The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty: Technical Issues for the U.S.

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The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty: Technical Issues for the U.S.

IN THIS ISSUE: The CTBT, images show N. Korea launch work, Clinton on Iran, India to test long-range missile in two weeks, S. Africa considers nuclear fuel cycle facilities, Japan holds off on decision on idled reactors.

Published on April 3, 2012

In This Issue

The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty: Technical Issues for the United States
National Research Council

Images Show North Korea Launch Work
Associated Press

Clinton to Iran: Show That Nuclear Arms Not Sought
Associated Press

India to Test Long-Range Missile in Two Weeks
Global Security Newswire

South Africa Considers Nuclear Fuel Cycle Facilities
Reuters

Japan Holds Off on Decision on Idled Reactors
Japan Times

The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty: Technical Issues for the United States

National Research Council

The United States is now in a better position than at any time in the past to maintain a safe and effective nuclear weapons stockpile without testing and to monitor clandestine nuclear testing abroad, says a new report from the National Research Council.

The report, requested by the Office of the Vice President and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, reviews and updates a 2002 study that examined the technical concerns raised about the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). The report does not take a position on whether the U.S. should ratify the treaty.

"So long as the nation is fully committed to securing its weapons stockpile and provides sufficient resources for doing so, the U.S. has the technical capabilities to maintain safe, reliable nuclear weapons into the foreseeable future without the need for underground weapons testing," said Ellen D. Williams, chief scientist at BP and chair of the committee that wrote the report. "In addition, U.S. and international technologies to monitor weapons testing by other countries are significantly better now than they were a decade ago." Full Article

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More from Proliferation News

Images Show North Korea Launch Work

Foster Klug | Associated Press

New satellite images of a North Korean rocket launch site show a mobile radar trailer and rows of what appear to be empty fuel and oxidizer tanks, evidence of ramped-up preparation for what Washington calls a cover for a long-range missile test. Full Article

Clinton to Iran: Show That Nuclear Arms Not Sought

Bradley Klapper | Associated Press

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Sunday urged Iran to back up its declaration that Islam bars weapons of mass destruction by agreeing to a plan that would prove it does not intend to develop nuclear arms. Full Article

India to Test Long-Range Missile in Two Weeks

Global Security Newswire

India intends in two weeks to conduct the initial trial of its experimental Agni 5 ballistic missile, the head of the country's Defense Research and Development Organization said on Saturday. Full Article

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Abu Dhabi Nuclear Bid Speeds Up (National)

South Africa Considers Nuclear Fuel Cycle Facilities

Wendell Roelf | Reuters

South Africa is mulling the re-establishment of its uranium enrichment and conversion facilities, which were dismantled during the apartheid era, as it seeks to secure fuel for a new fleet of nuclear power stations. Full Article

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Nuclear Security: Partner with Industry (Lowy Interpreter)

Japan Holds Off on Decision on Idled Reactors

Kazuaki Nagata | Japan Times

Uncertainty grew Tuesday over the timing of the possible restart of the idled Oi nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture, as Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yukio Edano backed off from an earlier remark. Full Article

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

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