Kim Jung-un is probably confused about his options. But he shouldn’t be. Yet his state of mind could make deliberations very difficult and even cause negotiations to break down. A poor decision by Kim to retain his nuclear arsenal could occur because of the young despot’s inexperience, reluctance to rely upon the instincts of informed advisors and a burning desire to save his regime.

Ironically, NOKO has no reason to fear military intervention if it gives up its nukes. Frankly, the danger to the country is exponentially greater if Kim moves forward with his nuclear aspirations. This strategy would only serve to infuriate the US, South Korea and Japan, and increase the threat of military action and/or greater economic sanctions.

If the US guarantees NOKO’s security and economic well-being along with China, Kim has no one to fear other than his own people, who will likely press him to improve economic and political conditions. Economic prosperity would be eminently feasible if the US and other nations began to trade with NOKO, and if Kim stops spending money on military assets.

Trump and Chinese leaders must convince Kim that his regime continues to be in great jeopardy. At 30-something years of age, he could enjoy a long tenure as head of his country. If he continues to base his power on nuclear weapons, the future will be cloudy for him and his countrymen. Kim should recognize that his own people will rebel and destabilize the country if he fails to make a deal with the US.

It’s reasonable to feel that President Trump is not the best person to be orchestrating this delicate negotiation. The good news is that the president is relying on, among other people, Mike Pompeo who is developing a productive working relationship with Kim and his lieutenants.

The progress Trump has made, as compared to all the US presidents since the Korean War, is startling. Trump is wise to be very measured in his promises. He is masterfully managing America’s expectations, and for good reason. The North Koreans have been very unreliable over the years. It may work out, and it’s looking pretty favorable at this moment. Americans should not expect immediate gratification. As Trump has described it, negotiations will be part of a longer-term process.

The true risk for the US is a deal that does not achieve the stated objectives because of Trump’s desire to make a big splash. Like Obama and Kerry, he could be influenced by the accolades of doing a deal, even a bad one. As we know, the definition of success is denuclearization and unobstructed inspections. If Trump is swayed by talk of a Nobel Prize and such, the NOKO deal could be as ineffective as Obama’s deal is with Iran.

Mr. President, you are dealing with the greatest threats to the human race- nuclear proliferation and war. Make the right decisions without being seduced by personal gain.

While all my readers were suffering through another week of Trumpian drama, my family and I visited Iceland. It was a welcomed divergence from the 24-hour news blitz dedicated to a tweet addict, distortion of facts by both political parties and Trump detractors keenly intent on destroying his presidency.

For a change of pace Softball Politics will be more culturally sensitive. I will tell you about our fantastic trip to a tiny and remote island in the middle of the North Atlantic.

Let’s start from the beginning. A Norwegian Chieftain named Arnarson founded Iceland in 874 A.D. The people acceded to Norwegian rule in the 13^th Century and Iceland became a republic in 1944.

The population of Iceland is about 350,000 (most live in and near the capital city of Reykjavik). About 75% of the inhabitants are of Norwegian descent and a large portion of the balance are from Ireland, slaves of the Vikings. Its area is about 40,000 square miles (the same as Kentucky). Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe. The nation is volcanically and geologically active. Sand and lava fields, mountains and glaciers characterize the interior of the country. It’s located just south of the Arctic Circle on the 66^th parallel. The climate is moderated by the Gulf Stream, although Iceland is never described as warm, even in the summer.

Iceland’s topography is not arable. It consists mostly of lava rocks and residue, so the country imports a great deal of food from elsewhere. Ranchers raise sheep and horses. Both of which are butchered and eaten. Horses are also raised to race and for dressage contests.

The principal industries in the country are fishing, tourism and the processing of alumina, the main raw material in aluminum.

Fishing is an age-old occupation along the southern coast of Iceland. Fresh seafood is a very enjoyable benefit in most restaurants.

Tourism has become a gigantic part of Iceland. Many tourists visit the island arriving by plane to a modern airport and by cruise ships. The sights most frequented by tourists will be discussed in detail later.

The production of alumina, a seemingly odd product for an island nation a thousand miles from civilization, is based upon very inexpensive costs of electricity derived from geothermal sites, waterfalls and rivers blanketing the country. Electricity is the greatest cost of the alumina process, so it’s no wonder that this business has grown to such an extent in Iceland.

The principal religion of Iceland is Lutheran. Nevertheless the country does not mix church and state matters to any great extent.

A parliamentary system and a Prime Minister govern the country. Iceland has no standing army and no mandatory military service. The country is not a member of the European Union, and it has its own currency. It would be accurate to describe the country as socialistic as are Norway and other Scandinavian countries. Health care, education and many social services are free. The US maintains a military base in Iceland, as it is strategically located between North America and Europe.

The country has a long history of myths dominated by trolls and elves. We enjoyed many stories of very colorful characters that the people of Iceland love so dearly.

Virtually every Icelander speaks English. Every child learns English early on in school. But Icelandic is possibly one of the most complex languages in the world. For two things it has many more letters in its alphabet than English, and umlaut-type notations frequently accompany them. Of particular note are individual names, which are complex and usually impossible for outsiders to pronounce and remember. My family partially solved this growing dilemma by branding our guides with nicknames. We called our touring guide “Hammer” (reminiscent of Thor and his hammer), and our snowmobiling guide was dubbed “Killer” (his name had “kil” in it I think). These two men were amused by our issues relating to their names, especially Killer who is a real mountain man.

Let’s now get down to brass tacks. What would a family or group of friends do in Iceland for four or five days? Just so there are no illusions, if you want to be pampered each day and shop, Iceland would not be your cup of tea. The country is a rough and tumble place. It’s overall landscape reminds one of the moon or a scene from a “Mad Max” movie. Very few places in the interior have businesses, homes or anyone living in the area.

Following is a description of the most important tourist sights on our trip.

After we landed in Reykjavik we immediately went to the Blue Lagoon Geothermal Spa. This was the only place we visited all week that catered to comfort. It’s a combination new and modern hotel and spa where one can get massages and roast in saunas. The main attraction is wading in crystal clear glacial water that is heated like a gigantic hot tub. It was a refreshing activity after a red-eye flight. One member of our group also had a facial.

For the first three nights we stayed at the Eldar Lodge, which was a fair distance away from the capital city. It’s frequented, we heard, by many celebrities because it’s remote and very private. The facility consists of just eight luxury suites (we were the only people there at the time). The accommodations, food and service were off the charts. It was a joy to return to Eldar after a tough day in the Icelandic outback. Every day we jumped in the hot tub and then feasted on a cornucopia of food prepared by a fantastic chef.

The next day we took a helicopter tour over the South Coast of the island on the only day that was safe to fly.  Observing black sand beaches, volcanoes, glaciers and waterfalls from the air was our secondary mission. The primary activity was a helicopter landing on the Tungnarkisljokull Glacier (I told you the names were tough), and a trek with a guide. We landed on a spot at which the glacier was melting. It was an extraordinary experience.

On the same day we flew by helicopter to the Laugarvatnshellir Cave where we learned how families survived in Iceland 100 years ago.

The next day we drove in a blizzard to the Langjokull Glacier for a snowmobile tour with Killer, the guide. We rode around as the snow and hail pelted us mercilessly, in a white out. Our clothes were drenched through the provided snowmobile coveralls. It was touch and go but great fun. Later we traveled a short distance to see the Fullfoss Waterfall, and an active geyser, the only one in the country.

The following day we were scheduled to fly by helicopter to the Langjokull Glacier for a trip into the core of the glacier. The weather was bad so we drove for three and a half hours across the interior of the country. It was a harrowing experience as our driver and guide, Hammer, negotiated incredibly difficult terrain with our monster SUV. The tires on the vehicle were gigantic enabling the truck to negotiate deep snow and lava rock.

The drive was worth it. Arnie escorted us into the glacier a hundred or so feet down. He was the only person we met on the trip whose name was pronounceable. In the glacier we learned about how it reproduces itself over the years. Each year the tube is reamed and the various rooms, a chapel, boardroom and outhouse are refurbished. While there I was invited to sing a song in an area that was an echo chamber. I sang and danced to “Satisfaction” to the delight of Arnie, who followed me with a rendition of a traditional folk song.

On the final day we drove to a ski resort, which was closed. We dismounted from our monster truck and hiked about two miles to the Thrihnukagigur Volcano where we descended 400 feet into the crater. This is the only crater in the world that can be explored by tourists. After we got off the elevator we entered a humongous area about 400 meters across that was lit up for our inspection. It was a unique experience being in the center of the Earth.

Our trip to Iceland was a great success. We saw many things that fascinated and amazed us. The people, hotels, food and guides were all terrific. I would recommend this adventure to all those interested in roughing it for a few days.