The North Koreans continue posturing, desperate to see some results from the extortion racket they have run for over a decade to keep their bankrupt economy and political system going. But the donors are fed up, and the north will either have to make a deal, or risk collapse as they run out of fuel and food. They could try and attack the south, but it's no longer a sure thing that the troops would obey. And even if they did, the north could never win.