[thackney]

But funding the development of nuclear weapons, or power, is a military/political decision only slightly affected by economics.

I disagree, when revenues are half of what are needed. It is a time of desperation for nations like Iran and Venezuela, because their spending has been really out of control.

If in their interests, another country can just give it to them for nothing even .

I believe Russia had that attitude, before they got in such financial problems themselves. Which other nuclear power do you think would fund that today?

[mrsmith]

Nuclear weapons development requires a lot of funding but their possession doesn’t. There were nuclear weapons in Cuba at one time.
I don’t think any nation would give them the technology at this time but ‘things change’. If N Korea could do it secretly and also very profitably they probably would. The ‘secretly’ part is the hard part...

Looking for reasons SA doesn’t cut production is starting to appear facetious (silly, futile, beside-the-point) to me.