For years, American presidents have said North Korea must not develop nuclear weapons. Now President Joe Biden says that Pyongyang must not stage another nuclear test.

The unfortunate reality is that the North is a nuclear power, with at least dozens of nuclear weapons now and the potential to acquire as many as 240 over the next few years — an estimate, admittedly controversial, that would place it in the top ranks of secondary nuclear powers, ahead of Israel, Pakistan, India and the U.K.