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In his annual assessment of threats, the director of national intelligence also cited Iran and North Korea. He warned the spending cuts mandated under the sequestration jeopardized the nation's safety.

Experts worry that while the North has often made threats, now it's rhetoric is ratcheting up. That may make the new young leader, Kim Jong Un, feel as if he has to follow through on the threats in some way.

There have been a host of developments in North Korea in recent days. From an unlikely diplomatic emissary in the form of former NBA star Dennis Rodman, to Pyongyang's aggressive response to new U.N. Sanctions. Host Rachel Martin talks with Victor Cha, a professor at Georgetown University and senior adviser for Asia at the Center for Strategic and International studies.

North Korea has been ratcheting up the rhetoric against South Korea and the United States. Analysts say the secretive nature of the country make it difficult to judge its intentions and capabilities, however.

Pyongyang steps up its threats in the wake of the latest U.N. Security Council resolutions to clamp down on the North's nuclear program.

Security Council members voted to impose tough new financial and trade restrictions on Pyongyang in hopes of halting its nuclear program.

Seoul says it will strike back if North Korea makes good on a threat to attack U.S. and South Korean forces.

"In the interest of stopping the Korean conflict, with its great toil of suffering and bloodshed," all sides agreed to the ceasefire. They also agreed to work on a "peaceful settlement of the Korean question." That work remains unfinished.

The former basketball star says despite an atrocious human rights record and threats to destroy the U.S., Kim Jong Un is humble, peaceful and loved by his people.

Experts say that Rodman's head-to-head with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un might reveal something of value.