I would submit, especially given the treatment North Korea receives in the international news media, that he has long since been elevated to ‘playmaker’ status. Most evidently in East Asian affairs, but I’d be comfortable making a global case too. This evidenced in the Malaysian diplomatic crisis following the murder of Kim Jong-nam, but also during the period of time he was sending missiles across Hokkaido with regularity.
If the fixation is on the prospect of a photo op potentially creating that appearance, look no further than his recent trip to China and meetings with Xi.