My wife and I like taking turns playing the devil's advocate and recently the topic of North Korea came up. Soon after, the conversation focused on nuclear non-proliferation.
I chose to be in favor of championing the ROK in initiating a domestic nuclear weapons program whereas my wife decided to challenge it.
A conventional war between the two Korea's boils down to a mess regardless how anyone chooses looks at it. However, should the tides of war turn decisively against DPRK, the use of nuclear weapons could be introduced by North Korea in a desperate attempt at victory or at the very least to prevent regime change after a decisive defeat.
Obviously the mere presence of nuclear weapons doesn't necessarily bring about immediate "nuclear war" (as evidenced by India and Pakistan's relative peace), though I will concede it introduces the possibility.
My wife used an analogy of a neighborly dispute between tenants of an apartment complex. One neighbor, the more volatile of the two, is armed with a battle rifle (such as an FN-FAL or HK G3) whereas the other party only possesses a sword for defense. In such a situation, would fellow neighbors living in the same apartment complex, replete with paper-thin walls, suggest the ill-armed neighbor up their game with a similar weapon?
I suggested the presence of an opposing battle rifle may dampen the prospect of direct confrontation. My wife countered by stating it may only amounts to TWICE as many .30 caliber slugs ripping through multiple units should a direct confrontation actually occur.
Here's my question to the forum: With the whole slippery-slope nuclear proliferation argument set aside, what benefits would South Korea gain in developing their own domestic nuclear weapons program?
I must say that as of right now, I'm not opposed to the idea. After all, the North already has them and that saber is rattled to no end.
