Imho, the irony is the propaganda this regime perpetuates, that the United States is their greatest enemy, which is another way of saying our country alone, is capable of exerting untold influence to change their country, their way of life.  

The rhetoric sometimes heard is that the United States has tried and failed for nearly 50 years to change the relationship with North Korea, that things will never change.  Perhaps the right way to look at this issue is as a generational problem?   As said by Mattis, there are always diplomatic options.  In another 50 years, which is a relatively short period of time, history may have a different view of North Korea.  

There must be absolute clarity that everyone must do everything possible to avoid history woefully talking about a war where millions were killed, that could have, should have, been avoided.