Center for East Asia Policy Studies

North Korea’s staunch defense of Russia is unsurprising given that the regime will use any opportunity to pinpoint global problems to U.S. imperialism. [But] ironically, North Korea, which often justifies its nuclear weapons program as a matter of security and sovereignty, has dismissed Russia’s clear violation of Ukrainian sovereignty.

[In response to North Korea's latest missile launches.] Nothing we say or do is going to affect Pyongyang’s game plan. The most important thing to do now is to ramp up the diplomatic, economic, and military pressure and ensure that North Korea pays a major price for its actions.