In some sense the embattled state of North Korea is still trying to flex its muscles as it pursues the same policy of might over right. It doesn’t want to engage South Korea in much meaningful dialogue and so it looks to itself and the future for inspiration.
This is how States are doing it right now. They’re managing their own affairs much better than handling the matters that occur elsewhere.
It’s not cowardice at who’s in the world but a closer focus on each persons place in it. If new strength leads to new prowess, the old times of direct conflict may return.
North Korea, meanwhile, is seeking to lead itself into a new place. It’s not necessarily built on weaponry alone, and even though there’s a lot to those rumours, there’s more to be fathomed elsewhere.
It’s believed the State now allows citizens a level of personal responsibility beyond its former limited remit.
This means, mainly, education is improving and at a rate in consideration of access to literature and freedoms we associate with a free mind.
However, it’s a North Korean’s new duty to think about it rather than just admire its beauty or its art. It’s an intellectual revolution over a technical revolution, if we’re to think in those terms.
This doesn’t change the state of affairs internationally, but it helps us to understand what’s going on meanwhile, and maybe apprehend reactions a lot better.