North Korea Immitating a Porcupine?

North Korea effectively tests a nuclear device (possibly an implosion - plutonium fueled - device - or maybe they did an enhanced uranium 'cannon'). Then they fire off a handful of medium range missiles. They are rattling sabers. But why?

To say the North Koreans are bad actors is an understatement, but they are not proselytizing a religion/way of life (unlike radical Islamists or Al Gore ; -). Maybe they are in the throes of the last gasp of the Dear Leader - who wishes to maintain control as his vitality slips away.

Maybe what we're seeing is the first signs of the implosion of the North Korean state. The chaos of that event will be tumultuous.

So what are the options? I'd like to see more DDGs (guided missile AEGIS destroyers) in the neighborhood, and possibly an interdiction of material leaving North Korean harbors - not a complete blockade - but one looking for specific military 'exports'. And, as quietly as possible - no public announcements, an end to all aid to the North Korean regime. The aid is not reaching its intended recipients, the long suffering population, but is merely being used to prop up the existing regime.

The chaos of the disintegration of the North Korean regime will be a tough assignment for the international community. The only 'silver' lining I can think of is that we may have a chance to work closely with China, both diplomatically and militarily, when the chaos does erupt.