Korea Times columnists _ from left, Oh Young-jin, Andrew Salmon, Michael Breen and Stephen Costello _ pose before the Times roundtable on North Korea at its office, Tuesday. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

By Oh Young-jin

What would happen after the PyeongChang Olympics are over and everybody goes home?

Would the United States go after the defiant North Korea over the North's weapons of mass destructon (WMDs)? Would President Moon Jae-in somehow manage to create momentum for the reconciliation of not just the two Koreas but also between Pyongyang and Washington?

Four columnists of The Korea Times got together for a round table discussion Tuesday.

Washington-based Stephen Costello was truly "Korea-centric," arguing that Moon has an unprecedented opportunity to take the lead because the U.S. under President Trump is in disarray.
Costello left at least one at the debate feeling "I wish."

Asia Times Asia bureau chief and long-time contributor to the Times was more hard-nosed about any prospects of post-Olympic change. He hoped that the gathering of big players from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to U.S. Vice President Mike Pence "at the balcony" for VIPs would result in a change of the status quo .

Michael Breen, author of two books in his "Korean" series and an expert on North Korean affairs, was at his best analytical self when he highlighted the symbolic significance of the Olympics, dubbing Koreans as "bullied by big powers and ignored by the world." Still his emphasis is on this significant moment that will hopefully bring about positive change.

Oh Young-jin, host of the round table and digital managing editor of The Korea Times, refused to be optimistic, pointing out the North has a habit of "missing the bus" or a good opportunity.

"The Oympics would be a one-shot event, a sporting event, nothing more," he said. "But I hope I would be surprised by something, a positive element … the United States and North Korea would get back to their usual business of threatening each other…"