Mutually assured destruction, called for short (and sensibly so): the M.A.D. Principle.
Deterrence
Nuclear weapons in the US are all refurbished at PANTEX just east of Amarillo, TX. No new nuclear weapons are built at this time by the US.
It was when both Soviet Russia and the US competed against one another to see who could build the most nuclear weapons, and who could build them the fastest.
No, the USSR not East Germany.
Both the US and USSR had deliverable nuclear weapons in the 10+ megaton range by 1955.
It made war less likely since there was a chance that a nuclear bomb could be launched.
To get nuclear weapons, you must build the Manhattan Project.
All the facilities used by the US to prepare the materials for nuclear weapons, build nuclear weapons, design and test new nuclear weapons. This is all lead by the Department Of Energy.
almost anyone that can get the materials
no
stockpiling
either a build up of nuclear weapons, or a buildup in conventional weapons
detterence
Deterrence
North Korea already has the nuclear weapons, it is delivery vehicles it is developing.
Your questions asks for an opinion. My opinion is no. The knowledge of how to build a nuclear weapon is out there. There are too many people with different views and values for nuclear weapons to just go away.
Nuclear weapons in the US are all refurbished at PANTEX just east of Amarillo, TX. No new nuclear weapons are built at this time by the US.