Asia | Tactical advantage

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)
|SEOUL

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”

Welcome to Britaly

From the October 22nd 2022 edition

Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents

Explore the edition

More from Asia

A Virginia Class submarine

AUKUS enters its fifth year. How is the pact faring?

It has weathered two big political changes. What about Donald Trump’s return?

Japanese and American soldier placing flags before an official gathering

Joe Biden’s mixed legacy on Japan

Security co-operation flourished, but a scuppered steel deal leaves a sour taste


A worker supervises the disposal of slag from nickel ore processing in a nickel factory in Sorowako, Indonesia

Indonesia nearly has a monopoly on nickel. What next?

Prabowo Subianto, the new president, wants to create an electric car supply chain


What a 472-year-old corpse reveals about India

St Francis Xavier is both venerated and despised

Pakistan’s army puts a former intelligence chief on trial

General Faiz Hameed is an ally of Imran Khan, who is currently behind bars

By resisting arrest, South Korea’s president challenges democracy

His attempt to impose martial law failed. But Yoon Suk Yeol is still causing trouble