...It has been widely established Kim is taking orders from Xi, but at the same time he probably recognizes his position as a tool of China and sees a relationship with the larger international community as a way out from under their thumb. Thoughts?
Well, think about it. NK is the product of Chinese communist ideological expansion. Those days are long over. NK is severely backwards. China is moving forward economically and its citizens, although living in a totalitarian police state, can freely travel around the world.
How does NK get out of this rut?