Kim Jong Un desperately wants a meeting with the United States, but the latest attempt at Track 1.5 talks were derailed when the lead interlocutor for Pyongyang was denied a visa last month. Although what exactly was to be discussed remains unknown, many observers of North Korea recognize that Pyongyang’s long-time desire is to negotiate a peace treaty with Washington.

Kim Jong Un wants the same thing as his grandfather and father before him. There has been no change in that, for it is via a peace treaty ending the Korean War that his reign will finally and ultimately be secure. But that does not mean what you might think.