There’s no particular reason they couldn’t. Even a simple dirty bomb detonated in a high population area could wreak havoc – and any country with centrifuges can basically make one of those in no time.

Basically every sovereign state now has a very clear risk calculation supporting the development of nuclear arms and for ignoring all the UN’s attempts for international cooperation / non-proliferation. Iran was compliant, from all accounts, with the vast majority of requirements that had been set out for it – something that Israel’s nuclear program is seemingly not required to adhere to (it’s still “unofficial” that they have between 90 and 400 functional warheads).

Opening yourselves to international inspectors just gives the USA a very clear target list + floor plans. Further, not having a nuclear option means the USA will potentially attack you. Even if rules of engagement say they shouldn’t attack civilian power plant infrastructure, the USA, Israel and Russia do it without hesitation. North Korea, China, and Russia have shown that having a nuclear deterrent will keep the USA away. It’ll even make the USA suck up to you / praise you, and let you attack/invade your neighbours without the USA taking action.

What Trump and the States have done, in my view, essentially translates to destroying any semblance of international cooperation between nations (cause why bother trying to appease the EU, if the USA is gonna ignore international norms and bomb whoever they want anyway), and has made it so that every nation should now pursue weapons of mass destruction as a “deterrent”, which will no doubt lead to catastrophe in time. But there aren’t really many ways I can see it playing out otherwise.

Like that 5% NATO military spending… should prolly be every NATO country building a nuclear / WMD program of their own, unbeholden to US constraints, “just in case”.

Unless they are extremely selfless and are willing to give up the few nuclear bombs they could craft themselves to Iran (which broadcasts publicly that they refuse to build nukes on a religious level) it would both

1. Validate actions of the external threats
2. Create mistrust in the public for not following with their anti-nuke fatwa
3. Still, Leave them without the capability to build MORE nukes

if Iran wanted nukes, it would have publicly tested five out by the time the Israeli attacks came

I think Russia and China do not want them to - it would threaten their diplomatic power over their Vassel states. If, say, Iran, had a nuke from North Korea, it would reduce Russian influence.

North Korea is severely restricted from flying their own flag on their own ships. North Korean ships are often refused entry to many ports around the world due to UN sanctions and can also be boarded by SK or US forces if they suspect the ship is being used to transport weapons of mass destruction. North Korea often just registers their ships in other countries or outright illegally flies other country’s flags to avoid inspection

Sure. Anyone with nukes could give them to anyone else, but what happens after? If someone gave Iran nukes, then what’s to stop the US or France or somebody giving nukes to Ukraine or Taiwan. Ultimately it’s too big a risk. Even if two countries are close allies now doesn’t mean they will always be, and the nukes can’t be taken back once given.

They can but there is no point; just emailing the technical details would be enough for 99%.

They only would need to ship the urchins and those could be carried on luggage for any plane that they can get their hands on.

what

Yeah. They don’t need to ship a whole ICBM, they just need to move the payload.

Which if you wanted to, could fit on a normal truck.

NK shares borders with Russia and China, Russia would 100% let them smuggle a nuke thru Russia.

Russia and Iran don’t share a border, but can move it easily over the Caspian Sea without having to involve 3rd party customs.

So yeah, it could easily happen