A JOURNALIST asked the Prime Minister a few days ago, talking about North Korea: “Would you press the button?”

The meaning was clear. David Cameron evaded the question. But here is a young and unpredictable ruler of a desperately poor country threatening to send a nuclear weapon to South Korea, or Japan, or even the United States.

Has he the means to do this? We do not know.

But suppose he did? What possible reason would the UK have to use the Trident nuclear weapon in return? We have no “vital interests” in the area.

The US, with its 130 or so overseas military bases, claims to have “vital interests” in every part of the globe, and therefore the right of “self-defence” in every region. We have not.

Any nuclear attack or response would create untold suffering, deaths, destruction and an inevitable response in kind. On whom? London? York? Faslane? There is no conceivable reason which would ever justify the UK launching a nuclear attack on any nation.

We must stop pretending we need nuclear weapons. If this were true, it would apply equally to every state, including Iran and North Korea.

Instead we must adopt a policy of help and friendship towards all nations, and enmity towards none.

Then we could dismantle our military capability, and use the vast sums saved for health, education, housing, welfare and jobs at home, and improving international relationships.

Joyce Pickard, Hansom Place, York.

 

• How many voters who elected this coalition Government voted to renew our Trident nuclear fleet at a cost of £100 billion? This is what our cash-strapped Government is now considering. Can we afford it or can we not do without it?

In the event of a nuclear conflict our small island could easily be annihilated quickly simply because we have the bomb which makes us a threat.

But to whom are we a threat – North Korea or Iran? What if eventually one of the terrorist groups got their hands on a dirty bomb? They would have no compunction about using it and our nuclear subs would be useless.

Russia, the US, the UK, Pakistan, India, Israel and China have nuclear capability.

These countries know the consequences, but other countries may have more lax security. What could we do with £100 billion? Certainly it could be better spent selfishly. I just think a debate should consider the consequences.

Dennis Barton, Woodthorpe, York.