Imagine that you are Donald Trump. You are desperate for something you can arguably call a “win” with North Korea. However, it has become completely clear that nothing short of an all-out war will stop the North Korean nuclear program, and you have decided that the costs and risks of such a war outweigh the benefits. What do you do?
Make a virtue out of necessity. Meet with Kim, agree to a deal that accepts the North Korean nuclear program with only cosmetic concessions from Kim, and call it a “victory.”
The world will rejoice. You may even win a Nobel Peace Prize. A few disgruntled right-wingers will complain, but the rest of your followers will fall in line, as they always do. Hey, it worked with Putin–why not with Kim?
In spite of Trump’s “fire and fury” rhetoric, don’t be shocked if this really happens, since he loves to be dramatic and unpredictable and doesn’t appear to have a strong emotional investment in the issue. It would strengthen his hand domestically and clear the decks for the war he really wants: the one with Iran.