Well it could work, but with nukes on the table this all can go so horribly wrong. No one can honestly win once the rockets start flying.
i don't know if kicking the can further down the road is any better, though. they'll just keep making more and more sophisticated bombs so when/if war does break out, even more people will die. the kims' track record on negotiations aren't very good so i don't have much faith diplomacy will work and i don't trust un not to export nukes. i'm just gonna cross my fingers that thaad works.
"Nuclear bombs don't kill people, people kill people."
Kim knows once he either nukes SK or Japan its "game over" for him. The whole hype about him being able to hit US mainland doesn't change anything to the whole situation. Kim is a 3rd gen totalitarian dictator, he's a smart guy. He has seen how it went with Kahdaffi and Saddam Hussain when they didn't have nukes. His motives are not offensive but defensive. Trump's rethoric only justifies his agenda, fuel his resolve and speedens the development in their tech.
China and Russia wont let Kim export either nuclear knowledge or equipment. To much to jeopardy for their own interests.
eh, i wouldn't say its directly for his popularity, i think he just wants to get something done so he can run around washington saying 'look what i did, now give me what i want' and war is unfortunately probably the easiest thing a president can do.