Developing Countries Pursuing Nuclear Technology

Nuclear Proliferation in Developing Countries

Robby Lock4th Period

Mrs. Blocker’s Contemporary World Issues Class

Why Do Developing Countries Pursue Nuclear Technology ?

• Increased International Attention and Influence• Demonstrates Country’s Technological Ability• Country Lacks Nuclear Deterrent• Neighbors Developed/Developing Nuclear

Technology• Negotiating Asset

Iran’s Pursuit of Nuclear TechnologyReason for Controversy

• Controversy exists over Iran’s Uranium Enrichment Program.

• United States claims Iran is intending to develop Nuclear Weapons

• Israel- Threat to Sole Possession of Nuclear Technology• Iran pursuing Nuclear weapons encourages neighboring

countries to pursue nuclear technology

Iran’s Pursuit of Nuclear TechnologyIntroduction

• 1950’s- Nuclear Technology Introduced to Iran

• 1970- Iran Ratifies Nuclear NPA

• 1974- Saudi Arabia Tests Nuclear Device

• 1979- Iranian Revolution

• First Nuclear Power Plant: Bushehr I

• Iranian Government Asserts Program is Peaceful, not for Arms.

Iranian Leader Tours Nuclear Research Center

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Iran’s Pursuit of Nuclear TechnologyRecent Developments

• August 2002 – Uranium Enrichment Plant in Natanz, Iran Discovered

• December 2002 – U.S. accuses Iran of Pursuing Nuclear Weapons

• December 2006- Nuclear Technology Trade Ban Introduced

• Israel Threatens to Attack Iran’s Nuclear Facilities

• Iran now has approximately 1 Metric Ton of enriched Uranium

• Iran has imported some “Weapons Grade” Uranium

• Not Sufficient for A Bomb

• Cannot Produce “Weapons Grade” Uranium Domestically (April 2009)

North Korea’s Pursuit of Nuclear Technology

Background Information

• 1993- North Korea Quits Nuclear Nonproliferation treaty

• 1994- U.S. and Pyongyang Agreement: International Aid Developing Nuclear Power in Exchange for Dismantlement of North Korean Nuclear Program

• 1998- North Korea Launches Missile over Japan into Pacific Ocean

• 2000- U.S. Nuclear Power Construction in North Korea Delayed, Threatens to Restart Nuclear Arms Program

• 2002- President George Bush Declares North Korea in “Axis of Evil”

North Korea Leader: Kim Jong Il

North Korea’s Pursuit of Nuclear TechnologyRecent Developments

• 2006- North Korea Tests Taepodong 2 Missile. Test Fails.• 2007 – North Korea Agrees to Dismantle Nuclear Arms Plants• April 5 2009 - North Korea Claims to Launch Satellite into Space, U.S. says test

failed• April 10 2009 - announces it will tighten economic sanctions against North Korea

to punish the communist regime for its launch of a rocket• April 13 2009- UN Demands North Korea: No More Rocket Launches• April 18 2009- North Korea says any Sanctions imposed will be considered “Act of

War”

How Do We Prevent Nuclear Proliferation?

• The Goal is to Maintain Peaceful uses of Nuclear Technology (Like Nuclear Power), while simultaneously preventing the spread of nuclear weapons.

• Early 1960’s – Many Military and Political Leaders feared spread of Nuclear Weapons

• Late 1960’s – United States and Russia Develop Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty

Citation Page

• Text Sources: • "Nuclear Weapons - Iran." Global Security. 24 Apr 2009 <http://

www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/iran/nuke.htm >.

• Bruno, Greg. "Iran's Nuclear Program." Council on Foreign Affairs. 24 Apr 2009 <http://www.cfr.org/publication/16811/>.

• Iran's Nuclear Development. Washington Post. 27 Apr 2009 <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/custom/2006/01/17/CU2006011701017.html>.

• Karimi, Nasser. Iran warns Israel not to attack nuclear sites. The Associated Press. 27 Apr 2009 <http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hi58geGWwMsGjnKsymks3m8U-rbQD97MUILO0>.

• Montlake, Simon. "US officials weigh Iran's nuclear weapons capability." Christian Science Monitor. 27 Apr 2009 <http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0302/p99s01-wome.html>.

• "Timeline: N. Korea Nuclear Dispute." CNN. 27 Apr 2009 <http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/04/22/nkorea.timeline/>.