The two-hour-plus concert in the East Pyongyang Grand Theater was a novelty for North Korea because it was presented by the famous Red Velvet girl band of the South. It provided Kim Jong-un and his wife Ri Sol Ju an opportunity to enjoy the evening with South Korean singers and performers who had come to Pyongyang.

CNN reports that at the end of the show, the North Korean leader and his wife shook hands with the pop stars, and even joined them for photo ops. The occasion was a unique one because it was one of those rare occasions when South Korean musicians have traveled to the North to showcase their talents.

There is a thaw in relations

Kim Jong-un enjoyed the show put up by the Red Velvet girl band. It was a surprise because the culture of the South was taboo in the North, and Kim made an exception in this case. Incidentally, his wife Ri Sol Ju used to be a singer in a North Korean orchestra before her marriage.

It is evident that the situation in the Korean peninsula is changing, and Kim Jong-un is treading a different line compared to his earlier aggressive stance. The relations between North Korea and South Korea appear to have thawed which is a positive sign for the forthcoming summit between Kim Jong-un and Moon Jae-in planned for the end of April.

Is reunification on the cards?

Members of the Red Velvet girl band were overjoyed with the warm reception they received in Pyongyang and indicated that they would like to return if invited again.

They admitted that it was a great feeling to see the audience singing along with them. The band has one more performance lined up in the capital.

Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea is known for his nuclear threats directed towards the United States and he devoted his energies to developing ICBMs. However, he has suddenly made a U-turn and appears to have opted for peace.

At New Year, he reactivated the hotline with South Korea and agreed to participate in the 2018 Winter Olympics.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in has always been in favor of having closer ties with his neighbor and wants a reunified Korea. A summit between Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump is planned for May and its outcome will decide the fate of the Korean peninsula.

The annual joint US-South Korea military exercise has started and Kim usually views it with concern. The current drill will be for a duration of only four weeks which will be shorter than earlier years. Kim has, so far, not reacted to this military exercise. This could be interpreted as a part of his wait-and-watch policy.