Toward a Nuclear Suppliers Group Policy for States Not Party to the NPT
Mark Hibbs | Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
The Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) needs a policy governing the participation of candidate states that are not parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). There are four main rationales for such a policy: the global evolution of states’ nuclear supply capabilities; the nuclear-weapon-related capabilities of India and Pakistan; the desire of some NSG participating governments (PGs) to admit India as a member, including for reasons unrelated to nuclear trade controls; and the absence of clarity concerning the NSG’s nonproliferation mission since 2008, when the PGs agreed to except India from the NSG guidelines conditioning nuclear trade with NSG participating countries on NPT membership or full-scope International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards.
Top South Korean Lawmaker Calls for Nuclear Arms
Japan Times
A top ruling party official called Monday for South Korea to develop its own nuclear deterrent to combat the growing nuclear and missile threat from North Korea. Support for a nuclear-armed South Korea is a minority voice in the country, but one that grows louder after every nuclear test by the North.
Is China Considering a High-Risk Change to Its Nuclear Deterrence Posture?
Ankit Panda | Diplomat
Is China considering a change to its nuclear weapons posture that could threaten global strategic stability? Gregory Kulacki with the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) thinks so. In a recently published report, Kulacki highlights internal military discourse within the People’s Liberation Army that suggests China may be considering putting its nuclear forces on alert.
As U.S. Pressure Mounts, China Talks up Prospect of N. Korea Sanctions That ‘Bite’
Simon Denyer | Washington Post
The threat of an American missile defense system being stationed in South Korea appears to have concentrated minds in Beijing on how to punish Pyongyang. China now seems ready to support limited United Nations sanctions against North Korea over a recent nuclear test and rocket launches, partly in response to U.S. pressure, experts said Monday.
EDF Extends Life of Four Nuclear Reactors
Guardian
EDF plans to extend the life of four nuclear power plants in the UK and has said it is close to announcing a decision on its investment in two new reactors at Hinkley Point. The French energy company said the lives of the Heysham 1 and Hartlepool plants would be extended by five years until 2024, and the closure dates of Heysham 2 and Torness will be delayed by seven years to 2030.
South Australia Considers Role Storing World’s Nuclear Waste
Jamie Smyth | Financial Times
It is a problem that has bedevilled the nuclear industry since its foundation: what to do with the tens of thousands of tonnes of radioactive waste created every year? On Monday the state of South Australia offered a partial solution with a government report suggesting imported nuclear waste could earn it A$5bn (US$3.5bn) a year.