Obviously, it has roots in the Iranian revolution. Move forward about 15 years to the Agreed Framework NK nuclear deal.
There has been a lot of cooperation between N. Korea and Iran on nuclear and missile research.
Since 2000, Iran has had blueprints for a compact nuclear warhead. They received it during the ill-conceived Operation Merlin. All they required was the fissile material.
The reprocessing of fuel rods into plutonium by NK has provided that raw material. There has been some debate about the NK nuclear test results. Some believe they were "fizzles" due to the impurities in the plutonium. Others believe they were intentionally low-yield, designed to be EMP devices.
I know it all may sound a bit like a tin foil hat scheme, but the pieces fit and they make an ugly picture.
“The reprocessing of fuel rods into plutonium by NK has provided that raw material. There has been some debate about the NK nuclear test results. Some believe they were “fizzles” due to the impurities in the plutonium. “
I lived in SK for 3 years while in the Air Force. The North has a lot of problems but they aren’t to be underestimated. Especially since China would probably side with them if a shooting war started.
The population of the North has grown up in a culture where children report on their parents and brothers report on brothers. Family is incredibly important to them and yet they have broken many of those bonds.