Kim Jong Un 'Struggling to Control Military,' Says Ex North Korean Spy

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un consistently threatens nuclear war because he is "struggling" to control the country's military, and is trying to prove himself, a defected spy for the North said in an interview Wednesday.

Kim Hyun-Hee, once a spy for Kim Jong Un's father, Kim Jong Il, explained why she believes the new leader's war rhetoric is nothing but saber rattling to shore up support among a military skeptical of his ability to run the country.

"Kim Jong-Un is too young and too inexperienced," Hyun-Hee told Australia's ABC television. "He's struggling to gain complete control over the military and to win their loyalty. That's why he's doing so many visits to military bases, to firm up support."

North Korea has made a point in recent months of displaying its military brawn through open threats aimed at the U.S. and South, provocative military exercises aimed at South Korean and U.S. targets, and more. North Korea has continued to ratchet up its aggressive rhetoric on a near-daily basis ever since its third nuclear test launch in February.

Hyun-Hee, who was ordered by Kim Jong Il to blow up a South Korean airplane in 1987, killing 115 people, said Kim Jong Un antagonizes Seoul and the U.S. with "thermo-nuclear" war in order to maintain the obedience of North Korean citizens.

"North Korea is using its nuclear program to keep its people in line and to push South Korea and the United States for concessions," said Hyun-Hee.

The former spy's statements echo the beliefs of many analysts who say North Korea's nearly-endless flood of aggressive actions is meant to pressure the U.S. into "disarmament-for-aid" discussions and strengthen its people's devotion to new leader Kim Jong Un by showing he is a powerful military commander. Some also note that it's likely the majority of Pyongyang's threats are merely attempts to feel out, or intimidate South Korea's recently elected - and thus untested - president, and for Kim Jong Un - also a fairly new leader - to prove his mettle to an inert national audience.

North Korea engaged the U.S. and South with nuclear missile threats throughout the week. Pyongyang declared the country had "powerful striking means" set on standby Thursday, a not so subtle suggestion it was preparing to test launch a medium-range missile. North Korea is planning to launch a medium-range Musadan missile "any day," according to South Korean and U.S. defense officials. South Korea said launching a Musadan missile, which is ballistic, would be a direct violation of the United Nations Security Council sanction that bans Pyongyang from any ballistic activity.

Experts on the region aren't convinced North Korea will follow through on its promises to engage the South in a full-scale attack such as the instigation that began the Korean War in 1950. However, analysts remain concerned the heightened tensions could pressure North Korea into a "skirmish," which could potentially develop into a legitimate conflict.