FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again. SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow and never miss the top politics stories again. We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

The progress comes as President Donald Trump was warned not to fall for Kim Jong-un’s peace talks “trap”. Warring neighbours resumed communications for the first time since 2016 this week in a telephone exchange. After US President Donald Trump took credit for what appeared to be a cooling in warmongering from North Korea, former Barack Obama aide Michael H. Fuchs said: “I think President Trump is falling into the trap that Kim Jong-un is setting for him in trying to divide the two allies from one another.”

GETTY North Korea has agreed to high level talks ahead of winter olympics

Talks are thought to be planned for Tuesday, January 9, with hopes that progress can be made before South Korea’s Winter Olympics, starts next month. The meeting is expected to focus on working out a way for North Korean athletes to attend the games. Mr Fuchs said the rogue nation could be setting up a "trap" for US President Donald Trump, trying to "drive a wedge" between Washington and its allies in South Korea. He said: "The only danger here, by the outreach from North Korea to South Korea – which clearly is intended to drive a wedge between Seoul and Washington – is that Seoul and Washington are not on the same page."

Kim’s regime has held three phone calls with South Korea in the last 24 hours after two years of silence. The border hotline was opened at 6.30am Wednesday for talks after South Korea called for talks on New Year’s Day. It was suggested that Kim Jong-un may have been manoeuvring himself to enter into peace talks. The despot called for talks with South Korea ahead of them hosting the 2018 Winter Olympics and suggested that athletes from the hermit kingdom could take part in his New Year’s address.

North Korea celebrates new year with terrifying war-themed display Tue, January 2, 2018 North Korea residents celebrated New Year’s Eve with a chilling fireworks display while despot leader Kim Jong-un used his message to threaten nuclear war on Donald Trump Play slideshow REUTERS 1 of 7 Fireworks are seen above the Taedong River during New Year celebrations as visitors pose for a photo in front of an ice sculpture of an intercontinental ballistic missile at the Pyongyang Ice Sculpture Festival in Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang

Kim said: "This year marks the 70th anniversary of the North Korean regime's establishment, and the South will host the Winter Games. This year holds significance for the two Koreas. “The Winter Games to be held in South Korea will be a good occasion for the country. We sincerely hope that the Winter Olympics will be a success. "We have the readiness to take various steps, including the dispatch of the delegation."

GETTY North Korea hopes to send a team to the South Korea winter Olympics