Why do countries such as North Korea and Iran feel the need to develop nuclear bombs?

Korea is considered a 3rd world country with the development of the bomb they become a nation of power. By doing so their Ego Manic Dictator can prove he is a force to be reckoned with not just some nut. With him it is all about power , it doesn't matter how much the regular Korean people suffer he wants to be recognized as a world leader. In charge of a Super Power whose citizens are starving and living in darkness because of his ego.

Iran is a different problem, I just read their government is in trouble with the general populace and by standing up to the Evil West they hope to remain in power. Also consider they are religious fanatics and may not hesitate to blow up the World to force their beliefs on others.

I am much more concerned about Iran than Korea.

Before I start, I just want to point out I am in no way condoning the regimes in Iran and N Korea!

However, you say they are not threatened but I am sure they don't feel the same way looking at Iraq. I guess it is also, in part, a response to the hypocritical attitude of those countries who already have nuclear weapons - "we can be trusted with them...but no one else can."

Finally, yes, the nuclear attacks on Japan may have well have ended the war, but you appear to forget over 200,000 innocent Japanese civilians died as a result.

This is actually one of the dumbest question. The top superpower who have control over high quantities of nuclear weapons, have sophisticated government and political structure in contrast to the entire world (such as the US), it is extremely unlikely that they would ever retaliate with nuclear force. For many reasons of course. Such as the moral and political situation of the majority of the populace. Or the destruction scale that they are capable off. Or the fact that this will result in a prolong warfare of survivors or whatever. Extremely unlikely.

Man you are either thick or blinkered. What a silly question to ask. Did the US not Nuke Japan when they had no nukes? Did the US not threaten to nuke Iraq if they were in danger of losing the war with Saddam? Did the French not say they will use nukes against any country that "poses a threat"? Get an idea before you come up with such tosh.

The reason for the desire to have nuclear weapons is probably quite different between these countries. North Korea is because the leader is paranoid and wants to assure his continued role as dictator. Iran want to be a major power in the region so thier opinions will be considered because they have a serious threat to offer.

I think an arms race is in the making in Asia because these countries want to make it clear they're a force to be reckoned with. Most of the leaders today (and that includes the US) have seemed to lost their minds and have ulterior motives once they take office. There are grudges that they want to take care of and I don't think a lot of these countries are hesitant in using these weapons just to prove a point. It is very scary, but I think Iran and North Korea in particular are developing these weapons for attacking-and perhaps unprovoked attacks. If nothing is done now to stop it, things will get out of control and a things will end in a disaster.

These countries should be stopped. Afterall they are run by lunatics.

We have to realise before the anti-westerners start that nuclear weapons kept a peace in Europe for over 50 years. They stopped Stalin moving in and controlling Western Europe!

So next time you decide to have a pop at the US and UK for their Nuclear Weapons, remember if it wasn't for them, the West would not be as free as it is today!

France only developed nuclear deterant to try and be someone - but they never will be!

North Korea wants to try and get in on some action, and is blackmailing everybody! Its to try and give that short man of a dictator some credibility within the world! How can you give credibility to a man with a beufont and heels?

Iran just wanna try and control the Middle East, maybe even blackmail the west with oil? I do think Israel should have theirs removed also - to try and keep some form of detent and status quo within that region.

The black civil rights leader Malcolm X once said "The only thing power respects is power". Does N.Korea have weapons of mass destruction? Yes;Does N.Korea have need of regime change?Yes;Has the N.K. government been responsible for mass murder of it's citizens?Yes,but will the U.S.A. invade like they did in Iraq?Of course not.As for Iran and it's nuclear ambitions they say it's for peaceful purposes(power stations and research) while the Western world and especially U.S.A. say Iran wants to build atomic weapons.Why do we naturally believe what our governments of the West say are true and that the Iranian government are lying?

Iran and N Korea are isolationist idealist and backwards socially by any modern standard. They blow so much smoke up their own a s s es that they believe their own rhetoric.

These are regimes that refuse to come to grips with the reality of the 21st century. Yet they use 21st century technology to terrorize the rest of the world.

The sole purpose of this kind of mentality is to solidify their power base while their citizens rot and fade away in ambiguity.

The US has multiple layers of strategic defense and offense solutions available.

You can do a search on the web for "future combat systems" and you will get a very clear picture of our current and (the next 10 to 20 years) capabilities.

There is also great info on global missile defense.

One thing you need to understand before you access this information.

This is defensive in nature, even if it looks like star wars offensive.

It is consistent with being strong "in case we are attacked".

It's the Reagan side of the Bush Doctrine.

I love them both!

as Iran and North Korea are develop nuclear bombs only reason they are not feeling too secure them selves and they know and confirm any time we can smash from the other big countries and if they are thinking this thing they are not wrong so they will develop nuclear