The US has made clear that we’re not interested in diplomacy [with NK]
Since when? I was under the impression it was the reverse, and that Kim’s interest in nuclear weapons is akin to what Saddam’s interest was in them. That is, he just wants to make himself look and feel powerful because, as dictators usually are, he is incredibly insecure and paranoid about looking weak.
No. He’s not a madman. He’s a rational actor acting in logical ways that align with his interests. Kim wants to stay in power, and ultimately, have a unified Korea under his control. He’s building nuclear weapons because without them he could fold like a deck of cards, like what happened in Iraq. There’s a logic behind the madness.