Leif-Eric Easley, Professor at Ewha Womans University, argues that the Kim regime is maintaining power and control by leveraging its relationships with China and Russia while demonizing South Korea. However, this is an interim strategy before the U.S. presidential election in November 2024 because the DPRK-Russia-China "axis of transactionalism" is insufficient for North Korea's long-term economic development. Next year, the Kim regime may expand its diplomacy beyond Moscow and Beijing. Meanwhile, Seoul, Washington, and Tokyo are strengthening trilateral cooperation to increase the costs of Pyongyang's violations of international norms while keeping diplomatic channels open for future engagement.