Is Kim really waffling, or is this the MSM inventing “news” and trying to deny Trump a major accomplishment?
He may be waffling because he is insecure - like every other nation on the planet he has to deal with factions within his own government/military, some of whom would entertain knocking him off. It is a precarious position for him that is exacerbated by the medieval state of his economy and health of his citizens. His security blanket with China has become very thin as China has grown weary of him and rightly understands that his shenanigans increase U.S. power in the region.
It is difficult to see the end-game in this and has been that way from the beginning. The scariest thing for the NK leadership would be the westernization of their nation because freedom of information and thought would lead to their own demise once their people see truth.
Ultimately, China does not want U.S. forces on the peninsula. It is not in their interest to allow the Norks to play with nuclear bombs because Japan is responding by beefing up their own military capability and may join the nuclear game in response (an easy task for them). The deck is stacked against Kim and his regime who appear to face an impossible situation. The sanctions and pressure from China are working so conditions will worsen, but the other option is just as dangerous for the regime.