North Korea is openly warning the U.S. to recognize it as a nuclear power or abandon hopes of future diplomacy. Backed by Russia, Pyongyang says denuclearization is off the table and that Washington’s expectations are outdated.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stressed Russia and North Korea’s "invincible fighting brotherhood" and warned the U.S., Japan and South Korea against forming an antagonistic alliance during a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Wonsan,