It was comments from relatively new national security adviser John Bolton that gave the North Koreans an excuse to pull out.

A mis-timed reference to the ‘Libya model’ of denuclearisation in 2003 was interpreted as a US threat to topple Mr Kim, Gaddafi style.

Mr Trump then doubled down, suggesting total decimation would befall North Korea if a deal was not made, and Vice-President Mike Pence weighed in saying North Korea “may end like Libya”.

It was a return to “fire and fury”.

Top aide to Mr Kim, Choe Son-hui described the Vice-President’s remarks as “ignorant and stupid”.

via Donald Trump cancelling meeting with North Korea an unsurprising return to the norm – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)