[hinckley buzzard]

I agree. I find this thesis unconvincing, NK leaders may be violent and sociopathic but that does not make them candidates for suicide.

[Fraxinus]

I agree. I find this thesis unconvincing, NK leaders may be violent and sociopathic but that does not make them candidates for suicide.

Seconded

I have no idea what NK short, medium and long term goals are, but I suspect the current round of tensions were caused by NK trying something that has worked in the past for them. Clinton, Bush and Obama all had NK act threateningly then paid them to go away. I have seen claims (no idea if they are true) that NK tells their own people this is tribute. Trump's grade school rejoinders are not what they expected, and I suspect they are as perplexed as many US analysts about where they go from here.