How does North Korea signal to other regional actors?

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea signals to regional actors using its brinkmanship technique not because it is incompetent, but because it is a rational actor with an astute understanding of how, given its circumstances, it can best pursue its ultimate goal: regime survival. Specifically, it raises regional tensions in order to protect itself from the United States of America and its allies while at the same time pushing China for concessions. The events of 2010 and 2011 show that North Korea continues to pursue concessions from other regional actors, employing the very same methods as it has used previously.