North Korea Decides To Launch A Rocket

So North Korea decided to launch a rocket today.  However, like everything, it failed.  I do not know why North Korea decides to waste $850 million dollars on a development on a rocket launch. Apparently, the reason as reported by the Washington Post.for  the centennial celebration for the birth of founder Kim Il Sun.

Based on all of the news reports that I read today, I believed that the rocket launch is prop up the cult of personality that dominates North Korean politics.  The failure of the rocket launch now means that the country will miss critical food shortage.

I have never understood the rationale of North Korean leadership except for the necessity of maintaining a cult of personality.