So, we're not advocating regime change, and Tillerson is willing to talk to the North Koreans. Who on earth does the man think he's fooling? Himself?
It's very clear what's going on here. Life in North Korea is abysmal for ordinary people, so how do you get them to forget their misery and keep yourself in power? You give them a common enemy to fear and hate with a passion. The U.S. is always good for that.
The North Korean regime has nothing to gain by talking to anybody, and everything to gain by continuing to blackmail the rest of the world. I mean, the regime has everything to gain by continuing its nuclear program and threats: To keep itself in power.
So what do we do? Wait till a nuclear bomb falls on Anchorage? Seattle? San Francisco? L.A.? Denver? Chicago? I think I heard somewhere that they're now capable of hitting the East Coast, so I'd better include Washington, Philadelphia (that would take me out), and New York City in that list.
I'd suggest bombing the North Koreans back into the Stone Age, but I know that would lead to harm for untold numbers of our allies in the region, not to mention innocent North Korean civilians. China wouldn't much like it, either.
Do we send in the SEALs, like we did to take out Osama bin Laden? (I'm not necessarily advocating that, just thinkin' out loud.)