James Clapper suggests the U.S. set up a diplomatic mission in North Korea. The problem is, he wants to let Kim Jong-un do the same

"Not in Our Best Interests"

Weekly Standard   "James Clapper has this right: An "alternative approach" to North Korea is needed. The former director of national intelligence made the claim in Seoul this week at a seminar hosted by the Joongang Ilbo (a major South Korean newspaper) and the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

"The historical record speaks for itself: Bill Clinton's administration struck a supposed non-proliferation deal with the Kim regime in 1994, which the nominally socialist state quickly proceeded to cheat on. George W. Bush then pursued a quasi-schizophrenic good-cop, bad-cop routine, one day (excellently) declaring he "hated" Kim Jong-il, then later, disgracefully, removing the terror-sponsoring state from the State Department's list of state sponsors of terror. Barack Obama, for his part—the man Clapper served for six and a half years—practiced what was euphemistically referred to as "strategic patience," also known as "sitting around and hoping the Kims shape up." They didn't, and here we are. North Korea is now nuclear-armed and remains the human rights horror show it's always been." . . .