Why North Korea Has Scaled Back Its Missile Tests This Year

SEOUL—Kim Jong Un is growing his nuclear arsenal but curbing his missile tests.

The 41-year-old dictator has sharply reduced the number of missile tests but signaled a more confident era for North Korea. Now an increasingly prominent actor alongside Russia and China, Pyongyang’s focus is on solidifying its nuclear status, shifting away from seeking global attention with a flurry of missile launches.