On February 9, the Winter Olympics will commence in Pyeongchang, South Korea. With the open ceremony quickly approaching, safety concerns have risen in response to North Korea’s recent behavior. Throughout the past few months, North Korea has been in the spotlight for testing its nuclear weapons. With North Korea just 50 miles north of Pyeongchang, the safety of the athletes has been a major concern. However, the tension appears to be decreasing between North Korea and South Korea.

For the first time in two years, the two nations reopened communications to discuss the upcoming Olympic games. North Korea recently announced that they will be sending representatives to the games next month. The President of South Korea, Moon Jae-In, hopes that North Korea will take a break from testing nuclear weapons while the games are taking place.

North Korea last participated in the Olympic Games in 2008, but the nation was not present at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, which was the last time the games took place in South Korea. That all changes this year as athletes, cheerleaders, performing artists, a taekwondo demonstration team, and high level officials from North Korea will be present. North Korea has even agreed to send a 140-member orchestra to the Winter Olympic Games. Also, the two Koreas are currently discussing a Pyongyang-Seoul joint Ice Hockey Team; this is the first time the Koreas will be participating in the Olympics as one team.

The sudden reopening of communication between the two Koreas came as President Donald Trump threatened Kim Jong Un with a nuclear war. Un mentioned in his New Year’s address that he has a “nuclear button” on his desk, and Trump responded that his “nuclear button” is bigger and more powerful than Un’s. Some critics believe that Un may simplying be trying to weaken relations between South Korea and the United States.

Even with the easing tensions between the two nations, the United States is appeared to be increasing its military presence by positioning stealth bombers, extra aircraft carriers and an amphibious assault ship around the Korean peninsula. This all arrived after the United States agreed to postpone annual military operations with South Korea until after the games. According to United States military officials, the military moves were only part of routine training and scheduled upgrades.

All Olympic games have had a deeper meaning that goes beyond sports. They have been an opportunity for the top athletes around the world to unite and experience different cultures. Hopefully these games will bring a de-escalation of tension between North and South Korea that lasts for many years to come.