But under one strict precondition: the United States must stop seeking to denuclearize North Korea. If Trump and his administration keep holding onto the goal of denuclearizing North Korea, do not expect diplomacy. The harsh reality is that diplomacy with North Korea based on “denuclearization” looks more unlikely than ever. North Korea has also formed an unprecedentedly tight strategic alliance with Russia and improved its relations with China as well. This leaves a negotiating space that may be far from ideal but could still serve to advance regional and global security interests — such as freezing North Korea’s nuclear production, moderating North Korea’s military and nuclear doctrines and deployments, preventing North Korea from selling its nuclear and missile technology overseas, and more.