{"id":32257,"date":"2018-10-29T13:15:06","date_gmt":"2018-10-29T07:45:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.forumias.com\/?p=32257"},"modified":"2018-10-29T13:15:06","modified_gmt":"2018-10-29T07:45:06","slug":"game-for-talks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/game-for-talks\/","title":{"rendered":"Game for talks\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Game for talks<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Context<\/strong><\/p>\n

The prospect of a thaw in relations between North and South Korea, which\u00a0 resume talks after two years, holds out the hope of denuclearisation on the Peninsula. Lending the move diplomatic heft is the U.S.\u2019s consent to South Korean President Moon Jae-in\u2019s proposal to delay the controversial joint military exercises between the two allies.<\/p>\n

These annual operations have traditionally caused consternation (a feeling of anxiety or dismay, typically at something unexpected) in Pyongyang<\/p>\n

Suggestion by China <\/strong><\/p>\n

The significance of the U.S. decision can also be seen in the context of Beijing\u2019s suggestion for a freeze on joint military exercises between Washington and Seoul in exchange for a halt to Pyongyang\u2019s nuclear programme<\/p>\n

Deployment of THAAD added impetus to the above suggestion<\/strong><\/p>\n

The demand acquired added impetus ever since Seoul launched the U.S.-backed Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) system, raising fears that its radars could snoop on Chinese security infrastructure<\/p>\n

US never considered the idea seriously<\/strong><\/p>\n

But the idea never received serious consideration from the U.S., as forcing Kim Jong-un, the North Korean autocrat, to completely give up the programme was the singular focus of President Donald Trump\u2019s approach<\/p>\n

Nuclear power balances the scales for NK<\/strong><\/p>\n

As for Mr. Kim, he sees recognition of his country as a nuclear power as a vantage point from where he could negotiate a roll-back of crippling international sanctions and a possible reconciliation with Washington.<\/p>\n

Winter Olympics can help revive the dialogue process <\/strong><\/p>\n

The immediate trigger to the revival of dialogue is the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang in South Korea next month<\/p>\n

Global Alarm raised by NK<\/strong><\/p>\n

North Korea\u2019s latest ballistic missile launches and nuclear explosions have raised global alarm over the region\u2019s safety for travel and tourism, not to mention security during the Games.<\/p>\n

1988 memories<\/strong><\/p>\n

Memories of the downing by North Korea of a civilian aircraft ahead of the 1988 Seoul Olympics have prompted understandable caution by the host nation<\/p>\n

NK athletes participation to act as a deterrent<\/strong><\/p>\n

Seoul has apparently determined that the most effective means of allaying those apprehensions is to confirm the\u00a0participation of North Korean athletes<\/p>\n

The deferment of the joint military exercises with the U.S. lends further credibility to Mr. Moon\u2019s overtures to the North, as much as it assuages Chinese concerns<\/p>\n

Restrictions imposed by China <\/strong><\/p>\n

Beijing had imposed an unofficial blockade on South Korean trade, tourism and entertainment following the THAAD missile installation last year<\/p>\n

But China considered that needless<\/strong><\/p>\n

But it was quick to appreciate the needless economic and diplomatic cost of that approach, even if it did not alter its stance on the missile programme.<\/p>\n

Positive developments<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cumulatively, these developments should boost public patronage in the entire region for the Winter Olympics.<\/p>\n

Seize this opportunity<\/strong><\/p>\n