John Kerry actually said...

The North wants agreements with the United States that are 'election-proof.'

Accusing a self-righteous North Korea of wrongdoing and trying to punish has been tried time and again by the last three administrations.

Above all, it means making clear to our allies that we will not accept a nuclear-armed North Korea and that we remain committed to our goal ...

But if he has a fundamentally new relationship with us, Japan and South Korea, that's a different story.