Both U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un are meeting in Singapore. It is no exaggeration to say that hundreds of millions of people have their fingers crossed that something productive will come of the encounter.

Trump and other U.S. officials have made it clear their goal is a North Korea without nuclear weapons. But Kim has few reasons to go along with that, much less disposal of his long-range missile arsenal.

What, then, will occur during the next few days?

Let us hope Trump can persuade Kim that taking a first step toward denuclearization is in the dictator’s best interests.

It probably does not need to be said to this president, but Trump’s overriding goal needs to be avoiding the trap North Korean leaders have set so successfully in the past. Trump should not agree to any sort of public relations deal that makes him look good at home while giving Kim more time to build up his stockpile of weapons.