what is your take on the whole north korea thing

North Korea is testing the Trump administration, to see his limits, yes, but also to see how they can best manipulate him. Though they may seem crazy, they are actually quite calculating. Nothing short of military intervention could have prevented them from developing the bomb, and that was a no go because China would have to get involved if NK had been attacked. The North sees a nuclear arsenal as the only way to protect their regime, after seeing the likes of Saddam and Gadaffi violently overthrown after giving up their nuclear programs, they see it as a vital deterrent.

The reason China protected them through this, is because China is trying to become more powerful, and they need NK as a buffer zone between themselves and the pro-US nation of South Korea. Suppose NK were to fall for some reason and be reunited with the South, that would mean that China now has about 30,000 US troops now able to march right up to their border. That's a situation China wishes to avoid. But neither are they happy with North Korea having nukes. A nuclear armed NK complicates the situation for China immensely, as it provided NK with more leverage in their own relationship. Either case is a no-win for China, and NK is prodding both the US and China to plan their next moves.