North Korea may parade missiles on eve of Olympics

North Korea is reportedly planning to parade its intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) on the eve of the Winter Olympics in South Korea.

The military display, set for 8 February, is intended to “scare the hell out of the Americans”, says CNN, citing two diplomatic sources.

“The ongoing US support for inter-Korean rapprochement already appears to be showing cracks and will likely be seriously tested in the event of a major DPRK ICBM parade on the eve of the Olympics,” says Chad O’Carroll, of Seoul-based consultancy firm Korea Risk Group.

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Reports of the planned display comes after Donald Trump used his first State of the Union address to “assail” North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s “reckless pursuit” of nuclear weapons, the New York Post says. The speech sparked speculation that Trump is preparing for military action.

North and South Korea engaged in rare talks earlier this month to bring athletes from Jong Un’s regime to the Winter Olympics. But the goodwill appears to be evaporating. On Monday, North Korea called off a joint cultural performance planned ahead of the Winter Olympics, blaming South Korean media for encouraging “insulting” public sentiment.

But there is still optimism among South Koreans, “who see the Games as an opening to broader political reconciliation and even international talks over Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programme”, says Reuters.

“Many analysts say the North may want to use improved ties with South Korea to weaken US-led pressure and sanctions on the country,” according to Time magazine.

Shortly before Trump delivered his address yesterday, “news broke that the White House was withdrawing the nomination of former Bush administration official Victor Cha to be ambassador to South Korea”, reports The Atlantic.

According to the Financial Times, Cha was “asked by [administration] officials whether he was prepared to help manage the evacuation of American citizens from South Korea... that would almost certainly be implemented before any military strike”.

Cha “expressed his reservations about any kind of military strike”, says the newspaper - and lost the nomination.