Preemptive strike against the United States?

North Korean deputy foreign minister
“RiPyong-gap” was quoted in Britain’s Guardian
newspaper as saying “preemptive attacks are
not the exclusive right of the U.S.”

I really feel as though I missed something. Until the President named N. Korea as part of the dreaded “Axis of Evil”, I hadn’t heard as much as a peep out of them. Now a year latter they have reactivated their nuclear reactor and are talking about “preemptive strikes”!
What are they out to prove? Is it really only leverage in their trading status or are they actually out for a confrontation with the only super power left standing?
I am a whole hell of a lot currently more concerned with the country that has nuclear technology and is threatening us then the one whom is trying to acquire it and is still licking its wounds.