[eno_]

It depends: the suitcase bombs that use tritium would fail if the tritium is not renewed. But that is not what was described. Nukes can have a very long shelf-life - several years - depending on how they are made.

[Poohbah]

But that is not what was described. Nukes can have a very long shelf-life - several years - depending on how they are made.

Initiators do not last several years.

[Sender]

the suitcase bombs that use tritium would fail if the tritium is not renewed

Correction, they would only vaporize half the city without the tritium, if indeed they could get such a device. Much more likely they might come up with a primitive fission device at best, but that's little consolation to the target city. The distinction between a few KT and a larger boom would be lost on the nearby residents, I'm afraid.