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US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un begin their Hanoi summit on Feb. 27.

The standoff between North Korea and the US has been aggravated by North Korea’s announcement of a “very important test” at its Sohae Satellite Launching Ground, in Tongchang Village. Tensions have been rising as US President Donald Trump sent a warning message to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and North Korea fired back a response. Furthermore, the US has called for a meeting of the UN Security Council to deal with the possibility of a North Korean provocation. There’s no telling how perilous the Korean Peninsula’s powder keg will become.

The UN Security Council meeting, which had been organized to field a discussion of the North Korean human rights issue, was delayed one day until Dec. 11, at the US’ request. The US announced that the agenda had been changed to focus on North Korea’s recent repeated missile launches and the possibility of increasing provocations in the future. While the US seems to be sending North Korea a warning by convening the UN Security Council, Washington should be aware that such actions may lead to an even greater backlash from North Korea.

North Korea also needs to realize that the international society is closely following its actions at this time. If Pyongyang pushes ahead with the launch of a satellite or an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the international community will increase its pressure tactics, leaving North Korea further isolated.

A few days ago, Trump sent an unusually harsh message to North Korea, warning that it could “lose everything” if it “acts in a hostile way,” prompting an immediate sharp response from the North. Of course, a last-minute compromise isn’t completely out of the question. Remarks by Kim Yong-chol, chair of North Korea’s Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, that Trump needs to think about how to stop the countdown to a “clash” can be seen as North Korea’s desire for a compromise. It’s obvious that the US doesn’t want the situation to deteriorate, either. US National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien’s statement that the US wants to negotiate with North Korea indicates that the US hopes the situation will turn around.

We may be at a fork in the road, with a breakthrough in one direction and a breakdown in the other, but there’s still time to find a solution through diplomacy. This is a time that demands, in particular, energetic action by the South Korean government. Seoul needs to make all necessary preparations so that a meeting can take place between North Korea and the US during US Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun’s scheduled visit to South Korea.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in also needs to play a more proactive role. He should stay in even closer communication with Trump and make clear that South Korea is committed to preventing a rupture. If possible, Moon should also send a special envoy to sound out Kim Jong-un’s intentions. If North Korea and the US’ brinkmanship leads to a complete rupture, tensions on the Korean Peninsula will escalate to unprecedented levels, with South Korea ultimately suffering the greatest harm.

Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]