North Korea digs in for US stand-off as Democratic midterm wins dim summit hopes

North Korea is preparing for a prolonged conflict with the United States following the Democratic Party's landslide victories in the U.S. midterm elections, which significantly lowered the odds of a renewed dialogue between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and President Donald Trump, according to analysts. On the same day as the U.S. elections, North Korea conducted a series of missile tests, including a new surface-to-air missile system and long-range strategic cruise missiles, on Wednesday, marking its fourth weapons test in just a week.

North Korea's sister, Kim Yo-jong, criticized the U.S. for linking Pyongyang to a major cryptocurrency theft and warned that Pyongyang would reconsider its actions in response to U.S. hostility. She stated that while dialogue could be considered, it was not necessarily linked to national interests. North Korea's senior researcher, Oh Gyeong-seob, explained that the Democrats' victory was unwelcome news for Pyongyang, which was already under strict sanctions during the previous Biden administration.

The Biden administration insisted on addressing denuclearization before any summit, contrasting their approach with Trump's more direct diplomacy. Analysts noted that while the midterm results dealt a blow to Trump, he was unlikely to soften his stance or policy, potentially resorting to controversial diplomatic moves or seeking deals with other leaders such as China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin.

South Korean analysts expressed concern that a Democratic-controlled Congress would scrutinize and possibly resist U.S. diplomatic efforts with North Korea, weakening deterrence and creating policy friction among Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo. North Korea sees little incentive to engage in dialogue with Washington, given its deep mistrust of U.S. policy, and is likely to strengthen its military and economic ties with China and Russia to neutralize U.S. sanctions and pursue its defense and economic goals independently.