Russia Voices Concern Over US Nuclear Test Plans

NUKEWARS

A review of US nuclear weapon technologies has revealed a need to rethink the tactical use of nuclear weapons for destroying underground facilities being used in to produce or support weapons of mass destruction. To perfect such tactical weapons will require a new round of underground nuclear tests by the US that would break the unofficial test ban now in operation among the five permanent members of the UN Security council. (US, Russia, China, UK, France) all of whom are declared nuclear powers

Moscow - Mar 29, 2002
Russia is "extremely concerned" that the United States may soon abandon an international moratorium on nuclear testing to make way for development of a new generation of weapons, Interfax quoted foreign ministry sources here as saying Thursday.

The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) is "a key barrier in the path of proliferation of nuclear armaments and their modernisation ... but the United States is not in a hurry to ratify it and now seems to be preparing to quit the accord,"the sources said.

"Washington has decided to upgrade the alert at the Nevada nuclear testing grounds for the possible resumption of tests. Appeals for testing small nuclear devices are mounting.

"This position casts a shadow on the very idea of the treaty and, consequently, does not promote confidence of other states in it, which could condemn the document to death," the sources added.

The United States has maintained a moratorium on nuclear tests since 1992, along with Britain, China, France and Russia.

Only India and Pakistan tested nuclear weapons in 1998, signaling their entry into the "nuclear club."

However a US nuclear posture review published earlier this month suggests that the war against Afghanistan has highlighted the need to develop a new generation of bunker-busting weapons that could target groups like al-Qaeda hiding in deep underground caves.

NUKEWARS

Korean Peninsula Heading For New Nuclear Crisis: Minister

Seoul - Mar 29, 2002
A senior South Korean minister on Friday warned that there could be a new crisis this year over rival North Korea's suspected nuclear weapons programme.

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