Quote Originally Posted by Rich View Post
What is the north's motive here, do you suppose? It seems a remarkable turnaround from the rhetoric we've become accustomed to.

Do you think China has made it clear to the North that their loyalty is not limitless?
Trump has made clear to China that it can either protect NK or effectively enter into a trade war with the US it cannot afford and which would stop its economic development in its tracks. In effect, he made China an offer it couldn't refuse.

With China's non-intervention assured, it would also appear (see redgunamo passim) that the US military has neutralised NK's nuclear capability. Without China's support or nukes, NK has no leverage and is forced to the table.