But is the Olympics a fake sign of peace and could there be nuclear war still in the future?
North Korea intends to keep developing nuclear weapons and attending the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in the South will make no difference, a leading North Korea expert told Express.co.uk.
Hazel Smith, professorial research associate at the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies, said: “They are going to continue with their nuclear programme anyway. It is not one or another.”
North Korea has stoked nuclear war fears after a year of missile and nuclear tests, including the explosion of a hydrogen bomb in September.
Washington heard reports Pyongyang may be in preparations to launch another missile, according to Nikki Hayley, US Ambassador to the United Nations, speaking earlier this week.
Professor Smith said a lasting peace resolution to the “deep-seated conflict” would take more than the Pyeongchange Winter Olympics and renewed talk between the two Korean countries.
She said: “It signals that North Korea is prepared to engage in communications with South Korea which it hasn’t done for two years.
“The highest level of state will be involved in these discussions which will open up the political channel – so far that it is all it indicates.
“Nevertheless this is a change from the last two years when North Korea refused to engage with South Korea at all.”
She added: “I do not think anyone would seriously expect a deep-seated conflict involving so many partners to be resolved in two or three days.”
Kim Jong-un made the surprise announcement North Korea would send two ice skaters to the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in a New Year address and said he was “open to dialogue” with Seoul.
But in a veiled threat to other nations, he also warned North Korea could hit anywhere in the US with a missile and “a nuclear button is always on my desk”.
Professor Smith said Kim Jong-un’s New Year message to South Korea was “very unusual” in its conciliatory tone but added other measures such as arranging reunions with families divided by the Korean War would be more impactful.
She said: “Many of them have died off but many are still alive. It would be a good sign if we saw one of these organised because it would mean that there would be further political campaigning taking place.”
North Korea has continued with nuclear tests since 2006 despite condemnation from the international community and United Nations Security Council.
Professor Smith said for North Korea to give up its weapons, it would be looking for a concrete deal “embedded within treaties” guaranteeing its safety from Russia and the United States.