Since 1994, North Korea has used negotiations to buy time and to extort diplomatic concessions and economic assistance from the international community. Now it may only be a matter of time before North Korea's propaganda gets real.
Pyongyang's recent ICBM tests could transform the strategic theater. There are growing concerns and skepticism that the international community has no good policy options to stop North Korea's nuclear and missile development. However, it still has more things to do. Most important at this moment is sanctions.
First, the international community has to implement all existing sanctions on North Korea fully and effectively. According to a report released by the U.N. Panel of Experts on North Korea in February, the "implementation [of sanctions] remains insufficient and highly inconsistent." Some countries have maintained permissive and accommodating stances toward Pyongyang's unlawful and brazen acts such as the assassination of North Korean leader Kim's Jong Un's half-brother, Kim Jong Nam.