World leaders recently descended on New York for the 77th U.N. General Assembly, but while this year’s conference sought “transformative solutions to interlocking challenges,” speeches from the general debate offered little in the way of new ideas, diplomatic energy or innovation when it came to North Korea.

U.S. President Joe Biden’s sole references to North Korea included recognition of Washington’s “efforts to begin serious and sustained diplomacy,” and a complaint that Pyongyang has continuously flouted international sanctions. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida insisted during his address that Tokyo’s basic approach “remains