Russia Produces First Set of Poseidon Super Torpedoes - TASS
Guy Faulconbridge | Reuters
Russia has produced the first set of Poseidon nuclear capable super torpedoes that are being developed for deployment on the Belgorod nuclear submarine, TASS reported on Monday, citing an unidentified defence source…U.S. and Russian officials have both described Poseidon as a new category of retaliatory weapon, capable of triggering radioactive ocean swells to render coastal cities uninhabitable. "The first set of Poseidons have been manufactured, and the Belgorod submarine will receive them in the near future," TASS, a state news agency, quoted the source as saying.
South Korea President, in UAE, Backs Return to Nuclear Power
Jon Grambell | Washington Post
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said Monday that his nation’s efforts to be carbon neutral by 2050 would rely in part on returning to nuclear power, even though his predecessor had tried to move away from atomic power… Yoon’s comments at a summit in the United Arab Emirates, made in front of the country’s leader, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, served to underline Seoul’s commitment to nuclear power as it works to finish the Arabian Peninsula’s first atomic power plant. That could see South Korea in line for lucrative maintenance contracts and future projects in the UAE, which Seoul has grown closer to over recent years… “This isn’t a foreign country called the UAE — this right here, is your country,” a hawkish Yoon told the gathered forces.
Why South Korea’s President is Talking About Nuclear Weapons
William Gallo | VoA
Last week, Yoon made global headlines when he suggested during a policy briefing that South Korea could get its own nuclear arms if the security situation with North Korea worsens…Many in Seoul believe current U.S.-South Korea alliance structures need to be strengthened in order to compensate for North Korea’s growing threats. As part of those efforts, they want bigger displays of allied military strength, including with U.S. nuclear assets…Analysts are divided, though, over what Yoon intends to accomplish with his nuclear weapons talk…Yoon wants to publicly pressure the United States to provide more robust defense assurances, according to Go Myung-hyun, a research fellow at Seoul’s Asan Institute for Policy Studies. “I think Yoon wants the Biden administration to offer further strengthening measures for extended deterrence,” Go said. “He wants to highlight how seriously he views the North Korean threat.” While Yoon may think that publicly raising the nuclear option will force the United States to provide more security guarantees, “it is likely to have the opposite effect of straining the relationship,” according to Eric Brewer, a former White House National Security Council official.
Fukushima Nuclear Disaster: Japan to Release Radioactive Water Into Sea this Year
Grace Tsoi | BBC News
Japan says it will release more than a million tonnes of water into the sea from the destroyed Fukushima nuclear power plant this year. After treatment the levels of most radioactive particles meet the national standard, the operator said. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says the proposal is safe, but neighbouring countries have voiced concern…The water is filtered for most radioactive isotopes, but the level of tritium is above the national standard, operator Tepco said. Experts say tritium is very difficult to remove from water and is only harmful to humans in large doses. However, neighbouring countries and local fishermen oppose the proposal, which was approved by the Japanese government in 2021. The Pacific Islands Forum has criticised Japan for the lack of transparency.
Nuclear Notebook: United States Nuclear Weapons, 2023
Hans M. Kristensen and Matt Korda | The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
The Nuclear Notebook is researched and written by Hans M. Kristensen, director of the Nuclear Information Project with the Federation of American Scientists, and Matt Korda, a senior research associate with the project. The Nuclear Notebook column has been published in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists since 1987. This issue examines the status of the US nuclear arsenal. The US nuclear arsenal remained roughly unchanged in the last year, with the Department of Defense maintaining an estimated stockpile of approximately 3,708 warheads. Of these, only about 1,770 warheads are deployed, while approximately 1,938 are held in reserve. Additionally, approximately 1,536 retired warheads are awaiting dismantlement, giving a total inventory of approximately 5,244 nuclear warheads. Of the approximately 1,770 warheads that are deployed, 400 are on land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles, roughly 970 are on submarine-launched ballistic missiles, 300 are at bomber bases in the United States, and 100 tactical bombs are at European bases.
Final Countdown to Site Selection for Canada’s Nuclear Waste Geologic Repository
Zoe Braden, Allison Macfarlane | The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
After 15 years of planning, public engagement, and scientific and engineering studies, Canada stands on the brink of a momentous decision: selecting a final resting spot for its spent nuclear fuel waste. Repositories are notoriously difficult to site, but that is not only due to technical issues. Siting a geologic repository is also difficult because of the challenge of finding a socially acceptable location. Should Canada successfully select a single preferred site in the next two years (and obtain licensing approval in the years to come), it will be one of only a handful of countries to overcome this challenge. As protracted as its effort may seem, Canada, and the organization in charge of its repository plan—the Nuclear Waste Management Organization—have progressed further along the path to permanent nuclear waste disposal than many other countries