[bingomad123]

Well my argument is that all US allies too should increase trade with Kim.

> So the US will never increase trade with NK to appease its sociopathic dictator

Well USA has very good trade relationship with China and Saudi both countries that would come second and third in terms of human rights abuses. In fact Saudi is a close ally.

It appears to me that USA wants a war and not to de-escalate the tensions and bring peace. All this eventually will come a a huge cost for South Koreans and US taxpayers.

When was the last time sanctions really worked ? India and Pakistan have very good nuclear arsenals and continue to build advance weapons despite all the threats and sanctions. Russia did not return the Crimea because of sanctions. Iran did not abandon its nuclear program because of sanctions.

[petre]

The US is being pragmatic. China and the Saudis are countries you can do business with, not some wannabe bully threatening their US-allied neighbours and the USA with nukes. The last thing the USA wants in the Korean peninsula is war. They want to continue to do business as usual with South Korea, Japan and China without some pesky fatso dictator threatening regional stability with duct tape built nukes and ICBMs. But if it takes a few preemptive strikes to neuter Kim, they will gladly lend a hand.