Latest news with #ComprehensiveNuclearTestBanTreaty
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Walkouts on global disarmament treaties
Lithuania will become the first country in the European Union to officially leave a multilateral arms regulation agreement when it withdraws on March 6 from the international treaty prohibiting the use of cluster munitions, citing a heightened security threat. Since the United Nations was created 80 years ago there have been just five formal withdrawals from such multilateral treaties, but three of those -- all by Russia -- have come since 2021, according to an AFP analysis of the UN disarmament office registry. Lithuania's controversial move comes at a time of heightened tensions in international relations over its neighbour Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with several countries criticising disarmament treaties. Here is a summary of some key arms treaties and which countries have abandoned them. - Cluster munitions - Before Lithuania's move planned on Thursday, no country had pulled out of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, nor from the other four humanitarian disarmament treaties. Cluster munitions can be dropped from planes or fired from artillery, exploding in mid-air and scattering bomblets over a wide area -- effectively acting as landmines that can go off years later. Lithuania had signed and ratified the Convention on Cluster Munitions in 2011, committing to eliminate the weapons from its arsenal, and ceasing to produce or sell them. But on September 6, 2024, it officially announced its withdrawal, citing "the evolving regional security dynamics and geopolitical threats". The current security environment, it said, "necessitates maintaining a full spectrum of defensive tools, including cluster munitions, to ensure national security and protect our citizens". Neither Russia nor Ukraine, which use cluster munitions in the war that began in 2022, are among the 111 remaining parties to this treaty. The United States, Iran, Israel, and the two Koreas are not signatories either. - Russia and US - In November 2023, a year into its war with Ukraine, Russia raised global alarm with two major walkouts from international treaties. It revoked its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, which limits the deployment of troops and equipment from the Atlantic to the Urals. Moscow had already in 2021 quit the Open Skies treaty, which allows states to conduct planned observation flights over the territory of other countries. The United States had also left that treaty in 2020 during the first term of President Donald Trump. - Bilateral accords - Among other withdrawals from bilateral accords, the United States in 2002 left the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, prompting the end of that agreement with Russia. In 2019, the two powers also withdrew from the landmark 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty which limited the use of medium-range missiles, both conventional and nuclear. The last remaining strategic arms control agreement between Russia and the United States -- the New START Treaty -- is set to expire in February 2026. Without any renewal there will be no nuclear arms control structure in place between the former Cold War rivals for the first time since 1972. - North Korea - North Korea declared its withdrawal from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in 2003, but it is still listed as an official signatory. Pyongyang did not comply with the three-month notice period required in the text, so its announcement was not considered an official withdrawal. lam-eab/rlp/fox
Korea Herald
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Vice FM condemns N. Korea's troop deployment, weapons supply to Russia
Second Vice Foreign Minister Kang In-sun has denounced North Korea's troop deployment and weapons supply to Russia, stressing that such illegal activities pose a grave security threat to the international community. Kang made the remarks during the high-level session of the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva on Monday, noting the North continues to violate UN sanctions with its weapons development against international efforts to promote peace. "Vice Minister Kang condemned North Korea for supplying weapons and ballistic missiles to Russia and deploying over 11,000 troops, sacrificing them as cannon fodder for the regime," the foreign ministry said in a release. "She pointed out that North Korea continues to violate multiple UN Security Council resolutions with its persistent development of nuclear weapons and missiles, defying international efforts to promote peace," the ministry said. Kang urged Pyongyang to "fully, verifiably and irreversibly" abandon all weapons programs and return to denuclearization talks, and reiterated that North Korea's illegal activities pose a security threat to the entire international community, according to the ministry. Addressing Russia's invasion of Ukraine, now in its third year, Kang voiced concerns over the erosion of the international norms on disarmament and nonproliferation, calling on the five nuclear-weapons states -- the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia -- to step up bilateral and multilateral discussions to enhance mutual trust and transparency. The CD is a multilateral disarmament forum on negotiating arms control, such as the cessation of the nuclear arms race, prevention of nuclear war and effective measures to assure non-nuclear-weapon states against the use of nuclear weapons. Major arms control agreements negotiated at the CD forum include the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. (Yonhap)
Asharq Al-Awsat
28-01-2025
- Science
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Images Show China Building Huge Fusion Research Facility
China appears to be building a large laser-ignited fusion research center in the southwestern city of Mianyang, experts at two analytical organisations say, a development that could aid nuclear weapons design and work exploring power generation. Satellite photos show four outlying "arms" that will house laser bays, and a central experiment bay that will hold a target chamber containing hydrogen isotopes the powerful lasers will fuse together, producing energy, said Decker Eveleth, a researcher at US-based independent research organisation CNA Corp. It is a similar layout to the $3.5 billion US National Ignition Facility (NIF) in Northern California, which in 2022 generated mceore energy from a fusion reaction than the lasers pumped into the target - "scientific breakeven". Eveleth, who is working with analysts at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS), estimates the experiment bay at the Chinese facility is about 50% bigger than the one at NIF, currently the world's largest. The development has not been previously reported. "Any country with an NIF-type facility can and probably will be increasing their confidence and improving existing weapons designs, and facilitating the design of future bomb designs without testing" the weapons themselves, said William Alberque, a nuclear policy analyst at the Henry L. Stimson Center. China's foreign ministry referred Reuters questions to the "competent authority". China's Science and Technology Ministry did not respond to a request for comment. The US Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment. In November 2020, US arms control envoy Marshall Billingslea released satellite images he said showed China's buildup of nuclear weapons support facilities. It included images of Mianyang showing a cleared plot of land labeled "new research or production areas since 2010". That plot is the site of the fusion research center, called the Laser Fusion Major Device Laboratory, according to construction documents that Eveleth shared with Reuters. NUCLEAR TESTING Igniting fusion fuel allows researchers to study how such reactions work and how they might one day create a clean power source using the universe's most plentiful resource, hydrogen. It also enables them to examine nuances of detonation that would otherwise require an explosive test. The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, of which both China and the United States are signatories, prohibits nuclear explosions in all environments. Countries are allowed "subcritical" explosive tests, which do not create nuclear reactions. Laser fusion research, known as inertial confinement fusion, is also allowed. Siegfried Hecker, a senior fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and the former director of Los Alamos National Laboratory, another key US nuclear weapons research facility, said that with testing banned, subcritical and laser fusion experiments were crucial to maintaining the safety and reliability of the US nuclear arsenal. But for countries that have not done many test detonations, he said - China has tested 45 nuclear weapons, compared with 1,054 for the United States - such experiments would be less valuable because they do not have a large data set as a base. "I don't think it would make an enormous difference," Hecker said. "And so ... I'm not concerned about China getting ahead of us in terms of their nuclear facilities." Other nuclear powers, such as France, the United Kingdom and Russia, also operate inertial confinement fusion facilities. The size of those facilities reflects the amount of power designers estimate is needed to apply to the target to achieve ignition, said Omar Hurricane, chief scientist for the inertial confinement fusion programme at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, which operates NIF. "These days, I think you probably can build a facility that's of equal energy or even more energetic (than NIF) and a smaller footprint," Hurricane said. But, he added, at too small a scale, experimental fusion does not appear possible. That other countries operate laser-driven fusion research centers is not a cause for alarm in itself, Hurricane said. "It's kind of hard to stop scientific progress and hold information back," he said. "People can use science for different means and different ends, and that's a complicated question."
The Independent
28-01-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Satellite images show China building huge secret fusion research facility, analysts say
China appears to be building a large laser-ignited fusion research centre in the southwestern city of Mianyang, experts at two analytical organisations say, a development that could aid nuclear weapons design and work exploring power generation. Satellite photos show four outlying 'arms' that will house laser bays, and a central experiment bay that will hold a target chamber containing hydrogen isotopes the powerful lasers will fuse together, producing energy, said Decker Eveleth, a researcher at U.S.-based independent research organisation CNA Corp. It is a similar layout to the $3.5 billion U.S. National Ignition Facility (NIF) in Northern California, which in 2022 generated more energy from a fusion reaction than the lasers pumped into the target - 'scientific breakeven'. Eveleth, who is working with analysts at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS), estimates the experiment bay at the Chinese facility is about 50% bigger than the one at NIF, currently the world's largest. The development has not been previously reported. 'Any country with an NIF-type facility can and probably will be increasing their confidence and improving existing weapons designs, and facilitating the design of future bomb designs without testing' the weapons themselves, said William Alberque, a nuclear policy analyst at the Henry L. Stimson Centre. China's foreign ministry referred Reuters questions to the 'competent authority'. China's Science and Technology Ministry did not respond to a request for comment. The U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment. In November 2020, U.S. arms control envoy Marshall Billingslea released satellite images he said showed China's buildup of nuclear weapons support facilities. It included images of Mianyang showing a cleared plot of land labeled 'new research or production areas since 2010'. That plot is the site of the fusion research centre, called the Laser Fusion Major Device Laboratory, according to construction documents that Eveleth shared with Reuters. Igniting fusion fuel allows researchers to study how such reactions work and how they might one day create a clean power source using the universe's most plentiful resource, hydrogen. It also enables them to examine nuances of detonation that would otherwise require an explosive test. The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, of which both China and the United States are signatories, prohibits nuclear explosions in all environments. Countries are allowed 'subcritical' explosive tests, which do not create nuclear reactions. Laser fusion research, known as inertial confinement fusion, is also allowed. Siegfried Hecker, a senior fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and the former director of Los Alamos National Laboratory, another key U.S. nuclear weapons research facility, said that with testing banned, subcritical and laser fusion experiments were crucial to maintaining the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear arsenal. But for countries that have not done many test detonations, he said - China has tested 45 nuclear weapons, compared with 1,054 for the United States - such experiments would be less valuable because they do not have a large data set as a base. 'I don't think it would make an enormous difference,' Hecker said. 'And so ... I'm not concerned about China getting ahead of us in terms of their nuclear facilities.' Other nuclear powers, such as France, the United Kingdom and Russia, also operate inertial confinement fusion facilities. The size of those facilities reflects the amount of power designers estimate is needed to apply to the target to achieve ignition, said Omar Hurricane, chief scientist for the inertial confinement fusion programme at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, which operates NIF. 'These days, I think you probably can build a facility that's of equal energy or even more energetic (than NIF) and a smaller footprint,' Hurricane said. But, he added, at too small a scale, experimental fusion does not appear possible. That other countries operate laser-driven fusion research centres is not a cause for alarm in itself, Hurricane said. 'It's kind of hard to stop scientific progress and hold information back,' he said. 'People can use science for different means and different ends, and that's a complicated question.'
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Exclusive-Images show China building huge fusion research facility, analysts say
By Gerry Doyle SINGAPORE (Reuters) - China appears to be building a large laser-ignited fusion research centre in the southwestern city of Mianyang, experts at two analytical organisations say, a development that could aid nuclear weapons design and work exploring power generation. Satellite photos show four outlying "arms" that will house laser bays, and a central experiment bay that will hold a target chamber containing hydrogen isotopes the powerful lasers will fuse together, producing energy, said Decker Eveleth, a researcher at U.S.-based independent research organisation CNA Corp. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. It is a similar layout to the $3.5 billion U.S. National Ignition Facility (NIF) in Northern California, which in 2022 generated more energy from a fusion reaction than the lasers pumped into the target - "scientific breakeven". Eveleth, who is working with analysts at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS), estimates the experiment bay at the Chinese facility is about 50% bigger than the one at NIF, currently the world's largest. The development has not been previously reported. "Any country with an NIF-type facility can and probably will be increasing their confidence and improving existing weapons designs, and facilitating the design of future bomb designs without testing" the weapons themselves, said William Alberque, a nuclear policy analyst at the Henry L. Stimson Centre. China's foreign ministry referred Reuters questions to the "competent authority". China's Science and Technology Ministry did not respond to a request for comment. The U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment. In November 2020, U.S. arms control envoy Marshall Billingslea released satellite images he said showed China's buildup of nuclear weapons support facilities. It included images of Mianyang showing a cleared plot of land labeled "new research or production areas since 2010". That plot is the site of the fusion research centre, called the Laser Fusion Major Device Laboratory, according to construction documents that Eveleth shared with Reuters. NUCLEAR TESTING Igniting fusion fuel allows researchers to study how such reactions work and how they might one day create a clean power source using the universe's most plentiful resource, hydrogen. It also enables them to examine nuances of detonation that would otherwise require an explosive test. The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, of which both China and the United States are signatories, prohibits nuclear explosions in all environments. Countries are allowed "subcritical" explosive tests, which do not create nuclear reactions. Laser fusion research, known as inertial confinement fusion, is also allowed. Siegfried Hecker, a senior fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and the former director of Los Alamos National Laboratory, another key U.S. nuclear weapons research facility, said that with testing banned, subcritical and laser fusion experiments were crucial to maintaining the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear arsenal. But for countries that have not done many test detonations, he said - China has tested 45 nuclear weapons, compared with 1,054 for the United States - such experiments would be less valuable because they do not have a large data set as a base. "I don't think it would make an enormous difference," Hecker said. "And so ... I'm not concerned about China getting ahead of us in terms of their nuclear facilities." Other nuclear powers, such as France, the United Kingdom and Russia, also operate inertial confinement fusion facilities. The size of those facilities reflects the amount of power designers estimate is needed to apply to the target to achieve ignition, said Omar Hurricane, chief scientist for the inertial confinement fusion programme at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, which operates NIF. "These days, I think you probably can build a facility that's of equal energy or even more energetic (than NIF) and a smaller footprint," Hurricane said. But, he added, at too small a scale, experimental fusion does not appear possible. That other countries operate laser-driven fusion research centres is not a cause for alarm in itself, Hurricane said. "It's kind of hard to stop scientific progress and hold information back," he said. "People can use science for different means and different ends, and that's a complicated question."
