The North Korean relationship with the rest of the world appears to be reaching a plateau from which their leader will struggle to escape. The recent rise and decline in tensions between the North and South has essentially been treated as business as usual. The Kaesong Industrial Complex has closed, there are new sanctions incoming and the North has little to show for their efforts.

In terms of diplomatic signaling, the messages the North is sending are simply no longer getting through. If any other state or leader were to behave as Kim Jong Un does, issuing threats and severing