Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
US Outrage Over Nuke Testing Hypocritical
US Outrage Over Nuke Testing Hypocritical
Auckland, Tuesday 10 October 2006 - Greenpeace says outrage by the United States over North Korea's underground testing of a nuclear weapon is hypocritical given that country's nuclear arsenal.
"Nobody wants yet another country to have nuclear weapons, but with over 5,000 nuclear weapons in the arsenal of the United States of America, the relative balance of power has to be kept in mind," says Cindy Baxter, Greenpeace Campaign manager.
The United States maintains nuclear missile carrying submarines in the Pacific at all times, in addition to maintaining nuclear-armed bombers at bases around the world, including the Pacific island of Guam, and intercontinental missiles in silos in the United States. All are capable of reaching North Korea.
North Korea apparently does not have a reliable delivery system for nuclear weapons. The most recent test (July 2006) of a longer range missile was a failure, with the missile breaking apart early in its flight. During a previous test over the Pacific, the missile also broke up in flight.
"It would have been appropriate for the US and Chinese governments to announce that they would ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) that has been around since September 1996," says Ms Baxter.
Annex 2 to the Treaty contains the list of signatories that need to ratify for it to enter into force. Most of them have now ratified, with the exception of China, Colombia, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, and the USA.
Greenpeace condemned the test, saying that Pyongyang has underscored the dangerous connection between nuclear research, nuclear power and nuclear weapons.
"By testing a nuclear weapon, North Korea has also highlighted the weakness of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and has become the ninth country to have a nuclear arsenal," says Cindy Baxter.
ENDS
Greenpeace
Greenpeace exists because this fragile earth deserves a voice.
Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning organisation that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace.
Gordon Campbell: On unemployment, Winston Peters’ low boiling point and music criticism
Labour Party: National Gaslights Women Fighting For Equal Pay
The Treasury: New Treasury Paper On The Productivity Slowdown
NZ Government: Government Recommits To Equal Pay
Emily Ireland - Local Democracy Reporter: Deputy Mayor ‘disgusted’ By Response To Georgina Beyer Sculpture
Te Pāti Māori: Māori Unemployment Rate Increases By More Than Four-Times National Rates
Government: Streamlining Building Consent Changes
