>>/12577/
> there is a humanitarian dimension, since sanctions hurt ordinary people in the first place, which we have to take into account.
Oh, how so much they care about the ordinary people it fills my heart with warmth.
Could negotiations solve anything?
The kernel of the problem is the existence of the Korean countries. Chosŏn and Hanguk don't recognize each other and the end of the state of war could only mean the end of one or the other.
Would China be happy with a South Korea style US lapdog state as a new neighbour? Would the US allow the loss of South Korea? Nah, don't think so.
The only solution of the conflict is the mutual recognition of each other which in the current situation is impossible.
The US would only give up her guardianship over Hanguk if Chosŏn gave up her WMDs and disband most of her armies first. Minimum. Otherwise she can't be sure of the safety of Hanguk. On the other hand North Korea can't give up their weapons and armies because they are pretty sure that would be the end of their country. Even if the US troops were withdrawn they could be redeployed just as easily in no time and noone's there to defend the North like the last time, not the Chinese nor the Russians, and rearmament would be impossible for them in such case.
The US should change rhetoric and accept Chosŏn as a nuclear power, the UN should lift sanctions and enable the North to enter into the blood flow of the global economy. What would stop Kim Jong-un from using his weapons? The same that stops every other nuclear power: then they would be wiped out. This is exactly what's holding him back right now! This would remain the same. However the US cannot make this step because this would be a huge defeat in the eye of both domestic and foreign public, especially after this loudmouthing.
Such move could be only enabled by massive propaganda (maybe years of preparation), however no US government had such a huge media backing in recent decades. Such move would be political suicide for the Trump administration, they cannot allow that.