North Korea is preparing for another nuclear test—or many
Kim Jong Un is trying to diversify his array of threats
![This picture taken on October 6, 2022 and released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on October 10, 2022 shows North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un observing as the North Korean People's Army front-line long-range artillery division and air force squadron conduct a fire attack training exercise, at an undisclosed location. - North Korea's recent missile tests were "tactical nuclear" drills personally overseen by leader Kim Jong Un, state media said on October 10, adding the launches were a response to US-led joint military exercises in the region. (Photo by KCNA VIA KNS / AFP) / South Korea OUT / REPUBLIC OF KOREA OUT---EDITORS NOTE--- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO/KCNA VIA KNS" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS / THIS PICTURE WAS MADE AVAILABLE BY A THIRD PARTY. AFP CAN NOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, LOCATION, DATE AND CONTENT OF THIS IMAGE --- / (Photo by STR/KCNA VIA KNS/AFP via Getty Images)](https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/media-assets/image/20221022_ASP001.jpg)
NORTH KOREANS looking skyward on October 8th would have seen some 150 fighter jets thundering overhead, and perhaps for a moment feared the worst. But they are more likely to have shrugged it off as yet another demonstration of their country’s military prowess, returning to the more pressing matter of finding enough food to keep their families alive.
This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “Tactical advantage”
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