As the U.S. war with Iran reshapes the Middle East, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un finds himself face-to-face with a new conundrum: how to deal with a Trump administration that is increasingly embracing military action in his second term.

In a speech delivered to North Korea’s rubber-stamp parliament this week, Kim denounced American “terrorism and aggression” and made no mention of renewing talks, appearing to signal a tougher line.

The shift, unfolding as American strikes hit Iran, reflects the conviction that nuclear weapons offer more security than negotiations ever could. 

Yet even as Pyongyang’s rhetoric hardens, experts say the