They've been sanctioned to hell, but by maintaining a nuclear-first doctrine they've been able to cut out their own sovereignty and maintain independence. This is being leveraged in the 2020s into increased trade with Russia and cooperation with China, and economic development. Each nation developing its own sovereignty needs to seriously consider pursuing nuclear deterrence to protect itself from imperialism, if it doesn't have something like the Strait of Hormuz (which itself is a post-facto deterrence in practice).

Has Nukes: (Pyongyang)

Doesn't Have Nukes: (Tehran)

I'm sure it would be much better if they had been invaded instead.