasn’t explicitly softened his rhetoric.
Hence, it is now for the U.S. to push ahead the negotiations and until then, the scheduled military exercises with South Korea could be suspended.
