Wanna read a truly scary, horror book? "The Fate of the Earth" by Jonathan Schell. No its not a book youd ever see promoed on CBN or by Pat Robertson or Falwell-not some Bible thing, Rapture thing,--very scientific about how really LOW the actual threshold for a "nuclear winter" would be, and the after effects of even a so-called "limited" nuke war would be. Written during the Nuke Freeze era but filled with science, and relatively easy to undestand tech-speak. Dunno if its even still out there-been awhile. Explains the weak force, strong force-some physics obviously.

As to the original question Iran and N. Korea wanna be "players" at the nuke poker table-give them power and influence they cant get by their economies or global influence...and a gun to hold to the rest of the world's head. Can't put this genie back in the bottle. 'Course Iran's doin' it with oil to the world economy and stock markets right now.