There has been no indication for years that North Korea was slackening the pace of its arms buildup. Nothing the rest of the world has done in response has proven effective.

Just a few days ago, in quick succession, Pyongyang conducted tests of new missiles and improved nuclear devices. The regime’s admitted goal is to develop missiles capable of reaching the United States – and nuclear warheads that can be delivered on them.

World leaders reacted quickly but predictably to the recent tests.

“We must urgently break this accelerating spiral of escalation,” warned U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who happens to be a former foreign minister of South Korea.

Yes, but how? Tongue-lashings, even when administered by North Korea’s ally, China, provoke laughter in Pyongyang. Economic sanctions hurt only the people of North Korea, and the government there is willing to see millions die of hunger in pursuit of its drive for superpower status.

It may be too late to avert armed conflict. Pyongyang already has missiles placing South Korea and Japan in range.

But that threat cannot be allowed to deter realistic efforts to stop the regime. They will have to wait until a new president takes office.

So knotty is the problem that no one – including presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump – has suggested a way out. Clearly, however, something needs to be done before North Korea becomes more of a threat to world peace.