This year’s thaw in inter-Korean relations and several rounds of high-level diplomacy have raised hopes of a breakthrough to bring a lasting peace to the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia.

President Moon Jae-in seized the opportunity of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in February to initiate dialog with the North Korean leadership. The April summit with Kim Jong Un resulted in the Panmunjom Declaration, which included a commitment to “make joint efforts to alleviate the acute military tension and practically eliminate the danger of war on the Korean Peninsula.”