Sentence structure: As ... as ... is, ... could be even worse / better / more

Question

Tell me the meaning & structure of the sentence.
Normally as ... adj/adv ... as is used for comparison between two items, as cool as a cucumber.

As dangerous a threat as North Korea is, some analysts believe that were a junta suddenly to gain power, it could be even more unpredictable and bellicose than it is under the current leadership.

Anton · Answer

Stockfish is correct but incomplete. I add that the construct implies that we are to see X as part of a range of possibilities. “As bad as things are, they could be worse.” The sentence suggests that things are already bad rather than good; it also points to the possibility that there are even worse prospects (Y).

Answered by Anton on November 28, 2020

Sentence structure: As ... as ... is, ... could be even worse / better / more

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