U.S. conducts another “new-type” nuclear test between April and June
Aug. 23, 2013
by Michiko Tanaka, Staff Writer
It was learned on August 20 that the United States has conducted another “new-type” nuclear test to study the effectiveness of its nuclear arsenal. A special device called a “Z machine” was used to generate powerful X-rays during this test conducted by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), an agency under the U.S. Department of Energy, at the Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico.
The NNSA made this news public on its official website. Earlier, responding to an inquiry from the Chugoku Shimbun, the NNSA had explained that two tests were conducted between October and December 2012. The latest test was the ninth since 2010.
On June 19, about the time the test was carried out, U.S. President Barack Obama made a speech in Berlin, Germany, and expressed a willingness to promote further nuclear disarmament. The global community will naturally be more skeptical of the president’s stance of calling for “a world without nuclear weapons” while continuing with nuclear testing and demonstrating his intent to maintain the nation’s existing nuclear arsenal.
The first nuclear test of this type was conducted in November 2010, after Mr. Obama took office. In this test, conditions similar to a nuclear explosion are created using high temperature and pressure, and the reaction of the plutonium is examined. Neither a nuclear test site nor explosives are necessary.
The NNSA views these tests and subcritical nuclear tests, which do not produce a nuclear blast, as viable means to study the safety and effectiveness of the U.S. nuclear arsenal. Four subcritical tests have also been conducted under the Obama administration.
Keywords
U.S. nuclear tests
After conducting the world’s first test of a nuclear weapon in 1945, the U.S. carried out atmospheric and underground nuclear tests. A moratorium on testing was put in place in 1992, but subcritical tests, in which the impact on nuclear materials is assessed by detonating high explosives, have been performed since 1997. The U.S. contends that because no explosion is produced, such subcritical tests are not covered under the provisions of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. In recent years, the U.S. has been promoting research on nuclear testing to study the effectiveness of nuclear weapons in the laboratory.
Commentary: World looks at contradictory U.S. attitude with skepticism
by Michiko Tanaka, Staff Writer
Another nuclear test has been conducted under the administration of President Barack Obama, who has called for a world without nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, President Obama expressed his desire to make further advances in nuclear disarmament in a speech he gave in Berlin in June. The people of Hiroshima are disappointed by Mr. Obama’s contradictory actions.
In his Berlin address, Mr. Obama stated that the U.S. intends to maintain a strong nuclear deterrent. Nuclear tests, then, must be part of a predetermined course of action. In fact, an enormous budget has been allocated for various tests under the pretext of maintenance and management of its nuclear arsenal. The international community now eyes the U.S. with suspicion, wondering whether it is seeking to develop a new generation of nuclear weapons.
As long as the nuclear superpower stands firm on keeping its nuclear arsenal, nuclear disarmament will remain at an impasse. In frustration, nations of the world have been pressing for the elimination of nuclear weapons by focusing on the inhumane nature of such weapons.
The attitude held by Japan, the nation which suffered the atomic bombings, will also be called into question. Dependent on the U.S. nuclear umbrella, Japan has accepted nuclear tests that do not involve a nuclear explosion, thus condoning the existence of nuclear arms themselves. The A-bombed nation also embodies a large contradiction.
(Originally published on August 21, 2013)
It was learned on August 20 that the United States has conducted another “new-type” nuclear test to study the effectiveness of its nuclear arsenal. A special device called a “Z machine” was used to generate powerful X-rays during this test conducted by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), an agency under the U.S. Department of Energy, at the Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico.
The NNSA made this news public on its official website. Earlier, responding to an inquiry from the Chugoku Shimbun, the NNSA had explained that two tests were conducted between October and December 2012. The latest test was the ninth since 2010.
On June 19, about the time the test was carried out, U.S. President Barack Obama made a speech in Berlin, Germany, and expressed a willingness to promote further nuclear disarmament. The global community will naturally be more skeptical of the president’s stance of calling for “a world without nuclear weapons” while continuing with nuclear testing and demonstrating his intent to maintain the nation’s existing nuclear arsenal.
The first nuclear test of this type was conducted in November 2010, after Mr. Obama took office. In this test, conditions similar to a nuclear explosion are created using high temperature and pressure, and the reaction of the plutonium is examined. Neither a nuclear test site nor explosives are necessary.
The NNSA views these tests and subcritical nuclear tests, which do not produce a nuclear blast, as viable means to study the safety and effectiveness of the U.S. nuclear arsenal. Four subcritical tests have also been conducted under the Obama administration.
Keywords
U.S. nuclear tests
After conducting the world’s first test of a nuclear weapon in 1945, the U.S. carried out atmospheric and underground nuclear tests. A moratorium on testing was put in place in 1992, but subcritical tests, in which the impact on nuclear materials is assessed by detonating high explosives, have been performed since 1997. The U.S. contends that because no explosion is produced, such subcritical tests are not covered under the provisions of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. In recent years, the U.S. has been promoting research on nuclear testing to study the effectiveness of nuclear weapons in the laboratory.
Commentary: World looks at contradictory U.S. attitude with skepticism
by Michiko Tanaka, Staff Writer
Another nuclear test has been conducted under the administration of President Barack Obama, who has called for a world without nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, President Obama expressed his desire to make further advances in nuclear disarmament in a speech he gave in Berlin in June. The people of Hiroshima are disappointed by Mr. Obama’s contradictory actions.
In his Berlin address, Mr. Obama stated that the U.S. intends to maintain a strong nuclear deterrent. Nuclear tests, then, must be part of a predetermined course of action. In fact, an enormous budget has been allocated for various tests under the pretext of maintenance and management of its nuclear arsenal. The international community now eyes the U.S. with suspicion, wondering whether it is seeking to develop a new generation of nuclear weapons.
As long as the nuclear superpower stands firm on keeping its nuclear arsenal, nuclear disarmament will remain at an impasse. In frustration, nations of the world have been pressing for the elimination of nuclear weapons by focusing on the inhumane nature of such weapons.
The attitude held by Japan, the nation which suffered the atomic bombings, will also be called into question. Dependent on the U.S. nuclear umbrella, Japan has accepted nuclear tests that do not involve a nuclear explosion, thus condoning the existence of nuclear arms themselves. The A-bombed nation also embodies a large contradiction.
(Originally published on August 21, 2013)
