for more, we are joined in chicago by bruce cumings, professor of history at the university of chicago and author of several books on korea, including "korea's place in the sun: a modern history" and "north korea: another country." professor cumings, welcome to democracy now! let's start off with the breaking news this week of communications being open between south and north korea. what does this mean and the possibility that as early as next week they will somehow meet at truce village in the demilitarized zone? >> it is very important, particularly the tone of kim jong-un's statement, which was very conciliatory toward the south and followed up by a high official who is even more conciliatory talking about north korea's hopes for the south korean winter olympics going well. of course, kim jong-un offered to send a delegation to the olympics. this is in great contrast to, for example, the 1988 or olympics which the north koreans try to disrupt with terrorist attacks. it is a very good sign. i would add that kim jong-un did big button with a lot of nuclear weapons, but he very clearly