Meanwhile, Trump seems to be slightly softening his attitude toward the DPRK. The White House says he expressed openness to talks with the DPRK "under the right circumstances". This came during a phone call with his South Korea counterpart. The two leaders also underscored the importance of continuing to put maximum pressure on Pyongyang. The South Korean president also recently signaled a willingness to sit down with the DPRK. Pyongyang this week reached a landmark agreement to send athletes to the Winter Olympics in the South -- a move broadly welcomed by the international community.