Recent developments surrounding inter-Korean relations, including the agreement to allow athletes from the DPRK to participate in the Winter Olympics, have led to optimism in some quarters that the rapprochement might lead to a mid-to-long-term de-escalation of the situation on the peninsula.

Beginning with Kim Jong Un’s suggestion to hold talks in his New Year speech to major negotiations taking place only days later on January 9, the scale and pace of progress – coming after many years of inter-Korean acrimony – has been notable. Recent consensus has led to: