Happy Atheist Forum

General => Current Events => Topic started by: Tank on September 09, 2022, 09:37:16 AM

Title: North Korea declares itself a nuclear weapons state
Post by: Tank on September 09, 2022, 09:37:16 AM
North Korea declares itself a nuclear weapons state (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-62845958)

QuoteNorth Korea has passed a law declaring itself to be a nuclear weapons state, according to state news agency KCNA.

The country's leader Kim Jong-un called the decision "irreversible" and ruled out the possibility of any talks on denuclearisation, it said.

The law also enshrines the country's right to use a pre-emptive nuclear strike to protect itself.

A worrying development.
Title: Re: North Korea declares itself a nuclear weapons state
Post by: Asmodean on September 09, 2022, 10:50:35 AM
I think it's just formalising one's facts. If North Korea were not a nuclear state, they wouldn't have nukes. If they had no nukes, they wouldn't have tested any. As for their pre-emptive whatnots... Is that not precisely what "the world" has feared ever since the country tested its first nuke?

North Korea is the same today as it was last week. Worrying? Yes. Unusually so..? I don't see it.
Title: Re: North Korea declares itself a nuclear weapons state
Post by: Tank on September 09, 2022, 01:11:13 PM
Quote from: Asmodean on September 09, 2022, 10:50:35 AMI think it's just formalising one's facts. If North Korea were not a nuclear state, they wouldn't have nukes. If they had no nukes, they wouldn't have tested any. As for their pre-emptive whatnots... Is that not precisely what "the world" has feared ever since the country tested its first nuke?

North Korea is the same today as it was last week. Worrying? Yes. Unusually so..? I don't see it.

I agree with what you say. However one thing has changed. NK can now consider themselves legitimate in their use of nukes. That is one step closer, one less barrier to be crossed, to using nukes. This is entirely psychological. But then isn't everything?
Title: Re: North Korea declares itself a nuclear weapons state
Post by: Asmodean on September 09, 2022, 01:30:36 PM
To a degree, sure.

They can consider themselves legitimate in whatever it is they do with or without a proclamation to the outside world. Were it not North Korea, I would agree that indeed this is a barrier down - however made of straw ang well-wishes it was to begin with. In this case though... I mean, they don't deal with the "popular opinion" anywhere near the same way "we" do, so... Yeah.

That said, China seems to be eyeing Taiwan in "new" and "exciting" ways and Russia wants to buy North Korean weapons because... It's Russia. The West is allocating a lot of resources to the Ukraine conflict, but does "little" apart from screech loudly about that other imminent annexation attempt... Given North Korea's current geopolitical surroundings, I suppose a God-Chairman may feel... Emboldened. Is he wrong to be, though? That's the question, I think.
Title: Re: North Korea declares itself a nuclear weapons state
Post by: Tank on September 09, 2022, 01:34:30 PM
Quote from: Asmodean on September 09, 2022, 01:30:36 PMTo a degree, sure.

They can consider themselves legitimate in whatever it is they do with or without a proclamation to the outside world. Were it not North Korea, I would agree that indeed this is a barrier down - however made of straw ang well-wishes it was to begin with. In this case though... I mean, they don't deal with the "popular opinion" anywhere near the same way "we" do, so... Yeah.

If they didn't care why did they bother to put the legislation through? There must be some form of internally consistent motivation.
Title: Re: North Korea declares itself a nuclear weapons state
Post by: No one on September 09, 2022, 02:27:18 PM
Kim just wants to be assured that his pee pee is really big, and works just fine.
Title: Re: North Korea declares itself a nuclear weapons state
Post by: Asmodean on September 09, 2022, 02:32:36 PM
Quote from: Tank on September 09, 2022, 01:34:30 PMIf they didn't care why did they bother to put the legislation through? There must be some form of internally consistent motivation.
My point is; this piece of legislation is likely not meant for North Korea - not in any practical way.