U.S. Defense Secretary: It's Too Early to Judge North Korea's Motives for Reducing Tensions

The U.S. Secretary of Defense states that it is still "too early" to assess North Korea's motives for reducing tensions and warming relations between the two Koreas. The North Korean official newspaper reported on Monday that a delegation from the country made a "meaningful" visit to Seoul. James Mattis, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, said on February 11, ahead of his European trip, that "it is clear that it is too early to say... whether the recent events will have any consequences after the end of the [Winter] Olympics in South Korea." He emphasized that while Pyongyang sent a high-level delegation to South Korea during the Winter Games, "in the midst of all this, [Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader] organized a military parade and showcased his ballistic missiles." Mattis referred to the military parade of the North Korean army, which was held before the Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea; a parade that is usually held in spring but was moved up to February 8. On the other hand, North Korea, whose leader spoke during the New Year’s speech about the possibility of negotiations with the southern neighbor to reduce tensions, eventually sent a high-level political delegation to the south. Kim Jong-un's sister was among this delegation, which met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in. After that meeting, it was reported that an invitation from the North Korean leader to the South Korean presidency was delivered. On February 12, the North Korean official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, stated that its delegation had a "meaningful" visit to South Korea and that this visit "provides an important opportunity for improving relations between North and South Korea and helps create conditions for peace on the Korean Peninsula." However, U.S. officials have emphasized that it is still not possible to judge Pyongyang's motives for reducing tensions. In recent months, the Korean Peninsula has been the center of increasing tensions, which in several instances led to verbal threats of nuclear attacks on the United States or the destruction of the North Korean regime in response to provocative actions. Contrary to various UN Security Council resolutions, Pyongyang has significantly increased its nuclear and missile capabilities. James Mattis stated on Sunday, "It is a very strange time for [the North Korean leader] to try to show that he intends to improve relations with a country (South Korea) that he always attacks and calls a puppet of the United States." Some analysts suggest that North Korea's main intention in sending a political delegation to South Korea and its recent actions may be "misleading" efforts aimed at weakening international sanctions or influencing the political and military alliance between Washington and Seoul. The U.S. Secretary of Defense emphasized that North Korea will not harm U.S.-South Korea relations: "I know many are looking to see a separation between South Korea and the United States. There is no separation." According to reports from Reuters, Associated Press, and Yonhap, North Korean officials have stated that during the Olympics, "they do not intend to meet with U.S. officials."