good for them i dont see why some people can have nukes and others cannot.
I agree and disagree. I really don't know where I stand on this issue. But I think the big difference is North Koreas public rhetoric is pretty malicious. I think it's mostly political posturing, but to be fair they did just release a youtube video last week about how they are going to rain down fire on major US cities now that they have the weapons to do so. They stated their missile program and nuke program now gives them the ability to strike the US. Plus, they can already attack the South anytime they want. They are still at war with South Korea and American. Again, I believe it's mostly harmless posturing, and more for their own people than as a threat to the world, but none the less that does make them a difference. When you combine their space/missile tests with a now uranium trigger bomb test, it will only be a few years before they are able to combine those and have the range to hit as far as the West coast of America. Do I personally believe they will? No. Even China is for the first time condemning them after this most recent test. Pakistan and India have nukes and long range missiles too... but they aren't threatening to burn other countries to the ground with them. That's the difference. Again, not saying I disagree with your sentiment, but there are some differences to North Korea having nukes and what they say they are for, versus other countries who are like "we want them for defense too".
The thing NK doesn't have is the ability to implement a MAD policy. Even if they could nuke Seattle or another Pacific coast city (Seoul is way more likely than the US), they would be sacrificing their country in an instant. I don't think the leadership is that disconnected from reality, even if Kim Jong Il was (but even that needs to be questioned, because despite the rhetoric he never attacked SK). They have too much to lose. I think they want a bomb to deter an invasion.
Like I said, NK doesn't scare me at all, and it's most likely nothing more than political posturing. I don't think they pose a threat to anyone at this time. Was just explaining to the parent comment that they do have a very offensive rhetoric which makes them different from other nuclear countries. Though their track record shows they probably won't ever use them or try to attack SK outside of little skirmishes once every 10 years. So I completely agree. Best case scenario would be attacking South Korea and causing some major damage to Seoul and other areas within artillery range, but their country and all of it's forces would be glassed within 24 hours of them going on any major offensive. Other countries wouldn't even use nukes on them even if NK used them, they wouldn't be needed. We have multiple carrier groups in the region. They wouldn't make it through the night if they chose to attack anyone. So I completely agree they have too much to lose. At best they could inflict damage on Seoul and maybe the US in a few years time, but that would mean utter destruction of their entire military equipment, troops, and everyone involved in the regime. But, I always wonder if they just are delluded enough to do something crazy someday. Or if one of these days when they decide to shell some islands or small villages, that SK fires back, and then NK fires back, and they actually do feel backed into a corner and call for full attack on the South. I think that scenario is extremely unlikely, but who knows. There's a lot of itchy trigger fingers on both sides of that DMZ.I think they want a bomb to deter an invasion.
China is condemning this most recent test even, which is unusual for them. Even they are finally taking an international stance that they aren't behind them anymore. China IS too smart for that.