N Korea 'likely' to attend Winter Games

But the subject of next week's scheduled meeting will likely be limited to Kim's suggestion that his country could take part in next month's Winter Olympics in South Korea.

As for the agenda, the announcement by Ri Son-gwon, the North's top official for inter-Korean relations, on Wednesday appeared to hint that the it will focus on North Korea's participation in the Olympics.

China, North Korea's longtime ally and most important economic lifeline, said it had begun enforcing the new restrictions on Saturday.

"I weren't involved, they wouldn't be talking at all right now".

Instead of bragging about it on Twitter to North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, the USA president might try spending more time on the phone with South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

In fact, President Trump and his policymakers harbored skepticism about Kim's olive branch, given his brinksmanship over his nuclear and missile development programs. "At the appropriate time, we'll get involved". North Korean officials typically fly overseas through Beijing.

"North Korea is going to be Trump's biggest foreign policy challenge in 2018", Darrell West, a senior fellow at the Washington-based think tank the Brookings Institute, told Xinhua.

The US President also told reporters that Mr Kim - who has previously threatened the US with a nuclear attack - knows he is not "messing around".

Prof Lee said: "The US remains very firm and vigilant when it comes to the nuclear threat".

Still, both the US and South Korea want no disruptions during the Olympics in Pyeongchang, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) from the heavily fortified border between the two Koreas.

Mr Trump and Kim Jong-un have exchanged insults ever since Mr Trump took office, with the US President repeatedly calling the North Korean leader "rocket man" for testing nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.

But the new year has witnessed a marked softening of tone.

"North Korea sees a moment of opportunity given South Korea's clear interest into wanting to have a positive and peaceful Olympics, and will leverage that moment for tactical gains to ease pressure of sanctions".

USA officials cautioned that the North's peace overture may be aimed at driving a wedge between Seoul and Washington and will weaken the worldwide sanctions against the reclusive country.

Chang Ung, Pyongyang's representative to the International Olympic Committee, reportedly made the comment at Beijing International Airport on Saturday. If North Korea responds by suspending military tests, then the "dual suspension" will be in effect, which Russian Federation and China-and Lyndon and Helga LaRouche-say is required to move to negotiations for a durable settlement.

"North Korea has shown willingness to cooperate on the Pyeongchang Olympics". "Talks for the sake of talks are meaningless".