A
A.Rahman
GUEST
COUNTRIES WITH DECLARED NUCLEAR-WEAPONS CAPABILITY
May 25, 1998
1. U.S.
HISTORY Set off first nuclear blast in 1945. Has conducted 1,030 tests, more than the rest of the world combined ARSENAL 12,070 warheads MISSILE RANGE 8,100 mi. (13,000 km), able to reach anywhere in the world
2. BRITAIN
HISTORY First test in 1952; has performed 45 in all ARSENAL 380 warheads RANGE 7,500 mi. (12,000 km)
3. FRANCE
HISTORY Testing since 1961; 210 tests in all. Conducted six controversial tests in the Pacific Ocean as recently as 1995 and 1996 ARSENAL 500 warheads RANGE 3,300 mi. (5,300 km)
4. RUSSIA
HISTORY Second to conduct tests; 715 in all. Once a major player in arms race, its warhead count is now shrinking ARSENAL 22,500 warheads RANGE 6,800 mi. (11,000 km)
5. CHINA
HISTORY Started testing in 1964; 45 tests in all. Known to be helping Pakistan with its nuclear efforts ARSENAL 450 warheads RANGE 6,800 mi. (11,000 km)
6. INDIA
HISTORY Set off five nuclear tests last week, surprising the world. Its first nuclear test was in 1974 ARSENAL about 65 warheads RANGE 1,550 mi. (2,500 km)
COUNTRIES WITH UNDECLARED NUCLEAR-WEAPONS CAPABILITY
7. ISRAEL
STATUS Known to have a bomb in the basement. Pledges not to introduce nukes to the Middle East ARSENAL 64-112 warheads MISSILE RANGE 930 mi. (1,500 km)
8. PAKISTAN
STATUS Began secret weapons program in 1972 to reach parity with India, but restricted by U.S. sanctions since 1990. Just tested a new medium-range missile ARSENAL 15-25 warheads RANGE 930 mi. (1,500 km)
COUNTRIES SUSPECTED OF HAVING SECRET NUCLEAR-WEAPONS PROGRAMS
9. IRAN
STATUS U.S. believes Iran, a member in good standing of the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty (NPT), is developing weapons sing its nuclear power program MISSILE RANGE 300 mi. (500 km)
10. IRAQ
STATUS Subject to rigorous inspection since its defeat in the 1991 Gulf War. U.N. inspections seem to have halted progress in weapons development RANGE 90 mi. (150 km)
11. NORTH KOREA
STATUS Threatening to suspend a 1994 agreement that froze nuclear activity. Perhaps enough material to build two warheads RANGE 600-930 mi. (1,000-1,500 km)
12. LIBYA
STATUS U.S. still thinks Gaddafi is interested in acquiring nuclear weapons, but a U.N. embargo has hampered his progress RANGE 190 mi. (300 km)
COUNTRIES THAT GAVE UP THEIR NUCLEAR-WEAPONS PROGRAMS
13. ALGERIA
STATUS Discovered in 1991 to be building a reactor able to produce weapons-grade material. Placed reactor under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards and now party to the NPT
14. ARGENTINA, BRAZIL
STATUS Both countries pursued weapons programs in the 1980s, but new democratic governments stopped work by 1990. Both have signed a treaty for a nuclear-weapons-free zone in Latin America
15. BELARUS, KAZAKHSTAN, UKRAINE
STATUS When the Soviet Union broke up in 1991, these former states possessed numerous nuclear weapons. All have rid themselves of the warheads and have acceded to the NPT
16. SOUTH AFRICA
STATUS The only country to develop nuclear weapons and then give them up of its own volition. De Klerk dismantled the arsenal in 1991 and joined the NPT
Sources: Arms Control Association; Center for Defense Information; Center for Nonproliferation Studies; National Resources Defense Council; SIPRI Yearbook 1997
May 25, 1998
1. U.S.
HISTORY Set off first nuclear blast in 1945. Has conducted 1,030 tests, more than the rest of the world combined ARSENAL 12,070 warheads MISSILE RANGE 8,100 mi. (13,000 km), able to reach anywhere in the world
2. BRITAIN
HISTORY First test in 1952; has performed 45 in all ARSENAL 380 warheads RANGE 7,500 mi. (12,000 km)
3. FRANCE
HISTORY Testing since 1961; 210 tests in all. Conducted six controversial tests in the Pacific Ocean as recently as 1995 and 1996 ARSENAL 500 warheads RANGE 3,300 mi. (5,300 km)
4. RUSSIA
HISTORY Second to conduct tests; 715 in all. Once a major player in arms race, its warhead count is now shrinking ARSENAL 22,500 warheads RANGE 6,800 mi. (11,000 km)
5. CHINA
HISTORY Started testing in 1964; 45 tests in all. Known to be helping Pakistan with its nuclear efforts ARSENAL 450 warheads RANGE 6,800 mi. (11,000 km)
6. INDIA
HISTORY Set off five nuclear tests last week, surprising the world. Its first nuclear test was in 1974 ARSENAL about 65 warheads RANGE 1,550 mi. (2,500 km)
COUNTRIES WITH UNDECLARED NUCLEAR-WEAPONS CAPABILITY
7. ISRAEL
STATUS Known to have a bomb in the basement. Pledges not to introduce nukes to the Middle East ARSENAL 64-112 warheads MISSILE RANGE 930 mi. (1,500 km)
8. PAKISTAN
STATUS Began secret weapons program in 1972 to reach parity with India, but restricted by U.S. sanctions since 1990. Just tested a new medium-range missile ARSENAL 15-25 warheads RANGE 930 mi. (1,500 km)
COUNTRIES SUSPECTED OF HAVING SECRET NUCLEAR-WEAPONS PROGRAMS
9. IRAN
STATUS U.S. believes Iran, a member in good standing of the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty (NPT), is developing weapons sing its nuclear power program MISSILE RANGE 300 mi. (500 km)
10. IRAQ
STATUS Subject to rigorous inspection since its defeat in the 1991 Gulf War. U.N. inspections seem to have halted progress in weapons development RANGE 90 mi. (150 km)
11. NORTH KOREA
STATUS Threatening to suspend a 1994 agreement that froze nuclear activity. Perhaps enough material to build two warheads RANGE 600-930 mi. (1,000-1,500 km)
12. LIBYA
STATUS U.S. still thinks Gaddafi is interested in acquiring nuclear weapons, but a U.N. embargo has hampered his progress RANGE 190 mi. (300 km)
COUNTRIES THAT GAVE UP THEIR NUCLEAR-WEAPONS PROGRAMS
13. ALGERIA
STATUS Discovered in 1991 to be building a reactor able to produce weapons-grade material. Placed reactor under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards and now party to the NPT
14. ARGENTINA, BRAZIL
STATUS Both countries pursued weapons programs in the 1980s, but new democratic governments stopped work by 1990. Both have signed a treaty for a nuclear-weapons-free zone in Latin America
15. BELARUS, KAZAKHSTAN, UKRAINE
STATUS When the Soviet Union broke up in 1991, these former states possessed numerous nuclear weapons. All have rid themselves of the warheads and have acceded to the NPT
16. SOUTH AFRICA
STATUS The only country to develop nuclear weapons and then give them up of its own volition. De Klerk dismantled the arsenal in 1991 and joined the NPT
Sources: Arms Control Association; Center for Defense Information; Center for Nonproliferation Studies; National Resources Defense Council; SIPRI Yearbook 1997
