After the Olympics

The Olympics in Pyeongchang has ended. During the 2018 Olympics, North and South Korea made an unprecedented move, forming a joint team.

Despite the fact that the two Koreas are still technically at war, tensions eased with the shared ice hockey team.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met South Korean government officials for the first time since he succeeded his father, previous North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, in 2011.

Now, Kim Jong Un has agreed to hold a summit with South Korean president Moon Jae-in in April at the demilitarized zone. It has been more than a decade since North and South Korean leaders have met for a summit, the last one being in 2007.

North Korea told South Korea that they are willing to have better relations with the United States, informing Seoul’s national security chief Chung Eui-yong. North Korea emphasized the hope for “an open-ended dialogue [with the US] to discuss the issue of denuclearization and to normalize relations with North Korea” only if it would no longer perceive any military threats.

President Trump tweeted, in response to this news: “We will see what happens!”

However, the US and North Korea have been at odds with each other, especially when nuclear weapons are in the picture.

“This is not completely unprecedented for the Koreas to come together, so I am not terribly surprised it happened during the Olympics,” said Mrs. Weaver-Miller. “I am, however, highly skeptical of the motives of the North Korean government. What is the end game for making this move? Nevertheless, it was a big step towards open talk between the two countries. As far as how this may have affected America’s relationship with North Korea, only time will tell. I imagine contentious talks will remain in the future.”

The US and South Korea will continue joint military exercises, and Seoul’s national security chief Chung Eui-yong says that the two leaders will open a hotline to communicate directly with each other.