North Korea’s Next Submarine May Make Nuclear Talks Even Harder

[ikalugin]

ROK has a favourable military balance against DPRK even if we account for DPRK non strategic nuclear options as force multipliers. So in a sense ROK does not need nuclear weapons for warfighting or deterring an invasion.

[Rufus Shinra]

Originally Posted by ikalugin

ROK has a favourable military balance against DPRK even if we account for DPRK non strategic nuclear options as force multipliers. So in a sense ROK does not need nuclear weapons for warfighting or deterring an invasion.

It does not *need* them per se, but having a balance of terror makes relations much more polite and courteous altogether. I doubt many neighbours would protest much if SK acquired nuclear-tipped SRBM in a relatively transparent program (AKA if they allowed Chinese and Japanese inspections of the program to reassure both of them about the missiles' capabilities).

[ikalugin]

Originally Posted by Rufus Shinra

It does not *need* them per se, but having a balance of terror makes relations much more polite and courteous altogether. I doubt many neighbours would protest much if SK acquired nuclear-tipped SRBM in a relatively transparent program (AKA if they allowed Chinese and Japanese inspections of the program to reassure both of them about the missiles' capabilities).

There is a balance of terror. Nuclear weapons are, well, weapons - you can achieve similar effects through other means.

[Jeff-Groves]

I'd think they'd be better served to do cheap drones that projected a bigger threat.

[Rufus Shinra]

Originally Posted by ikalugin

There is a balance of terror. Nuclear weapons are, well, weapons - you can achieve similar effects through other means.

Not as effectively or cheaply.

[ikalugin]

Originally Posted by Rufus Shinra

Not as effectively or cheaply.

Yet ROK is significantly stronger conventionally for such a balance to exist. And this is not the first time - think of 1940s (and to lesser extend in 1960s) when USSR either didn't have nuclear weapons or was at a significant disadvantage.


Yet through the conventional advantage in Europe the balance has been maintained.