The unexpected news of the Korean Peninsula in early March 2018 gives a positive indication of the possibility of a unified Korea. The South Korean delegation which was led by the Chief of National Security met directly the North Korean President Kim Jong-un on March 5-6, 2018. Even more, President Kim wants to write a new history of reunification of both Koreas.

The meeting gave a positive result. First, South Korea and North Korea plan to hold Konferensi Tingkat Tinggi (KTT) at the end of April 2018. Secondly, the plan is followed by the North's commitment to disarm nuclear weapons or denuclearization and not to use its conventional weapons on the Korean Peninsula. Third, North Korea also wants to hold an informal meeting with the United States for denuclearization as well as the normalization of bilateral relations between the two countries. Pyongyang ensured there were no military provocations, including nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches, during the talks between North Korea and the United States. The plan is actually a repeatition of a similar call from North Korea's leader at the Winter Olympics in February. Despite welcoming the proposal, the South Korean President remains cautious considering the reaction of his closest ally, the United States.

South Korean caution also relates to the North's habit of being friendly on the intent of liquefying international pressure or domestic pressure, such as the availability of food and electricity for its people. This development also appears to be very paradoxical compared to North Korea's highly aggressive, provocative and unpredictable behavior throughout 2017. The North still holds its military parade one day ahead of the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang on February 9, 2018. Meanwhile, South Korea is tied to United States to hold regular military exercises during the 2018 Winter Olympics. Nevertheless, the strategic momentum through the event needs to be exploited by both Koreas. Previously, the they had met in two (2) summits. Namely KTT Antar-Korea was first held on 13-15 June 2000 in Pyongyang North Korea, between President Kim Dae-jung and Kim Jong-il.

The second KTT Antar-Korea was also held in Pyongyang between President Roh Moohyun and Kim Jong-il on 2-4 October 2007. The momentum of peace on the Korean Peninsula had even been going on for 17 days at the Winter Olympics in February 2018. The Korean 'unification' began on the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics, Thursday (9/2/2018) night. Both  Koreas were united in the defilant of the participants carrying the unification flag of both countries. The ceremony was also attended by South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong-un's younger sister Kim Yo Jong. They seemed to shake hands and greeted each other in the tribune of honor. North Korea sends 22 athletes at this Olympics.

This North Korea diplomatic initiative is very interesting because it is done in the middle of the rising international pressure. So far, US President, Donald Trump wants to impose the maximum economic and diplomatic pressure on the regime in the North. North Korea's strategic move could make President Moon be in a different position with the Trump government. North Korea seems want to separate Seoul and Washington.

Even Pyongyang is keen to commit both Korean reunification initiative to its own initiative, without US involvement. Without the US, this North Korean plan will of course be difficult to realize. The US remains a fundamental factor for te peace on the Korean Peninsula. North Korea's desire to have a dialogue with the United States and South Korea's desire to bridge the dialogue between North Korea and the US explained the US strategic position for both Koreas. The commitment of North Korean leaders to meet the South Korean leaders along with other promises could be the determining factors for having the mutual trust.

Great expectations are at the upcoming April that both Koreas make a road map for signing a bilateral peace agreement and opening diplomatic relations including the opening of US diplomatic representation in Pyongyang.

(Ludiro Madu MSi Lecturer Department of International Relations, UPN Veteran'Yogyakarta This article is published on Daily Newspaper of  Kedaulatan Rakyat, Saturday, March 10, 2018)