[Flintstone]

Looking at it from a psychology POV,

If it weren't so serious it would be fun to watch.

Talking of which, didn’t Bush Senior’s dad make money out of the dodgier parts of America’s involvement if WWII?

I doubt there's a single president, premier or any other leader of a country that hasn't made a bundle. Except Blair of course, what with him being a man of the people.

The North Korean leadership's problem is that the moment they allow the poor sods that live there a glimpse of the outside world it'll be the Berlin wall all over again. A sniff of McDonalds, a glimpse of the internet and the oppressed millions will rise up. Kim knows it so he and his cronies will be doing deals with Trump's cronies to ensure they get their kickbacks when the (all American) companies go wading in.

It's all about money.

[chevvron]

Kim's got exactly what he wanted.
He purposely drove his country to the edge of bankruptcy by spending all its assets on nuclear and rocket research, knowing that the Americans would be only too pleased to step in and provide zillions of dollars aid to rebuild and modernise the country (thus providing overseas contracts for the big US companies) in return for Kim renouncing nuclear arms etc.

[akg1486]

Maybe this is a plausible scenario now that Trump has stopped the deal with Iran:

1. Iran restarts its nuclear program
2. The Russians smuggle material and know-how to Iran
3. Iran displays its nuclear capabilities while blaming the US and Israel for all that's not right with the world
4. Trump meets the Ayatollahs and tells the world how much he loves them and how great they are
5. US businesses take over everything that European companies have been doing in Iran until forced by Trump to stop because of sanctions

Trump probably needs four more years for all that to happen, but the American people will in all likelihood give him that.