In a nasty turn of events, North Korea’s foreign minister, Choe Son Hui, just announced Kim Jong Un’s regime will “stand firmly by our Russian comrades” as Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine. That’s right—the same North Korea that can’t even keep the lights on, the same folks who think a 1950s Soviet-style dictatorship is still the way to go, are now Putin’s new BFFs.

Choe made this promise of solidarity with Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, all while avoiding any specifics about the rumored deployment of 8,000 North Korean soldiers to the Russian front near Ukraine. “We have no doubt whatsoever that under the wise leadership of the honorable Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Russian army and people will surely achieve a great victory,” she declared, as though the whole world isn’t watching this absurd alliance through a skeptical lens. Lavrov, of course, couldn’t resist thanking his “Korean friends,” which only further highlights the isolation of both regimes from the real world.

Meanwhile, the Biden administration, South Korea, and NATO are all scratching their heads over how best to respond. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin joined forces with their South Korean counterparts, issuing a vague warning that these North Korean troops “risk becoming legitimate military targets.” But let’s be honest: if Biden and company had a real plan, we’d know it by now. In fact, Ukrainian President Zelensky sees the lack of a tough response as a green light for more North Korean deployments. He warned, “If there is nothing… then the number of North Korean troops on our border will be increased.”

It’s just another moment in the Biden administration’s “wait-and-see” playbook. Instead of drawing a clear line in the sand, this administration seems more comfortable “monitoring the situation.” Now, this doesn’t surprise anyone who’s been paying attention. With this team, the priority often seems to be appeasement over action, diplomacy over deterrence. Meanwhile, the global threats keep mounting.

North Korea’s open support for Russia in Ukraine underscores the growing strength of an axis that Biden’s weak foreign policy has done little to counter. Both Russia and North Korea are emboldened, while U.S. officials issue empty warnings without any clear strategy. It’s another reminder that strong leadership, like Trump’s, is what the world respects, not endless “monitoring” and diplomacy without consequences.