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North Korea also ratified a mutual defense treaty with Russia, as Japan, South Korea, and the United States announced a new mechanism for monitoring Pyongyang’s sanctions evasion. 

A North Korean official said the election will not influence its approach to engagement with the United States and blamed Washington for escalating regional tensions. 

In addition to revealing a uranium-enrichment facility and a new, larger launch vehicle for long-range missiles, leader Kim Jong Un pledged to expand the country’s nuclear arsenal. 

North Korea deployed launchers for nuclear-capable missiles along its southern border after South Korea and the United States announced new guidelines for strengthening U.S. extended nuclear deterrence.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a mutual defense treaty as Russia continues to court North Korean support for its war in Ukraine. 

U.S. presidential leadership may be the most important factor in whether the risk of nuclear arms racing, proliferation, and war will rise or fall in the years ahead. 

North Korea is continuing to test new military systems and build up its nuclear arsenal in response to U.S. and South Korean activities.

As lawmakers urge President Biden to prioritize efforts to engage Russia and China in nuclear arms control talks, the administration updates nuclear weapons employment guidance and raises questions about China's NFU proposal.

The U.S. said it will find an alternate way to report on North Korean sanctions enforcement. 

The intelligence community remains concerned that Russia could resort to the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine and that North Korea is maneuvering to win acceptance as a nuclear- weapons state.

Washington still views negotiations as the only viable path to peace on the Korean peninsula but assesses that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is intent on aligning more closely with Russia and China.

But the Biden administration sees no immediate threat of a North Korean attack. 

Rebuilding diplomacy with North Korea is necessary to reduce the risks of nuclear conflict.

By all indications, this rising threat has been lost on the international community with global leaders appearing numb to the festering crisis.

The two Koreas are mired in an intense security dilemma, which could cause future crises between them to spiral quickly into a possible, large-scale war.