Progress in Korea

Donald Trump is often accused of risking war with his blustering threats. At the United Nations he horrified diplomats by vowing to destroy North Korea if it attacked America. But could it be that bellicose talk actually pays off? The extraordinary diplomatic developments on the Korean peninsula suggest that the warnings to Pyongyang over its nuclear missile programme have had a sobering effect on the oligarchy running the country.

The first signs of a rapprochement came with the invitation to the North Koreans to send competitors to the Winter Olympics in the South. The delegation was led by leader Kim Jong-un’s sister, which indicated that this was a serious gesture by the regime. Now events are moving at a rapid pace. There is to be a summit between the leaders of both countries next month and the North has even indicated that it is prepared to discuss nuclear disarmament. A meeting with the Americans is also possible.

Given the recent levels of tension in the region such emollience must be welcome, though it would be naive to take everything at face value. Has the US threat of a trade war against China encouraged Beijing to get tough with Kim to force him to the negotiating table?

Whatever the motivations, the fact remains that there may be a realistic prospect of a peace agreement on the peninsula for the first time since the war ended in partition in 1953. Perhaps it will come to nothing, as previous efforts to live in harmony have done. But if there were to be a breakthrough, many of his detractors may have to reassess their derision for Mr Trump’s sometimes intemperate brand of diplomacy.