North Korea’s early morning missile test over Japanese territory on August 29 has once again refocused global attention on Pyongyang’s apparently urgent push to deploy battle-ready intermediate range and intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Following more than 80 tests since Kim Jong Un came to power, this time attention has been drawn to the fact that for the third time in history, Pyongyang’s decided to test-fire its latest missile on a trajectory it knew well would draw sharp opposition from Japan.

This decision is notable, as it suggests there are strong technical imperatives to change the