North Korea’s participation in the Olympics has already allowed Kim Jong Un to undermine President Donald Trump’s pressure campaign, with some sanctions suspended temporarily until the event ends. The question now is whether the US and South Korea can stay united in keeping up the pressure on North Korea just as sanctions limiting export revenue and curbing fuel imports start to bite. “The proposal, as well as North Korea’s presence at the Games, sends a signal that the North Koreans are ready to talk,” Lankov said. Conservative groups have protested the appearance of North Korean athletes at the Games in Pyeongchang with vulgar signs. “His goal is to do enough on the inter-Korean front to get the United States and North Korea to jaw-jaw,” Green said.

Source: Mint February 12, 2018 01:52 UTC