Then-U.S. President Donald Trump, left, shakes hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during a meeting at the Sofitel Legend Metropole hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam, Feb. 27, 2019. AFP-Yonhap

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump appointed key security aides known for their hard-line stance toward America's geopolitical adversaries, including China and Iran, fueling speculation that he may revive his so-called "maximum pressure" strategy against North Korea as well, analysts said Wednesday.

However, the effectiveness of such a strategy remains uncertain. North Korea's nuclear capabilities have significantly advanced since Trump's first term. Additionally, with Russia now serving as its primary ally, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may feel less inclined to respond to U.S. pressure.

Trump named three-term Congressman Rep. Mike Waltz as national security adviser on Tuesday (local time). The retired Army National Guard officer, known for his hawkish stance on China, was described by the president-elect as a "tremendous" advocate for his administration's policy of "peace through strength."

In other appointments to Trump's security and foreign policy team, Fox News host and political commentator Pete Hegseth was chosen as secretary of defense, while Senator Marco Rubio is expected to be appointed as secretary of state.

Rubio, who has taken hardline positions on China and Iran, has also been outspoken in his criticism of the Kim Jong-un regime, likening the North Korean leader to a "lunatic." In a 2017 interview with CBS, Rubio said the U.S. should do whatever it takes to prevent the Kim regime from acquiring the ability to strike the U.S. mainland with an intercontinental ballistic missile.

Pete Hegseth walks to an elevator for a meeting with then-President-elect Donald Trump at Trump Tower in New York in this Dec. 15, 2016 file photo. Trump tapped Hegesth as the secretary of defense, Tuesday (local time). AP-Yonhap

Among these appointments, Hegseth's selection has been the most unexpected, according to observers. Traditionally, U.S. defense secretaries have had significant military experience and policy expertise, given the role's responsibility for overseeing U.S. military operations both domestically and internationally.

"Hegseth's appointment is a clear indication of what Trump 2.0's security policies will look like. He chose loyalists over those with expertise. After all, Trump is unlikely to seek advice from his advisers because he believes he knows best," said Park Won-gon, a professor of North Korean studies at Ewha Womans University.

Park added, "Trump's fundamental foreign policy approach is 'peace through strength,' as we saw in his first term. He maximizes pressure against the other side to boost his leverage in negotiations. I expect him to pursue a similar strategy on North Korea."

The maximum pressure strategy on North Korea was initiated by the Trump administration in 2017 following a series of missile provocations by the reclusive regime. The strategy aimed to compel Pyongyang to denuclearize by implementing extensive economic sanctions, along with diplomatic and military pressure.

One notable demonstration of this tactic occurred in November 2017, when Trump deployed three U.S. carrier strike groups to the Korean Peninsula — an exceptionally rare move to send such a large naval presence to a single region. Additionally, he issued a stern warning to Kim Jong-un, urging him not to underestimate U.S. military power.

Lim Eul-chul, a North Korea expert at the Institute of Far Eastearn Studies, said Trump's appointments of security aides suggest a continuation of a tough approach toward North Korea.

“There's little chance that Rubio, if appointed as secretary of state, will adopt a soft approach toward North Korea,” Lim said.

Although North Korea may not initially be a top priority for the incoming U.S. administration, it is not entirely off Trump's radar, Lim said. Pyongyang's alleged involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war could push it higher on the president-elect's agenda, especially considering his pledge to swiftly resolve the conflict.

The U.S. State Department confirmed, Tuesday (local time), that North Korean troops have engaged in the conflict.

"Today I can confirm that over 10,000 DPRK soldiers have been sent to eastern Russia, and most of them have moved to the far western Kursk Oblast, where they have begun engaging in combat operations with Russian forces," Vedant Patel, principal deputy spokesperson for the state department, said. DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name.

Rep. Michael Waltz gestures on Day 3 of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wis., July 17. Reuters-Yonhap

South Korea's foreign ministry said that any potential U.S. engagement with North Korea, whether through the maximum pressure approach or other tactics, should reflect Seoul's stance.

“President-elect Trump's fundamental negotiation strategy has been to push hard at the beginning to shake up the situation, with the goal of advancing U.S. interests. If talks with North Korea resume, it's likely that the administration would follow a similar approach to the previous one,” a senior foreign ministry official said on condition of anonymity.

However, the official added that it remains to be seen whether the Trump administration will seek dialogue with Pyongyang.

“As everything remains uncertain at this point, the most important thing is that the process should be led by us (South Korea) so that our stance is reflected,” the official said.