It was a question - so you agree waiting isn't an option (any more). I think to have an effective negotiation, you have to first "clear the air" in a sense that

It was a question - so you agree waiting isn't an option (any more). I think to have an effective negotiation, you have to first "clear the air" in a sense that you aren't going to kow-tow to Kim, or pretend that he's anything other than exactly what he is. There's no future for the regime currently leading NK, so any real negotiation is actually targeting whoever is going to replace Kim. Taunting him (and watching how he responds) is a calculated part of this process. The unanimous UN resolution, and the executive order which backed it up last week I think speak for themselves. [1] I don't agree with 38North's conclusions but they describe the order itself fairly well. I doubt very much that China will come out on DPRK's side at the end of this; we will get just enough out of Rocket Man to justify any strike in China's eyes. I think people are putting far too much weight on an op-ed if they think China will militarily defend NK. What China is doing is walking back their mutual defense treaty from 1961 to make it clear that NK is on their own if they provoke an attack. They want to keep a deterrent in place as much as possible against a first strike against NK, but I think the reality is that China won't be there with tanks, missiles, or troops when NK falls. Or if they are, it's because they are the ones taking over. Come to think of it, I'm sure we would happily pay China $100+ billion in trade allowances if they would do us the favor. My personal opinion is that if we do end up making targeted strikes against NK military installations, they will be with the promise of overwhelming nuclear strike if artillery fire were ever to touch Seoul. Like I said before though, I think it's much more likely that Rocket Man is deposed before that happens. [1] - http://www.38north.org/2017/09/jdethomas092217/ http://www.38north.org/2017/09/jdethomas092217/