North Korea’s establishment of a mass-production system for SRBMs and its development of a new ICBM appear to be aimed at posing a direct military threat to South Korea and Japan, while simultaneously exercising strategic deterrence against the United States. Diplomatically and politically, these moves seem intended to strengthen Pyongyang’s negotiating leverage with Washington, shifting the agenda from denuclearization talks to arms control negotiations. In parallel, by seeking to export weapons not only to Russia but potentially to the Middle East, North Korea appears to be pursuing an agenda to undermine the global nonproliferation regime and to align with Russia in building a new international order. Ultimately, these developments are expected to trigger regional arms races, including potential nuclear armament discussions among neighboring states.