There have been a number of recent rumors about Kim's health( smoking, heart, and brain). If Kim Jong is hospitalized, it would explain why Kim Jong wasn't present on the important April 15th celebrations, but, over the years, there have been a number of false health rumors about Kim Jong or Kim Jong father. We'll have to wait and see.

Bruce Klingner

There are a lot of hard feelings. by Bruce Klingner

There are a lot of hard feelings.

The US-South Korean alliance was forged in blood during the crucible of the Korean War, north Korea enduring motto is katchi kapshida --' we go together' -- not' we go together, if we are paid enough.'.

Along the DMZ, North Korea's military forces are still in place, there's been no decrease in the North Korean military threat whatsoever.

The US either want a door prize before The US come into the negotiating room, or The US're sending a signal as to what The US want, so it's trying to put pressure on The US to reduce pressure or provide benefits, if we want the process to continue.

He was painted as someone who the US could not count on to not start a war, we are seeing some of that now as people realize that Kim, contrary to perception, is not crazy or irrational.

President Trump has thrown out the usual diplomatic playbook and the concept of bureaucratic timelines, traditionally, the US would not deploy a president to negotiate terms but to sign the agreement once the details were in place.

It's too early to bang the war drums, we may get there, but I think it's premature to jump to that conclusion now.

North Korea has both an overt and covert economy through which it gains money, the overt economy is predominantly sales of natural resources.

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The overt economy is predominantly sales of natural resources, the covert economy is harder to estimate, but consists of weapons sales, the counterfeiting of U.S. $100 bills . . . production and distribution of illegal narcotics, cigarettes and pharmaceuticals, including Viagra, insurance scams, money laundering, and cybercrime.

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China has been part of the problem rather than part of the soluti... by Bruce Klingner

China has been part of the problem rather than part of the solution.

So regardless of what Beijing wants. by Bruce Klingner

So regardless of what Beijing wants.

The Trump administration is formulating its North Korea policy amidst accelerating threats and deteriorating relations in the region.

However, most experts think Pyongyang does not yet have that ability since the regime hasn’t tested and demonstrated a reentry vehicle for its [intercontinental missiles].

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Trying to target North Korean mobile nuclear missiles in a crisis is like trying to win three-card monte on a New York street corner.

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It's a tweaking of the conditions, rather than requiring progress on denuclearization before negotiations, it seems the administration agreed to the idea of peace talks but required denuclearization talks to be included.

They periodically raise the idea and it never really gets far. by Bruce Klingner

They periodically raise the idea and it never really gets far.

You also have to implement confidence-building measures as the U.... by Bruce Klingner

You also have to implement confidence-building measures as the U.S. did in Europe.

There have been a number of recent rumors about Kim's health. If Kim Jong-un is hospitalized, it would explain why Kim Jong-un wasn't present on the important April 15th celebrations, but, over the years, there have been a number of false health rumors about Kim Jong-un or Kim Jong-un father. We'll have to wait and see.

Pyongyangs state media reported that 7,000 people were being held for medical monitoring, but the extent of any outbreak is unknown.

Unfortunately it seems like this just could drag on.