Module 15: Nuclear Proliferation

History of the bomb

1939 - Albert Einstein warned FDR that Nazi Germany was developing a uranium bomb the US commissioned Manhattan project 1942-45; US worked in secret to build a new weapon based on nuclear fission Harry Truman warned Japanese leaders of prompt destruction if they didn't surrender August 6, 1945 - US dropped bomb on Hiroshima August 9, 1945 - US dropped bomb on Nagasaki Japan surrendered 6 days later This advanced the nuclear age - Soviet, UK, France, and China created atomic bombs -American monopoly on nuclear weapons didn't last -Posed a concern for American foreign policy and entire world

When was the nuclear dawn

1945

cuban missile crisis

1962 crisis that arose between the United States and the Soviet Union over a Soviet attempt to deploy nuclear missiles in Cuba The 1962 confrontation bewteen US and the Soviet Union over Soviet missiles in Cuba. On October 15, a U.S. military plane discovered Soviet nuclear missiles under construction in Cuba, only about one hundred miles from the Florida coast. President John F. Kennedy sent in the U.S. Navy to surround Cuba and demanded that Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev dismantle the missiles. After several tense days, Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles in exchange for a public guarantee from the United States that it would attack Cuba, a Soviet ally. The United States also secretly agreed to remove certain missiles from Turkey, out of range of the Soviet Union. The crisis remains the closest the world has ever come to a nuclear war.

Which of the following is a prime number?

5

Countries that have and have not joined the NPT

59 countries signed the NPT when it opened for signatures Now has 190 parties # of countries with nuclear weapons has grown smaller # of nuclear weapons when treaty was opened, 5 countries were identified as nuclear-weapons states 4 more countries (India, Israel, Pakistan, and North Korea) have been added to the list but are not a part of the NPT North Korea joined in 1985 but withdrew in 2003

Nuclear nonproliferation involves close monitoring of peaceful nuclear technology. Why?

Once a country has the technology and know-how to make the low-enriched uranium necessary for peaceful technology, it is relatively easy to make the highly enriched uranium needed for weapons.

5 treaties that have created NFWZs

Africa, Central Asia, Latin America (1), South East Asia, and the South Pacific -Zones cover 115 countries spanning entire Southern Hemisphere and parts of Northern Hemisphere

9 countries that have nuclear weapons

China France India Israel North Korea Pakistan Russia UK US

Many countries have signed separate agreements and treaties of their own

Countries agree to security guarantees - pledges from a nuclear armed country to protect non-nuclear armed allies in the event of an attack Draft agreements - with countries that share similar goals to tackle specific issues related to nuclear power We still need NPT - countries work to improve it

Country C, which has never signed the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), is talking about starting a nuclear weapons program and may have already started one in secret. Country D, a powerful country, is trying to decide what to do. Which of the following would be an accurate and well-supported piece of advice for the leaders of Country D?

Cyberattacks have been used recently in against Iran and North Korea. Economic sanctions are not always effective, as in the case of North Korea. Moreover, the NPT functions on an honor system, and military action carries significant risks

Tools of Nonproliferation

Danger remains : countries with nuclear weapons capabilities haven't disarmed and those who did not have nuclear weapons are developing them the more countries with nuclear weapons, the higher chance they will be used Policy makes use tools to slow or stop the spread of proliferation -diplomacy ; resulted in NPT since it was adopted in 1970 nearly every country has joined -biggest vulnerability of NPT is that it's voluntary and any country can leave when they want -it is an honor system; countries are trusted to be transparent about their nuclear programs and to cooperate with inspectors security guarantees ; US has pledged to come to defense of a dozen countries, discouraging them from developing nuclear arsenals Financial pressure through sanctions ; critics argue that sanctions rarely get a country to act counter to its perceived interests ex. North Korea has shown they're willing to pay high price of sanctions Cybertools - used to interrupt nuclear weapons Military Force

Decision to develop nuclear weapons depends on how the country's leader see their nation's place in the world

Domestic Policy : weigh the political situation in their countries against desires of competing interests groups International Relations ; countries who possess nuclear weapons wield influence -can result in economic sanctions National Security ; feel threatened by neighboring countries ex. South Africa's reason for developing nuclear weapons South Africa is the only country in the world to have developed and dismantled its nuclear program

Why does nuclear nonproliferation involve close monitoring of peaceful nuclear technology?

Once a country has the technology and know-how to make the low-enriched uranium necessary for peaceful technology, it is relatively easy to make the highly enriched uranium needed for weapons.

What can uranium be used to produce?

Plutonium, a non-naturally occurring element that is much more powerful than uranium 95% of nuclear bombs are plutonium based

In 1958, _____ made the first significant proposal to create an area where nuclear weapons would be banned

Poland

The NPT goals include which of the following?

Prevent states with no nuclear weapons from getting them

How NPT measures up to its goals

Preventing Spread of Nuclear Weapons - number of nukes has shrunk but more countries have them -the threat of nuclear weapons falling into the hands of terrorists is possible in Pakistan, where terrorist groups can operate more freely Supporting the Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy - does not provide safeguard against countries using nuclear technology to develop weapons -additional conditions have been added to treaty -allows IAEA to make surprise inspections at nuclear enrichment sites Achieving Nuclear Disarmament

2 Main Concern for Non-Proliferation

Preventing new countries from getting nuclear weapons ex. US and other powers in 2015 agreement with Iran -limited activities and capabilities of Iran's nuclear program -imposed monitoring to verify Iran's compliance -agreement expires in 2025 Existing nuclear weapons states are judged to pose a threat ex. North Korea's nuclear arsenal and its missiles pose a threat to North Korea's neighbors and the US -a country with nuclear weapons could lose control of nuclear material or purposely transfer it to a terrorist group + non proliferation has somewhat succeeded only 9 countries have developed nuclear weapons in the past 70 years remains a big threat

What does deployed mean?

Proliferation Treaty of 1968 set prevention of the spread of nuclear weapons and nuclear technology as a high international priority ready to be delivered at any moment don't know the amt of deployed weapons from other countries

Atoms for Peace

Proposal by Eisenhower to hand over nuclear materials to a peaceful UN body, rejected by Stalin. In 1953, President Eisenhower's proposal to the U.N. to slow down the arms race. (p. 585) U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower's December 1953 "Atoms for Peace" speech is considered to have created the impetus for forming the institution. Eisenhower said that an international agency was needed to prevent the spread, or proliferation, of nuclear technology, warning that, if unchecked, it could result in "the annihilation of the irreplaceable heritage of mankind."

What is deterrence?

the development and maintenance of military strength as a means of discouraging attack the action of discouraging an action or event through instilling doubt or fear of the consequences. the attempt to discourage criminality through the use of punishment

Breakout time is

the estimated time needed to enrich enough uranium for a nuclear weapon.

mutually assured destruction

the idea that two powerful countries with large nuclear arsenals would destroy each other completely in any nuclear conflict. This arose during the Cold War when the United States and the Soviet Union built a second strike capability, meaning that their nuclear arsenals were capable of surviving a first attack and then being used to destroy the attacking country in response.

The nuclear world

the majority of countries support nuclear weapon free world because of security, power, and prestige, number of countries still possess nuclear weapons 93% of all nuclear warheads belong to US and Russia combined, each having around 4,000 During Cold War, US and Soviet amassed around 600,000 weapons there is a less immediate threat now, but it is still not gone

disarmament

the renunciation of given weapons, or all weapons, by states or other entities that possess them. One provision of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) calls for countries with nuclear weapons to take steps "in the direction of nuclear disarmament," or the elimination of their nuclear arsenals. So far this has remained only an aspiration.

fuel cycle

the set of processes in which nuclear material is produced, used, and stored, whether for nuclear weapons or peaceful purposes. As generally used, the term encompasses uranium as well as plutonium, which can be reprocessed from uranium fuel.

Not all nukes are created equal

there are differences between nuclear weapons differences in -size -capabilities of the weapons

Multilateral

undertaken among three or more entities, usually countries. The term frequently describes organizations such as the United Nations (UN).

3 treaties create nuclear weapons-free global common space intended for research, exploration, etc

Seabed Treaty ; bans weapons of mass destruction on sea floor Antarctic Treaty ; bans any military activity in Antarctica, including testing of nuclear weapons Outerspace Treaty ; bans weapons of mass destruction from Earth's orbit, the moon, or any object in outerspace

Ratification

The act by a state of giving formal consent to abide by a treaty. Ratification occurs according to a state's own processes after a treaty is negotiated and signed. In the United States, the Senate decides whether to ratify treaties after the president signs them. Accession has the same effect as ratification but occurs when a state agrees to a treaty already negotiated and signed by others, and generally after the treaty has entered into force

nuclear umbrella

The supposed protection gained from an alliance with a country possessing nuclear weapons Protection afforded non-nuclear states or minor nuclear powers by guarantees made to them by major nuclear powers; a form of extended deterrent. when one nation promises to employ its nuclear arsenal in order to defend another nation from attack

Which of the following is true about nuclear weapons in the world today?

There are fewer total weapons than there used to be, but more countries have nuclear weapons programs than did ever before.

Hydrogen bombs

Thermonuclear weapons created during the arms race. America developed the first H-bomb in 1957. 67 times as powerful as the 1st atomic bomb. US and Russian bombs are hydrogen bombs made of hard-to-obtain materials and technology is complicated destructiveness is of higher magnitude than simple uranium and plutonium bombs

Country B, which is a signatory to the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as a non-nuclear-weapon state, wants to develop a uranium enrichment facility and build a nuclear reactor to generate electricity. Which of the following statements is true?

This is allowed under the NPT. However, it will likely lead to heightened scrutiny from other countries and organizations. Right! This is allowed because it is an example of peaceful nuclear technology. However, it will likely lead to some heightened scrutiny because once a country can produce fissile material for a nuclear reactor, it can relatively easily produce fissile material for a weapon.

Country E is concerned because several larger neighboring countries frequently threaten war against it. As a way to deter attacks from its neighbors, Country E plans to develop nuclear weapons. Which of the following statements is the best description of Country E's plan?

This is an example of national security driving a decision about nuclear weapons. Right! Country G developing nuclear weapons to deter an attack is an example of national security driving a decision about nuclear weapons.

Country A, a party to the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as a non-nuclear-weapon state, has never had nuclear weapons, but decides to develop a few nuclear weapons for defensive purposes only. Which of the following statements is true?

This is not allowed under the NPT. This is an example of nuclear proliferation.

Country A, which is a party to the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as a non-nuclear-weapon state, has never had nuclear weapons, but decides to develop a few nuclear weapons, for defensive purposes only. Which of the following statements is true?

This is not allowed under the NPT. This is an example of nuclear proliferation. Right! This is an example of proliferation. Nonproliferation refers to any weapons, regardless of the country's intentions. The failure to disarm by nuclear weapons states is a frequent criticism of nonproliferation efforts, but it does not void the NPT.

Which two countries have the largest nuclear arsenals?

US and Russia

What led to the creation of the NPT?

US dropped 2 bombs on Japan killing thousands of people within minutes After this, the UN called for total elimination of nuclear weapons 4 more countries obtained nuclear weapons - Soviet Union, UK, France, and China 1967; US and soviet submitted non-proliferation treaty draft to UN committee which focused on disarmament -Opened treaty for signatures in July 1968

Bomb dropped on Hiroshima

uranium bomb weapon level uranium is tough to obtain technology to build uranium bomb is not difficult these bombs are huge but have low destructive capability black bomb 15,000 tons of TNT

Nuclear energy production begins with uranium

uranium enrichment commonly occurs in gas centrifuges After uranium is converted to gas, it's fed into centrifuges which rotate at high speeds to separate U238 from U235 Each round of centrifuge lowers proportion of U238 and increases U235 Uranium is enriched to various levels -low enriched uranium -highly enriched uranium HEU enriched to at least 90%, weapons grade, is most common more enriched uranium = less uranium needed for weapon

How do countries create nuclear weapons?

uranium found in Earth's crust Australia, Canada, Kazakhstan, Niger, and Russia possess 2/3 of the world's known supply Uranium is mined from Earth and converted to go for peaceful or destructive nuclear purposes Nuclear fission Fission only occurs in a few isotopes, typically uranium and plutonium Plutonium is not found in nature uranium is a mix U235 and U238 U235 easily undergoes fission and is extremely rare Countries with nuclear ambitions need to increase population of U235 in uranium samples through process of enrichment

What is non-proliferation?

using tools and policies to diminish or eliminate this spread Nuclear non-proliferation is stopping the spread of nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them

conventional weapons

weapons of warfare, ranging from rifles to missiles, other than nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons. The latter categories are called unconventional weapons, or weapons of mass destruction (WMD). They are not traditionally used in war, though the United States used two nuclear weapons at the end of World War II and other countries and nonstate actors have occasionally used biological and chemical agents.

Two main arguments over Hiroshima

whether the bomb was required to bring an end of the war against Japan without a full-blown American invasion whether US politicians were more worried about bullying the Soviet Union in anticipation of antagonistic post-war negotiations there was some concern that releasing the bomb on a city would ignite an arms race some argue that their use would be a warning to the world of the weapon's power

extended deterrence

a variant of deterrence in which a country uses its military capabilities to deter attacks not on itself, but on its allies. The United States has long exercised this strategy by promising to come to the aid of allies if they are attacked. This is called a security guarantee, or a nuclear umbrella since the U.S. force capable of responding to any attack includes nuclear weapons.

What is a uranium bomb

a weapon vastly more destructive than any in existence

Bipolarity

a world order in which two states possess the preponderance of global military, economic, and diplomatic power. The Cold War, defined by great power rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union, is a classic example. Some scholars argue that a bipolar world is more stable, with a smaller chance of major war, than other arrangements, such as unipolarity (in which there is a single superpower) and multipolarity (in which more than two states hold a critical mass of power)

preemptive strike

an attack launched to prevent an enemy attack believed to be imminent. In the context of nonproliferation, a preemptive attack might aim to destroy nuclear weapons, missiles, or related items that the attacker believes are about to be used. This differs from a preventive strike, which also aims to destroy an adversary's weapons or equipment, but before their use is deemed imminent

IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency)

an international organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and to inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons Branch of U.N. that monitors nuclear energy around world A UN agency that periodically inspects countries with a civilian nuclear power capability to make sure it is not being used to produce weapons. the UN agency tasked with monitoring the peaceful use of nuclear power worldwide

Us range of policies and tools to advance nonprofit goals

arms control agreements guaranteeing security of allies so they see no need for their own nuclear weapons international institutions and inspectors monitor nuclear facilities and discourage trade of relevant items impose sanctions to dissuade countries from nuclear development covert or military action to stop shipments of critical technology and materials destroy weapons or facilities

What is weapons grade plutonium?

contains 90% Pu239, which is extracted from spent fuel that's been transferred to a special plutonium production reactor only needs weeks or months to produce weapons-grade plutonium

What is reactor grade plutonium?

contains b/w 55% - 70% of Pu-239, which is extracted from spent fuel that has been irradiated, exposed to radiation, for years in a nuclear reactor

Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

created in 1968 to stem proliferation landmark international treaty foundation of nuclear non-proliferation 3 main objectives -nonproliferation; preventing states and non-state actors that do not have nuclear weapons from acquiring or building them -peaceful use of nuclear energy; promoting access for all countries to nuclear technology for nonmilitary use (generating power) -disarmament; the idea that the US and other countries with nuclear weapons would eventually relinquish them 194 member countries India, Israel, Pakistan, and North Korea own nuclear weapons but are not member of the NPT

Main challenges world leaders face with nuclear non-proliferation

discouraging countries from developing nuclear weapons while promoting the use of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes (energy generation and medical research)

Breakout Time

estimated time that a country with an existing enrichment plant would need to produce HEU for a nuclear weapon It's easier to enrich LEU to 90% needed for weapons grade uranium, then breakout time is months

low-enriched uranium

has less than 20 percent U-235 and is often used for nuclear power or in non-power reactors, which produce materials for medical use, scientific research, and other purposes

party

in international diplomacy and law, a state that has ratified or acceded to a treaty and is bound by its provisions

safeguard

in nonproliferation, an activity or process conducted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to verify that a country is not putting its nuclear program to military use. Safeguards aim to establish that countries are telling the truth when they report their nuclear activities to the IAEA. Inspections, surveillance cameras, and many other tools are part of this effort. All nonnuclear states that are parties to the NPT must sign safeguards agreements allowing the IAEA to monitor their nuclear programs; some have also signed Additional Protocols allowing more intensive steps

fissile material

material that can easily undergo nuclear fission—the splitting of nuclei when they are bombarded with neutrons—and then sustain a fission chain reaction. Certain types of uranium and plutonium are the fissile materials used in nuclear weapons and other nuclear technologies.

Nuclear weapons free zones (NWFZs)

specified areas where countries pledge not to build, test, receive, or store nukes. Do not prevent use of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes -introduced in 1958 when Poland suggested a plan to get rid of nukes and create a NWFZ in central Europe

Does NPT actually work?

some say NPT created a norm or acceptable rule of behavior around the use of nuclear power by writing the goal non-proliferation

Regarding foreign policy, proliferation is

spread or increase of military technologies and systems After WW2, world leaders grew concerned that this would become widespread, raising the danger of the weapons

second-strike capability

in the age of nuclear weapons, the ability of a state to respond and hurt an adversary after a first strike has been launched against that state by the adversary; ensures that both sides will suffer an unacceptable level of damage a country's assured ability to respond to a nuclear attack with powerful nuclear retaliation against the attacker a state's capacity to retaliate after absorbing an adversary's first-strike attack with weapons of mass destruction

The first nuclear weapon

tested in New Mexico on July 16, 1945

What happens after uranium is mined from the earth?

it is converted to gas so it can be enriched for nuclear purposes.

Tsar Bomba

largest Soviet nuclear weapon tested in October 1962 50 millions tons of TNT

Goal of nuclear non-proliferation

limit nuclear capabilities that exist and prevent the spread to additional countries or terrorist groups

Which of the following is NOT a reason South Africa began a nuclear program?

Many other countries supported South Africa's decision to start a nuclear program. Right! South Africa developed a nuclear weapons program because industry had an interest in the program, it did not have security assurances from the United States, and it felt threatened by several nearby countries. Its nuclear program had very little international support.

Are nuclear weapons still relevant?

Nuc Weapons are typically Cold War weapons since 70s, bilateral agreements b/w US and Soviet imposed limits on their numbers Since 90s, unilateral decisions and agreements have shrunk their numbers

NSG

Nuclear Suppliers Group a group of countries that manufacture or otherwise supply materials and technologies needed for nuclear energy and that have agreed to certain safeguards and restrictions on their trade in these items. These measures, and other efforts undertaken by the NSG, aim to ensure that the items that NSG members supply do not contribute to the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Also called the London Club, the NSC was founded in 1975 and now has 48 member states.

WMD (weapons of mass destruction)

*chemical weapons intended to kill* or harm on a large scale. nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons intended to kill or harm on a large scale The U.S. invaded Iraq in response to fear that Saddam Hussein was secretly hiding and developing these.

nuclear proliferation challenges

-weaponize -delivery -strategy 5 big nuclear states have unmatched power Weaponize : making bomb to detonate in middle of desert or the depths of a cave is different from making weapon detonate on enemy territory is hostile operational circumstances Delivery: to reach hostile territory, a nuclear weapon requires delivery, the larger and more powerful the weapon, the greater its size and weight -must overcome significant acceleration levels Strategy : having one or more nukes have little or no value in the international arena if they are not organized with strategy

Paths to bomb

1) uranium ore 2) extraction 3) conversion 4) enrichment 5) spent fuel 6) weapons grade plutonium

Which of the following countries had suspected nuclear reactor sites bombed in 1981 and 2009, respectively?

Iraq and Syria

Why did South Africa acquire nuclear weapons?

It felt threatened by a hostile international community

Which of the following is true about plutonium?

It is not naturally occurring in the world

Which region was the first to sign a formal agreement to create a nuclear-weapon-free zone(NWFZ)?

Latin America.

Two US intercontinental missile warheads

W87 yield of 300,000 tons of TNT much smaller easier to deliver more powerful

highly enriched uranium

a critical component for both civil nuclear power generation and military nuclear weapons. which has 20 percent or more U-235 and is mainly used for military purposes: to develop nuclear weapons and in a few other specialized applications such as the reactors on nuclear-powered submarines.

nuclear reactor

a device that initiates and maintains a controlled nuclear fission chain reaction to produce energy for electricity uses the energy from controlled nuclear reactions to generate electricity consists of a core, control rods, moderator, steam generator, turbine, containment building. a container in which a controlled nuclear chain reaction can occur. Nuclear reactors form the core of nuclear power plants. Generally, the chain reaction heats water, creating steam that drives a turbine to generate electricity. However, other reactors are used to make radioactive material for medical use, research, or nuclear weapons

ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile)

a guided missile with a minimum range of 5,500 kilometres (3,400 mi) primarily designed for nuclear weapons delivery. A missile with a minimum range of more than 5,500 kilometers primarily designed for nuclear weapons delivery (delivering one or more nuclear warheads). This allowed a single missile to carry several warheads, each of which can strike a different target.

centrifuge

a mechanical device used for nuclear enrichment. Nuclear centrifuges contain rotors that spin quickly to separate different forms of the radioactive element uranium. Low-enriched uranium (with a relatively low concentration of a certain form) can be used for nuclear power; highly enriched uranium is needed for nuclear weapons.

no first use policy

a national policy not to use nuclear weapons unless the country is first attacked by an adversary using nuclear weapons. Both China and India maintain a no first use policy. The United States, along with Pakistan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and France, maintains the right of first use but has pledged to use nuclear weapons only in defense.

nuclear enrichment

a process, generally using centrifuges, by which uranium is processed into enriched uranium suitable for nuclear reactions. Lowenriched uranium can be used for nuclear power; highly enriched uranium is needed for nuclear weapons. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) attempts to monitor this process as part of its efforts to ensure that nuclear technology is limited to peaceful uses

Six Party Talks

a series of multilateral negotiations over North Korea's nuclear program, chaired by China and attended by Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Russia, and the United States. The talks began in 2003 as a result of North Korea's withdrawal from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. Six rounds of negotiations occurred, spanning more than five years and aimed at nuclear disarmament, trade normalization, and improved diplomatic relations. The talks came to a halt in 2009 when North Korea violated previous agreements by engaging in multiple nuclear and missile tests.

deterrence

a strategy used to discourage an enemy from attacking by threatening retaliation before the attack occurs. The possession of nuclear weapons is often considered a deterrent, especially if the weapons are physically capable of surviving an initial attack and being used to retaliate.

preventive strike

a strike that is carried out in order to deter expected aggression by hostile forces An offensive undertaken to prevent a possible future attack an action taken to prevent a possible future attack

sanctions

a tool of statecraft, frequently involving economic measures such as asset freezes and trade restrictions, used to exact a certain behavior or outcome from another party. Sanctions have been used by the United States and other countries, both on their own and through the United Nations, in an attempt to curb the nuclear ambitions of North Korea and Iran

Current Threats

nuclear conflict involving China, France, Russia, US, and UK -reluctant to completely disarm because nuclear weapons are important components of security posture Israel -never confirmed but believed that Israel possesses considerable number -taken action to stop nearby countries from building nuclear arsenal: bombed nuclear reactor sites in Iraq (1981) and Syria (2007) -signaled it would attack Iran India and Pakistan -share 1800 mile border -fought several wars -both possess weapons and neither joined NPT North Korea -have small arsenal -withdrew from NPT in 2003 -threatened to use nuclear weapons on US, Japan, and South Korea

Once a country can enrich uranium, it can produce HEU for a nuclear weapons within months

once a country is capable of enriching uranium for nuclear purposes, it can produce enough for a nuclear weapon -monitoring proliferation is difficult

What is nuclear assessment?

over 2,000 nuclear weapons have been tested by US, Soviet Union, UK, France, China, and Pakistan US and Soviet Union built close to 100,000 nuclear weapons not clear whether nuclear weapons made post-WW2 period safer or more dangerous

Nagasaki Bomb

plutonium bomb weapon level plutonium is relatively easy to obtain but technology to build this bomb is complicated share the same big dimensions and have relatively low yield yellow bomb 20,000 tons of TNT

The three pillars of the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons are

preventing the spread of nuclear weapons, encouraging peaceful use of nuclear technology, and disarming.

Depending on level of isotope Pu-239 contained, plutonium can be differentiated into

reactor grade plutonium weapons grade plutonium