Some people have intimated that there has been "for years a softly softly approach" by the USA towards North Korea.
By softly softly I assume no sabre rattling by the past three presidents. Clinton, Bush and Obama
So the first missile was launched by NK in 1993, in response to the collapse of the USSR. NK sought to increase its defence, as it had previously relied on the USSR.
Clinton responded by drawing up an agreement which ensure closure of a nuclear power plant in NK in exchange for oil deliveries. This lasted until 1996, when a Republican Congress failed to support Clinton and refused continued funding for the agreement with NK. This resulted in NK reacting by reopening the nuclear power plant in 1998.
The agreement broke down in 2003.
So here the Republican dovishness by refusing funding and the lack of initial foresight in not insisting that the plant be dismantled meant that this agreement failed.
Next we come to the Bush regime which took an entirely different approach. First it was clear that the USA had learned lessons from experience, and adopted a dismantle first approach.
But largely Bush's hawkish approach primarily sought regime change in NK. Do you remember the "axis of evil" speech?
2003 NK leaves the Clinton agreement and admits that it is developing nuclear weapons.
Talks are initiated between 6 interested countries including the USA, NK, China etc. The Bush administration clung to the dismantle first route as well as an insistence that NK reduce its conventional weapons.
The talks broke down on 2006.
Bush's hawkish approach faired no better than Clintons dovish approach. In fact it could be argued that they faired worse as there was no single positive outcome from this approach.
Now to the Obama presidency.
He initially offered negotiations which was rebuffed by NK with further missile testing.
Obama therefore initiated what became known as "strategic patience" having learned from Clinton and Bush. South Korea was much happier with this approach compared to Bush's hawkish scenario.
Obama's aim was to achieve denuclearisation in the area through patient negotiation.
Until there is a regime change or a coup, which allows positive negotiation, this was probably the best way forward.
Trumps position will from past experience prove just as ineffective as Bush's efforts.
Information taken from a paper produced by Sarah Lohschelder
YPFP programme.