Whisper the words ‘North Korea’ in the air, and anyone in the nearest vicinity will talk of missile rockets, Orwellian societies, and the dangers of totalitarianism. The country stands as one of the most intimidating examples of dictatorship in modern times, but policies concerning North Korea generally consisted of the concept ‘look, don’t touch’.

No one understands this concept better than North Korea’s nearest neighbor: South Korea. Ever since the uneasy stalemate established with the 38th parallel in 1953, South and North Korea regard each other with barely-hidden hostility. Tensions built with missile launches, submarine sinkings, and a North Korean hacking of a classified South Korean military base. With the death of university student Otto Warmbier and the growing news of North Korea’s tyrannical behaviors, the Western World grew aware that North Korea would willingly throw over all talks of tranquility to prepare for World War III, most likely starting on its more democratic twin.

However, what North Korea pulled next surprised all parties involved; Kim Jong-Un called for a state of peace on the Korean peninsula. This announcement raised both eyebrows and hopes. On one hand, some consider that the peace call suggests a willingness to compromise after decades of conflict between the two Koreas. Most, however, do not think so optimistically.

“It’s a tactical move,” Alexa Saylan ‘18 comments. “The announcement comes just before the Olympics, an event known for gathering hundreds of countries in one area. All eyes will center on Korea for a month, which means that if North Korea tries anything now, thousands would recognize its misdemeanors instead of brushing it under the carpet.”

Indeed, the olive branch comes at a well-timed moment, just weeks before the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics commences in South Korea. Many speculate that North Korea would rescind its peace offering and return to testing its nuclear inventory as soon as the Olympic torch goes out in Pyeongchang. Others claim that it is a display of grace to amplify the greatness of Korean people as a whole to the world. And still, others believe that North Korea does it out of weariness of the Korean conflict that occurred for the past sixty-five years.

Brian Yoon ‘19 says “this is the first time they actually showed interest in engaging with the South at all. Whatever North Korea’s motives, there’s no erasing that the magnitude this event holds.”

For the moment, both South Korea and North Korea seem to have compromise on their minds. Their desire for diplomacy holds with North Korea allowing twelve of their female hockey players to team up with South Korea’s women’s hockey team in the Olympics. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) reports no news of conflict concerning North Korean athletes. However, there still exists an unbearable tension between the two countries, magnified with the whole world turning its eyes onto Pyeongchang as February 9th draws nearer.

As a South Korean myself, I’m somewhat glad to see the Korean conflict put on hold. However, as someone who’s more than familiar with the conflict, I do not believe that North Korea has any intention of holding this peace, as much as I do not believe that North Korea will slam the ‘Press Here to Start WWIII’ button.

I’ve heard about North Korea and South Korea skirmishes ever since childhood, from the clinical broadcasts on my grandmother’s television to the wild rumors about South Korean hikers gunned down by North Koreans for accidentally crossing the border. North Korea started conflict with South Korea for over half a century, a time length too long to consider a potential change of heart.

However, I’m also quite sure that North Korea wouldn’t start a nuclear war because it has the supplies to do so. The world’s weaponry developed great lengths from the atom bombs of Hiroshima and Nagasaki; to declare a nuclear war on South Korea and the rest of the world would not only mean a suicide mission for the country, but for all of humanity. Japanese people still suffer from high cancer and leukemia rates to this day—all long-term effects of the atom bombs dropped. Magnifying the firepower and the number of countries involved in the future WWIII would spell out irrecoverable damage for the entire world, permanently blackening North Korea’s name into the history books.

Yet I, with the rest of the world, thus anticipate the Pyeongchang Olympics every day. Whether or not North Korea will prove me right about my predictions, the results will decide a crucial point: a path towards less international conflict or one spiraling down to ignite more discord.