What do you think Trump should do with North Korea?
I have several times expressed the view that North Korea is a very difficult issue. It was soluble in the 1990s. After the neocons torpedoed the Agreed Framework, and demonstrated that the US was not a credible negotiating partner, it became inevitable that North Korea would pursue an independent nuclear deterrent at any cost.
I can remember us having a similar discussion in 2016 when you were very critical of Obama over North Korea, and seemed to think Trump could do better. We disagree on whether Trump's infantile threats followed by friendly relations with Kim have achieved anything substantial.
This is what Trump said during the 2016 election campaign:
May 18, 2016: In an interview with Reuters, Mr. Trump said he was open to speaking to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. "I would speak to him, I would have no problem speaking to him," he said. He also said during the interview that he'd pressure China. "I would put a lot of pressure on China because economically we have tremendous power over China...China can solve that problem with one meeting or one phone call
It showed Trump's ignorance. It is certainly true that China has influence, but China cannot
easily solve the problem of North Korea any more than Trump can. China can be part of the solution. China can only be expected to help insofar as it helps their own security.
The only way North Korea might be persuaded to denuclearise again is if there are cast iron guarantees of any agreement by China. North Korea and China would need to be assured that US forces are permanently removed from South Korea, and a formal peace treaty signed. North Korea, additionally, would need full sanctions relief, and the diplomatic recognition they were promised in the Agreed Framework but never granted. South Korea would sweeten the deal further by offering massive economic aid in various forms.
There is no way Trump is qualified to pull something like this off. Unfortunately, there is also no real prospect that the GOP would acquiesce to such an agreement negotiated by a Democratic president.