Leader Kim Jong Un is signaling a firmer stance toward the U.S. following the breakdown of denuclearization talks.

Move comes despite breakdown in nuclear talks with U.S., and is seen as a potential signal of economic support for Pyongyang.

The United States imposed sanctions on Thursday on two Chinese shipping companies it says helped North Korea evade sanctions over its nuclear weapons program, the first such steps since a U.S.-North Korean summit collapsed last month.

North Korea is considering suspending talks with the United States and may rethink a ban on missile and nuclear tests unless Washington makes concessions, news reports from the North’s capital on Friday quoted a senior diplomat as saying.

To truly understand what led to the collapse of the second Trump-Kim summit, one must assess the context and values of each party involved.

In the wake of the Trump-Kim Summit, the US and the North Korean sides must undertake some deep reflection and must maintain contact. All is not yet lost. Recovery from the setback is possible and desirable.

Kim Jong Un’s secretive train journey from North Korea to Vietnam ultimately represents a win for China. Traversing the entire country, Kim had only to look out the window to realize that China is a viable alternative to the US when it comes to brokering political survival.

Although the two sides left the Hanoi Summit emptyhanded, it nonetheless set a positive tone for a possible future deal — especially if both sides give their diplomats a chance to conduct working-level negotiations, rather than expecting meetings between top leaders to resolve a host of complex issues.

It seems that North Korea and the United States both harbor misjudgments about the other’s views on denuclearization, and neither has fully prepared for the responsibilities that come with denuclearizing. All the while, the window of time for fruitful negotiations in the future is narrowing.

The Trump-Kim negotiations were cut short last week before a breakthrough agreement could be made. The United States and North Korea are not the only party with an interest in the proceedings— South Korea, China, and Russia also have stakes in peace on the Korean Peninsula.