We have to hope the US and North Korea are able to negotiate their way to removing a nuclear risk from the Asia-Pacific. Australia is among the many nations within range of Pyongyang's long-range missiles. But we also have to ask a hard question. When two rogues meet, what's the worth of any agreement they may strike?

An agreement is possible depending on the political will of the two sides. We know that because North Korea has agreed to rid itself of nuclear weapons four times already. In 1994, 1998, 2005 and 2008.

President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference at the G7. Credit:AP

So the question is whether a fifth agreement, if they do reach one, will stick. The behaviour of both leaders, even in the last few days, puts their reliability and trustworthiness into deep doubt. In Kim's case, it mightn't be fair to judge him by the breakdown of the four previous agreements, to hold him responsible for the sins of his fathers; he was not leading North Korea at the time.

So if we give him a clean start, what do we find? First, he is no respecter of rules. The nuclear and ballistic missile programs that he inherited were ruled illegal again and again by the UN Security Council. He didn't step back, he actually accelerated both programs and brought them to fruition.