What to Expect as North Korea Restarts Nuclear Weapon Tests

North Korea's upcoming nuclear test will confirm its reliance on nuclear deterrence to protect the governing regime, but is unlikely to fundamentally change the security dynamics in the region -- but only if it is in line with previous tests. On Sept. 28, South Korea's intelligence agency informed the country's government that it expected North Korea to conduct a nuclear test at the Punggye-ri testing site between Oct. 16 and Nov. 7. North Korea has not tested a nuclear weapon since 2017. It has, however, conducted over 40 tests of other weapons since January 2022, including new hypersonic missiles, intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles that fly in irregular trajectories aimed at evading missile defense systems capable of holding a nuclear warhead....