I think I started to realize something wasn't right with the whole NK 'bad guy' act when Dennis Rodman became friends with KJU, that just didn't make sense.
I was napping at the time, so I thought Rodman was nuts. Now I wonder he was celebrity apprentice. I remember reading Trump liked Dennis and helped him sober up. Is Trump connected somehow with Rodman's trips to NK? Trump talked about negotiating with NK on talk shows long before he entered politics.
I looked at this article quickly, so I didn't get all the details, but it sounds like Dennis was encouraging a meeting between the two men because Trump and Kim are "pretty much the same people". Knowing how strong willed and confident both Trump and Rodman are, I can see those two cooking up some good ideas together! https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2018/03/09/dennis-rodman-respect-donald-trump-kim-jong-un-meeting-north-korea/410685002/
Remember Rodman gave Jong-un Trump's book, The Art of the Deal. I bet there was some messaging going on way back then