In the first weeks of 2022, the North Koreans have rung in the new year with an impressive fireworks display.

First, the DPRK flight-tested brand new ballistic missiles with hypersonic glider warheads, and then in quick succession launched a multitude of other ballistic missiles. To drive home their message even further, the North Korean Politburo stated on Jan. 19 that its patience is running thin and hinted that it might reconsider the country’s moratorium on nuclear tests and long-range missile launches, in place since late 2017.

Some of the recent tests largely reflected pragmatic demands: The engineers