Stefan Shover for the Niskanen Center: North Korea is developing an intercontinental ballistic missile that can deliver a nuclear warhead to the U.S. As with many other countries, President Trump has made it clear that this is not acceptable and, in a step toward diplomacy, last month urged the North Korean government to “come to the table and make a deal” regarding denuclearization.

The implication of this demand is that the U.S. can compel the North Korean regime to denuclearize if necessary. However, this is groundless. The U.S. does not possess any substantive economic, military or informational warfare advantage that could be used to force the North Korean government to negotiate its nuclear weapons program. The Trump administration would be far better served accepting a nuclear-armed North Korea and working toward a peaceful de-escalation of tensions.