That's a file photo of the 11 February launch of Pukguksong-2. I don't believe photos of the actual launch have been released yet. The range is given as 700 km, so this might be a Hwasong-7 launch.
Hopefully they are designing their warheads to be able to survive a "Damascus Incident".
Which is according to Jeffery Lewis one of the big problem the Chinese arms control experts have with NK.Not so much that NK has the bomb but that they'll fsk up something. Say loosing containment of a test, again.A much different threat perspective than in the US.
Who knows what the Chinese think? They, and just about everyone else in the region, have thei own perspective, much different from than the others.
I'm still more concerned that a certain president decides that removing the (future) threat NK poses to his nation is worth the price the people in the region will have to pay for that.
And then proceeds to find a justification to start the war. The drama has been toned down in the last days, but I'm not convinced. After all as long as the timing is right war is a tremendous way to get reelected....
For some reason I doubt that the upcoming 6th(?) nuclear test is a great reason to suddenly be all gung-ho about forcible disarmament. Not that the 7th or 8th test are a better moment.
Lewis thinks the emphasis on a "large and heavy" warhead in the propaganda is not so much about "Guess what, we don't need to miniaturize, we just use a bigger rocket." but rather hinting at a thermonuclear warhead. I guess we'll find out with the next nuclear test. AFAIK most nuclear weapon states have made that step at this point in testing. - Which of course is not good news either.
Who knows what the Chinese think?