Appreciate your point of view.
I never said it isn't possible, or that portable nukes weren't created, or that they still exist. My contention revolves around the hyperbole around supposed suitcase nukes. That's it.
The W54 is nothing secret, was a real weapon, weighed 163 pounds and, in fact, posed a serious danger to those actually using it. The batteries in question are not your average Duracell. I'm not trying to patronize you, I'm very sure you're aware of that. Could a new battery be created? Of course, but stop right there. Going from the reality that it would be possible to create one, to understanding it's very specific, very precise requirements, how to manufacturer it, etc, etc is a HUGE leap.
So, for the sake of pleasant discussion we'll just eliminate those hurdles ; take an entirely different approach. Someone builds thier own portable device. By portable, I'm suggesting something we could fit in a small truck. Who could do something like that? Who could handle the the maintenance requirements, the technical hurdles, the reality of yield(s), the technological requirements for manufacturing (the highly specialized tools, the tooling, the expertise to do know how to do it, the fissile material refined to appropriate level, etc, etc, etc)? Certainly not the DPRK. Their technology is about where we were the middle of last century. Possibly even all the way back to our first successful test. Remember, it's widely believed this, the third test, was the first successful test. There were certainly explosions in the other two, but of such a small yield as to bring into question whether they (DPRK) achiened an atomic explosion.
It's easy to hand-wave away the massive hurdles that must be cleared to get from there (desire for a "suitcase" nuke), to here (actually having a working device of any size). The idea that the DPRK has the technology to build such a device isn't grounded in reality. I'm not trying to personally attack you or insult you; it just isn't the case. The DPRK claims a lot of things. Because they claim to working towards miniaturization (I don't doubt them), doesn't mean they have the capability to do so. It's also worth noting they are specifically referring to making their warheads small enough to fit on a ballistic missile.
So, I'm back at my original point. "Suitcase" nukes never were. Unless, you count a 163 pound device as suitcase portable. I've carried quite a few ruck sacks in my time in the Army and a 163 lbs ruck isn't very portable. Were, and are there, portable devices? Of course. They come in the form of cruise missiles, bombs, even artillery shells.
I'm in no way dismissing the threat of a portable device being used against us. Truly. It's a real threat. However, I think the discussion is best when grounded in not quite so much rumor and innuendo.
