North Korea's power doesn't come from its technical capabilities in terms of nuclear weapon usage against the United States. North Korea's power comes from its close proximity to South Korea, which is well within striking distance, and how the geopolitical ramifications amplify out. Even with conventional weapons, a re-ignition of hostilities on the Korean peninsula would be disastrous. Relative to Russia, which more or less has the ability to trade with the world, and has a fairly sustainable economy, North Korea has basically nothing.

The whole reason why NK repeatedly tests nuclear and conventional strike capabilities is to power project, get people to the negotiating table, and try to get supplies/food/money from countries in exchange for a halt of testing.

States don't exist in a vacuum, they exist in a complex web of relations to other states. North Korea is in a particular intersection between South Korea, the United States, Russia and China. I think if you do anything with NK, you also signal something to these others. If you look at it like this, it becomes apt to say "poking the bear".

Russia did hack NSA though [1], and elections, and pipelines, and who knows what else.

[1] - https://www.wired.com/story/eternalblue-leaked-nsa-spy-tool-...

It's not "don't poke the mouse", if the target isn't dangerous there's nothing to fear from poking them

Please don't feed the trolls or the bears.