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"My own assessment is that the talks will not even occur. But we will see. Bolton and Pompeo will have to also stay the course on this one and back up DJT and accordingly show NK in no uncertain terms there is a new sheriff in town this time, not like under Clinton, Bush, Obama. Prediction: If there is a counter response to this threat that is not to their liking, they will withdraw the move (rumored for today or tomorrow) to release those three US captives in DPRK. They are using them just as pawns anyways to flip US policy as they did with the two female journalists, the whole crew of the USS Pueblo, ad infinitum. They must be made aware that their tantrums and other tactics will not work this time."

Agreed on all points. I think NK will use any excuse not to meet and blame it on the US. They must save face at all costs.

Yet the economic pressures are taking their toll and will continue. And Trump is very good at playing the long game with patience. It's the nature of his development business experience.

Even with DPRK’s Office 39 working 24/7 through illicit channels to feed the regime, if the sanctions stay solidly in place, projections are that by October or November, the Kim regime could well collapse. That is because they will have lost the power to internally bribe the cadre, their only way of staying alive. They will be “offed” if and when the cadre and elite realize they are getting no more from the gravy train, which they enjoyed through Grand Dad and Dad’s regimes essentially uninterrupted. I say LET EM WALK.