How North Korea’s assertive military posture gives it leverage in talks with US



Analysis How North Korea’s assertive military posture gives it leverage in talks with US Pyongyang’s shift to an offensive doctrine aims to paralyze allied command, requiring Washington to recalibrate approach Perry Choi November 17, 2025 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON Images: White House, KCNA, edited by NK Pro U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to South Korea for the APEC summit came and went without a much-speculated meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and while diplomacy still may have a chance, the missed opportunity underscored just how much has changed since their last encounter. While the choreography is similar, with noise about possible talks and DPRK missile tests and statements, the backdrop is different this time around. Pyongyang will enter any negotiations with more advanced missiles, deeper ties to Moscow and greater resilience against sanctions — all of which makes it better prepared Read More © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. LATEST ANALYSIS 01Crossing the Yalu: Why China and North Korea want to open long-stalled bridge 02A decade apart, two DMZ mine blasts highlight a new inter-Korean reality 03Chinese authorities seize smuggled goods bound for North Korea: records 04Likely Russian ship docks in North Korea’s Rason port for first time since May 05Trump doesn’t need a grand deal with Kim, but rather small coordinated actions 06North Korean trade with China rises 3.7% in August thanks to wig exports: data 07North Korea tensions expose Seoul’s uneasy relationship with UN Command 08North Korea’s politburo meeting hints at secret changes to senior officials 09The bureaucracy test: Signs to look for before a Trump-Kim summit 10China has reasons to like Trump’s North Korea outreach — and reasons to worry

Analysis

How North Korea’s assertive military posture gives it leverage in talks with US

Pyongyang’s shift to an offensive doctrine aims to paralyze allied command, requiring Washington to recalibrate approach

Perry Choi November 17, 2025

How North Korea’s assertive military posture gives it leverage in talks with US

Images: White House, KCNA, edited by NK Pro

U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to South Korea for the APEC summit came and went without a much-speculated meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and while diplomacy still may have a chance, the missed opportunity underscored just how much has changed since their last encounter.

While the choreography is similar, with noise about possible talks and DPRK missile tests and statements, the backdrop is different this time around. Pyongyang will enter any negotiations with more advanced missiles, deeper ties to Moscow and greater resilience against sanctions — all of which makes it better prepared

01Crossing the Yalu: Why China and North Korea want to open long-stalled bridge
02A decade apart, two DMZ mine blasts highlight a new inter-Korean reality
03Chinese authorities seize smuggled goods bound for North Korea: records
04Likely Russian ship docks in North Korea’s Rason port for first time since May
05Trump doesn’t need a grand deal with Kim, but rather small coordinated actions
06North Korean trade with China rises 3.7% in August thanks to wig exports: data
07North Korea tensions expose Seoul’s uneasy relationship with UN Command
08North Korea’s politburo meeting hints at secret changes to senior officials
09The bureaucracy test: Signs to look for before a Trump-Kim summit
10China has reasons to like Trump’s North Korea outreach — and reasons to worry

How North Korea’s assertive military posture gives it leverage in talks with US

LATEST ANALYSIS

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Perry Choi