[CaptainCrunch]

north korea desires nukes to defend itself from US occupation.

Not sure if its that simple. 8 or 9 nukes wouldn't stop the American's if they really had a outright reason to invade North Korea. I think that Kim see's these weapons as a diplomatic tool, he's seen the effectiveness of these weapons as he threaten's to build them. If he has them, he has more power to blackmail the region for aid and cash.

it is easily the most prepared nation in the world for nuclear war, its tunnel system and bunker complexes are a feat of engineering.

Tunnel systems and bunkers are no defense against penetrating nukes. The Russian's have an entire regiment of single mega warhead penetrating weapons that are there to turn mount Cheyenne into glowing lake Cheyenne (sp?). Most of the tunnels and bunkers are build around the conventional defense of NK.

though it's possible, of course, that they may launch their handful of nukes at a handful of targets one day, i think nations like israel, india, pakistan, and the united states are probably far closer in actual deployment policy as they invade, occupy, and goad other countries. north korea sits above the 38th parallel and cleans its guns.

Gven the defense alert status of NK, combined with its reckless policy of aggression int the DMZ and thier use of special forces. I think that a NK under a less than rational Kim with functional nukes is a frightening proposition.