nuclear weapons news stories on Newser

China to North Korea: Don't You Dare Test That Nuke

Kevin Spak — Wed, 16 May 2012 07:11:43 CDT

Someone get Alanis Morissette on the phone: China is suddenly hot and bothered about the environment. Yes, Beijing is urging annoying little brother North Korea not to go through with its third nuclear test , because it's worried about damaging the Changbai Mountain region, particularly radiation that might leak out, sources...

Inside Iran's Nuclear Site

Sun, 13 May 2012 13:40:52 CDT

A drawing provided to the AP is said to come from inside an Iranian military site and to show a structure used in secret work on nuclear arms. The image shows the type of explosives containment chamber needed for such tests that UN inspectors suspect Tehran has conducted at the...

UN Nuke Inspector Dies in Iran Crash

Tue, 08 May 2012 11:16:08 CDT

Cue the conspiracy theories: A UN nuclear inspector from South Korea was killed and a second inspector from Slovenia was injured in a car crash today, the nuclear watchdog agency said. Iran's official IRNA news agency said the inspectors' car overturned around a heavy water reactor being built in Khondab,...

Pakistan Test-Fires Ballistic Missile

Rob Quinn — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 06:29:00 CDT

Pakistan says it has successfully tested a nuclear-capable missile, just days after arch-rival India tested a long-range missile of its own . Military chiefs say the improved version of the medium-range Shaheen-1 missile "will further consolidate and strengthen Pakistan's deterrence abilities," CNN reports. The upgraded missile is believed to be capable...

North Korea to Launch 3rd Test 'Soon'

Kevin Spak — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 08:28:34 CDT

North Korea isn't done thumbing its nose at the world, and is now preparing to launch a third nuclear weapons test, a senior source tells Reuters . When asked if North Korea was planning another nuclear test, following its much-condemned 2006 and 2009 demonstrations, the official replied, "Soon. Preparations are almost...

India to Test Missile That Could Hit China

Kate Schwartz — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 07:42:47 CDT

India's missiles are already capable of hitting Pakistan—today the country will learn if it has the ability to strike deep into another rival. India will this afternoon launch an intercontinental ballistic missile called the Agni V. If successful, the nuclear-capable missile's 3,100-mile range would put Beijing and Shanghai...

Günther Grass Barred From Israel Over Poem

Mary Papenfuss — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 03:19:51 CDT

Controversial German author Günther Grass has been barred from Israel for a new poem sharply criticizing the Jewish state for its secretive nuclear program and its belligerent position on Iran. "If Günther wants to spread his twisted and lying works, I suggest he does this from Iran, where he can...

Obama Ready to Cut Nukes Again

Matt Cantor — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 06:44:00 CDT

President Obama still thinks we could stand to get rid of a bunch of our nukes, and has promised a renewed effort to cut American and Russian nuclear arsenals following 2010's START treaty . "We can already say with confidence that we have more nuclear weapons than we need," the president...

Could a Strike on Iran Spark a Nuclear Explosion?

Neal Colgrass — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 18:06:17 CDT

As pressure mounts for a US or Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, you may be wondering whether such an attack would trigger a mushroom cloud or cause dangerous materials to leak. Brian Palmer lays those fears mostly to rest in Slate , saying Iran probably hasn't enriched enough uranium to...