Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un signed a treaty upgrading their relationship and pledging military assistance if either one is attacked, drawing criticism from NATO, South Korea and other countries.

Since the collapse of nuclear talks between Pyongyang and Washington in 2019, analysts see a major shift in North Korea's foreign relations. It has turned increasingly to Moscow.

In a summit in Russia, President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un showed how geopolitical tensions have brought the two neighbors isolated by the West into closer alignment.

King, 23, was stationed in South Korea, but was scheduled to fly back to the U.S. to face disciplinary action when he escaped an airport outside of Seoul and managed to flee into North Korea.

The man was touring the Demilitarized Zone that divides the Korean Peninsula when he crossed into North Korea without authorization, according to the United Nations Command.

Monday's test was North Korea's fourth launch in under two weeks. By contrast, it took the North 10 months to conduct that many ballistic missile tests last year.

Pyongyang will skip the games, shattering South Korea's hopes that the games might revive stalled peace talks between the bitter rivals.