I was thinking about their international impact
Historically they threaten the RoK and (maybe Japan) - plus they hold a threat over China that if it all goes bad the Chinese will have several million refugees to deal with
this isn't exactly a major military power &nthey don't seem to want to export Kim-Il-Sung-ism. Rather they want to to be left alone in their own little hell hole to oppress their own people without let or hindrance