To maximize the benefit of that

I don't follow?

Why is Pentagon, usually very precise in it's estimates

Always downplaying North Korean progress in nuclear development

And every each time, after 6 months to 1 year, they confirm North Korean claims, almost without mistake

that stuff is for domestic consumption

nuclear development? Their economy needs China

But think about how anxious was North Korean strategy, and how think line they are walking

In order to get cash to develop nukes

they had to deliberatelly completely neglect the remainder of their forces

which are now very dated

putting themselves at risk of a defeat in a conventional war

it's not a thin line, it's classic belligerent brinksmanship

and they took a risk

believing correctly, that China will serve as a sufficient deterrent

there's nothing anxious about it

But once they amasse large enough stockpile, and adequate delivery methods, they will be able to develop the rest of their forces

it's absolutely pragmatic

until they are tested, why wouldn't they just continue doing what they are doing? It leads to excellent results

They are

they "toe the line" and the response is never censure

it will always be appeasement

all UN and similar estimates are slow and are always downplaying

DPRK has a small stockpile of warheads, and has delivery methods

it's already a thing

they only don't posses long range missiles, which for their most immediate purposes, aren't necessary

define long range

"we will wipe out toky or seoul"

is sloganeering

the real power of nukes is their ability to wipe out entire battle fleets

like, able to reach the united states?

nukes on battle fleets

come on man

how do you think this stuff works

if you've got that kind of intelligence on a whole fleet you can even throw suicide boats at it and do major damage, much less nukes

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Crossroads

I'm familiar

I can't even imagine a proper delivery method for such a device

I don't think you can put a nuclear warhead on those russian anti-carrier missiles

the issue is ballistics, how will you get an undetectable launch on a ballistic missile

and hit a mobile target, about which you may not be sure re: its position