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A Brief History of Nuclear Weapons States

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A Brief History of Nuclear Weapons States

Source: Asia Society, published 2017-07-25

Summary

A chronological account of how nuclear weapons technology spread from the US across the globe, from the first 1945 test through North Korea’s 2006 declaration.

Key Takeaways

  • Trinity test (July 16, 1945): The world’s first nuclear explosion, in New Mexico.
  • Hiroshima and Nagasaki (August 6–9, 1945): The US dropped atomic bombs on Japan, killing or wounding ~200,000+ people. Japan surrendered on August 14, ending WWII.
  • 1949–1964: The US, USSR, UK, France, and China successively tested nuclear weapons, forming the original five nuclear weapons states (the P5).
  • Nehru’s 1954 call: India was the first large-scale initiative to call for a ban on nuclear testing.
  • NPT (1968): Signed by the US, USSR, and 60+ others. Bars nuclear states from spreading weapons and prohibits non-nuclear states from acquiring them. Permits peaceful nuclear energy. Entered into force 1970; extended indefinitely 1995.
  • India’s 1974 test (Pokhran I, “Smiling Buddha”): A subterranean explosion declared “peaceful,” signaling India had the know-how to build a bomb.
  • Nuclear-free zones: South Pacific (1986), Southeast Asia / Bangkok Treaty (1995), Africa / Pelindaba Treaty (1996).
  • CTBT (1996): Adopted by the UN in a landslide vote; the US signed first but the Senate rejected it in 1999.
  • 1998 India-Pakistan tests: India tested three devices, Pakistan responded with six tests. Both violated the CTBT. The US imposed economic sanctions, later lifted in 2001 for cooperation on the War on Terror.
  • North Korea trajectory: 1994 Geneva Framework (North Korea agreed to non-proliferation in exchange for US support); by 2003 NK cancelled all agreements; October 9, 2006 NK tested its first weapon (~Hiroshima scale) and declared itself the eighth nuclear weapons state.
  • US global reach: The US is the only country with missiles capable of reaching any target on Earth.

nuclear-non-proliferation-treaty · nuclear-arms-race · nuclear-free-zones · homi-bhabha · manhattan-project · prisoners-dilemma

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