First...fair enough.
Second...do you think "strategic patience" is "trying?" Regarding sanctions, I don't see how he backed down. Aren't sanctions on N.Korea the worst ever? I agree it is hard to predict. I certainly don't have all the answers. I just figure trying something different may be a good idea when what we were trying wasn't working. No guarantee that the new strategy would work either, of course. I agree that you have to pick the time to talk. Trump may have been a good time. His election was a fractal event in POTUS history, and if it wasn't going to happen with him, it likely would not have happened successfully. Usually the most aggressive leader is the best to make an overture. A friendly leader making an overture is usually taken advantage of.