Stichting Laka

Publicatie Laka-bibliotheek:
Risks and consequences of nuclear weapons accidents in South Asia: PU/CEES Report No.326 (2000)

Auteur	Zia Mian, Ramana, Rajaraman
	6-01-2-55-27.pdf
Datum	2000
Classificatie	6.01.2.55/27 (PLUTONIUM - ALGEMEEN)
Voorkant

Summary

Almost two decades since the end of the Cold War, the United States and Russia 
still retain stockpiles of about 10,000 nuclear weapons each and have committed 
only to reduce to about half that number by the end of 2012, when the Strategic 
Offensive Reductions Treaty comes into force.

There are now seven other nuclear weapon states, including North Korea, which 
car-ried out its first nuclear test on October 9, 2006. Their arsenals range from 
a few simple warheads to several hundred high-yield thermonuclear weapons.

There are growing concerns about a loss of momentum in the nuclear disarmament
process, additional states acquiring nuclear weapons, and the possibility of nuclear
terrorism.

Fissile materials, ordinarily plutonium and highly enriched uranium (HEU), are 
theessential ingredients in all nuclear weapons. Securing, consolidating, and 
eliminating fissile material stocks worldwide are the common imperatives in the 
overlapping efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons in the countries where they exist, 
halt their spread to still more countries, and prevent terrorists from obtaining them.

This is the second report by International Panel on Fissile Materials on the global 
situation with regard to efforts to secure and eliminate fissile materials.