I believe you are correct. The establishment is still pretty much running the gummint and has no intentions of allowing either a preemptive or retaliatory attack of any kind on North Korea, unless of course they do something really crazy. Notwithstanding Trump’s stance, they are content to allow this threat to grow and will obstruct any attempts at kinetic action.
Instead of showing resolve to stop this madman, the establishment’s plan is to assuage the country that we can live with the threat and “manage the problem”.
The really worrisome aspect of all this is that our adversaries around the world are watching North Korea threaten us — and getting away with it. The rest of the world is taking note and they are perceiving weakness instead of resolve and strength.
History has taught us time and again that appeasement and passivity never work. But here we are again.
Just like “managing $20 trillion in debt” I suspect someday the price will have to be paid but no one cares today.