Amid a months-long diplomatic dry spell, South Korea is expecting a “positive message of dialogue and cooperation” from North Korea in the near future, Seoul’s unification minister said on Monday.

Speaking at a New Year’s address on Jan. 4, South Korean unification minister Lee In-young said he’s hoping for the two Koreas to make progress towards peace in the first half of this year. He pointed to a new White House administration and a rare, high-profile North Korean political event as potential opportunities to extend an olive branch.

“As we mark the first month of the year, political changes surrounding