During a recent trip to a hot and humid Washington, D.C., I could not miss an opportunity to talk to my local contacts — those academics, diplomats, analysts and journalists focusing on the peculiar society in North Korea. This gave a good snapshot on the latest thoughts inside the Beltway about North Korea and related issues.

The single most important takeaway is that interest in North Korea is at a record low. In the days of Donald Trump’s presidency, North Korea briefly rose to the top of the White House agenda, but these days are gone.