THE global spotlight, which has been focused on North Korea for much of 2017, has shifted slightly to South Korea, which has assumed an uncharacteristically key role under President Moon Jae-in.

The South Korean leader has successfully invited Pyongyang to take part in the Winter Olympic Games next month, giving rise to hopes that the inter-Korean dialogue could lead to talks about denuclearisation, and persuaded US President Donald Trump to postpone joint military exercises until after Mar 18, when the Paralympic Games end.

But Mr Moon no doubt realises that he has very limited room for manoeuvre. The meeting on Jan 9 to discuss North Korea's participation in the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang became possible because Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, proposed it and because the American leader cooperated by suspending scheduled US-South Korean military exercises.