North Korea’s Olympic outreach brought an easing of tensions between North and South Korea after a year of escalating tensions throughout 2017. After delivering a somewhat conciliatory New Year’s address, Kim Jong-un sent a substantial delegation to the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, led by the North’s titular head, Kim Yong-nam, accompanied by Kim Yo-jung, Kim Jong-un’s younger sister, and a cheerleading squad—an “army of beauties.” The North’s charm offensive was wildly successful. The “princess of Pyongyang,” in particular, has done much to put a human face on the totalitarian regime.  While President Trump had been taking a tough line against North Korea, even threatening it with annihilation if it continues advancing its nuclear and missile programs, he has now contributed to a slight thaw in inter-Korean relations by agreeing to postpone the annual US-ROK military exercises until after the Paralympics in mid-March.  Furthermore, in a recent interview with The Washington Post, Vice President Pence signaled Washington’s possible new openness to diplomacy when he implied that it is now willing to sit down and talk with the Kim Jong-un regime while the sanctions campaign is ongoing.¹

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