Historic diplomatic moves on Korean peninsula

The lesson from the talks between North and South Korea is that negotiation always trumps conflict

The prospect of a diplomatic breakthrough on the Korean peninsula after 65 years of a tense ceasefire that brought hostilities between North and South Korea to an end, now seems tantalisingly within reach. That’s a prospect that is all the more remarkable at present, given the bellicose and belligerent soundings that were emanating from Pyongyang and Washington only three months ago. Before the Winter Olympics of mid-February, it seemed as if North Korea and its regional counterparts were set on an inevitable collision course, with United States President Donald Trump promising to rain “fire and fury” down on the Pyongyang regime.

In the past week, the reclusive leader of North Korea, Kim Jongun, made his first trip out of the hermit nation, visiting Beijing and meeting President Xi Jinping and other senior Chinese officials. According to reports, it appears that Kim is prepared to discuss the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. At face value, any step towards a lasting peace and the de-escalation of tension there, where adversaries are engaged in a Cold War-like standoff across the De-Militarised Zone (DMZ), is indeed welcome.

Kim has also indicated that by the end of this month, he will meet President Moon Jae-in at the village in the heart of the DMZ. If that takes place, it will only be the third such meeting between the leaders of North and South since the Korean War ended in a ceasefire so long ago. This in itself is significant. Put against the backdrop of a further planned meeting in May between Kim and Trump, these are truly historic times. The lesson, however, is that diplomacy always trumps conflict.