He is doing this, most of all, to shore up his domestic base, yes, and keep the bombers and snipers at a safe enough distance from himself, considering how weak his power hold is becoming. Can you believe the DPRK TV news today? I don't know if you saw a clip. Hilarious. The announcer needed to have an assistant wipe up his drool, he was so excited to announced The Republic's launch of these missiles for self defense, and also issue a threat of war while he was at it. Prime Time Pyongyang TV at its best.
Better to drool than face slow painful death at a gulag. He had better outperform Baghdad Bob.