I have always thought that China is Trump’s secret partner in this and they are pushing Kim to make an agreement. A prosperous and Nuclear Free North Korea is in China’s interest. I don’t think they are giving Kim and choice in these negotiations.
I suspect what Xi wants is N. Korea minus a few nuke and missiles. China wants it to remain pro-China. Xi wants Kim on a shorter leash. NK is theirs as far as they are concerned. I don’t think China wants full denuclearization, either. They don’t want any dramatic change. They do not want N. Korea to completely break the status quo.
Exactly.