North Korea, an intriguing case study?

I was reading an article with information in it. Useful information because it somewhat satisfied a curiosity. But at the end of a coherent argument the author eventually succumbed to the fear of unknown and brought theology into it, by outlining the arrival of savior to end the east and west feud, resulting in...well head scratching for me.

The question that baffles me is why a starved nation surrounded by influential neighbors tries to rock the boat,..with umm! a missile and basically obliterates.... well, the boat. Strange as North Korean actions are, I don't see satisfaction in resembling them to the commotions of an irrate individual or maybe they are, but not Kim Jong il's!

I am from a country where every few years military coup is fed to the nation in the name of defibrillation of a dying systm, when in reality, it is a life line to the ending or to be ended power of a military leader. There is a similarity in pattern of agitating the world every now and then like a brat, among nations run by dictators, warlords and military leaders. These nations are usually poor, dependent on foreign aid even for necessities like food, high in military might, admant about their nuclear right and the people are usually either too wary, too afraid or fed a steady diet of the "revolutionary" leader, to make a regime change.

After the devastation laid by American bombings in previous war and Russia watching from sidelines, we can hardly assume that the North Korean actions stem from the combined will of it's people, democracy its not.

With a thousand mile border, it is scarcely in interest of China, that North and South go at it again. The refugee problem alone will make China cringe on the thought, but more than that a stronger unified Korea as an aftermath, will probably pose a bigger economic threat. However the pacific is currently controlled by American vessels, and Japan and America just had their biggest ever combined military exercises. This show of power can't just be meant for North Korea. The trade routes now policed by American warships are rather important to China. Neither China nor North Korea are too fond of Japan, and with India also rising to prominence in Asia, China might consider keeping a powerful military ally close by. That doesn't mean that the North's provocations are blessed by China, as an eventual all out Korean war will not be in China's obvious best interests.

The middle east interest in North Korea as an eligible force against Israel, true as it maybe, cannot be larger than the oil producing countries concerns in their biggest oil consuming market, namely USA. And even if the middle eastern nation or nations are arming themselves through North Korea for a possible war against Israel, it is less likely the leverage for North Korea's current military actions, for little assistance can be expected from these countries in case of an all out war.

With powerful military comes, well, powerful generals, which possibly can have designs of starting their own dynasties. After all the only eligibility Kim Il Sung's son Kim Jong Il possessed was a hereditary right, and cunning. As time comes nearer to replace Kim Jong Il, the internal political power struggles are bound to heighten. One might start a war in order to redirect the population's attention from the crowning of the heir, or to create a scenario where a young heir has no play in the action and only a true war hero or military strategist can emerge as the rightful heir; son, son in law or ......