What Kim Jong Un Is Really Saying With His ‘Nuclear Button’ Threat

The North Korean leader offered to engage in talks with South Korea, saying he will consider sending a delegation to the Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, this February. Here’s why such an offer could drive “a wedge into South Korea’s seven-decade alliance with the United States.” And according to a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the United States is “closer to a nuclear war with North Korea” than ever.

One day after North Korea's offer of talks, South Korea has proposed a meeting to the neighboring country next week. A high-level diplomatic gathering could take place on January 9 in the Panmunjom border town, Association Minister Cho Myong Gyon said. Earlier, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in his New Year's speech surprisingly offered talks about the upcoming Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea. He also urged to improve relations.

It would be the first talks in two years
South Korea's unification minister said that the talks could speak about a possible participation of North Korea in the February Winter Games but also on other topics to improve bilateral relations. If the meeting takes place, it would be the first talks between the two governments for more than two years.

Already on New Year's Day, the office of South Korean President Moon Jae-in had welcomed Kim's offer. Seoul is ready to talk to the neighboring country "regardless of time, place and format".

Again and again threats from North Korea
The tensions on the Korean peninsula had recently increased further. North Korea is pushing ahead with its nuclear armament and is repeatedly threatening South Korea and the US. In September, the internationally isolated country tested a hydrogen bomb. At the end of November, North Korea bragged about testing an ICBM and said the entire US mainland was now within range of North Korean missiles.

Analysts see Kim's new move as an attempt to drive a wedge between Seoul and its allies in Washington. In this way, the international isolation of the country could be lifted and the sanctions against Pyongyang loosened.