North Korea's Nuclear Shield: A Lesson from Iran's Misfortune North Korea has long touted its nuclear arsenal as a vital deterrent against external threats, and recent developments suggest it genuinely believes this arsenal has saved it from a fate similar to Iran's.
The irony is not lost on observers who remember how Tehran's nuclear program was brought to a near standstill by international pressure and economic sanctions.
North Korea's nuclear deterrent has been built at considerable cost in terms of regional stability.