Donald Trump has recessed himself and Moon Jae-in looks to have the political support for a big-bang approach to a final status deal with North Korea – doubtful as the outcome might be.
If there is another armed conflict on the Korean peninsula, it's unlikely an Australian government would feel bound by historical precedent or outdated legal instruments.
If Moon Jae-in wins the Blue House, his stance on THAAD will be a good indicator of how much influence China can have over South Korea’s foreign policy.
South Korea's likely next president Moon Jae-in favours an engagement-heavy approach toward North Korea that may push the US relationship into crisis, since the Trump administration has signalled a hard line on the regime.