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

even the biggest, craziest nuke you can imagine, it's just not a feasible strategy

oh, you could use a cruise missile

google tells me China has a viable anti ship ballistic missile

the device detonates under water

or above water level

it does not have to hit the ship

I understand that

theoretically

I don't think you're appreciating the logistics involved nevertheless

it could be dropped by a suicide bomber, who would accept the risk of being eventually intercepted and shot down

who would be basically cruising at top speed before delivery

just theoretically

you would need multiples of those to even have a chance

moving target with radar, ability to intercept, lack of surety about exact position

and likely with air cover

nukes are more significant as a threat to stationary civilian populations than anything else