Japan's Nuclearisation
What is the future for Japan and its nuclear capability?
When North Korea declared the use of uranium enrichment on an industrial scale it caused international unease. This revelation brought to light the on-going issue of state’s nuclear capability. In a post-Cold war era the global arena is wary of any nuclear movement or development within states. An international non-proliferation treaty entered into force in 1970 holding the signatures of the nuclear states; the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Russia and China. It promotes cooperation and the goal of nuclear disarmament in an age where states arm themselves to deter other states from resorting to the use of nuclear weapons. Japan “is what non-proliferation specialists call a “threshold” nuclear weapons state – a …[state] that could stage a nuclear breakout virtually overnight should its electorate and leadership resolve to do so” (Holmes, 2012). For the purpose of this essay, the term nuclear will cover both nuclear energy and nuclear weapons as uranium can form both.
The Manhattan Project from 1942 to 1946 was commissioned to develop the atomic bomb, costing over two billion dollars, leading to the creation of four nuclear weapons. Theoretical Physicist Robert Oppenheimer declared, after the first nuclear test named ‘Trinity’, “now I am become death, the destroyer of worlds” (Oppenheimer, 1945). This encapsulates the following events, in just a month the United States dropped two nuclear weapons upon Japan, on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, creating destruction within miles of the drop site. This devastation ended World War Two, however it triggered the tensest war to date, the Cold War. The Cold War brought about a new language and struck a new fear within governments, if a nuclear war broke out, the effects would destroy the majority of the international arena. This led to the creation of nuclear non-proliferation treaties; each state would sign a declaration not to use their nuclear
When North Korea declared the use of uranium enrichment on an industrial scale it caused international unease. This revelation brought to light the on-going issue of state’s nuclear capability. In a post-Cold war era the global arena is wary of any nuclear movement or development within states. An international non-proliferation treaty entered into force in 1970 holding the signatures of the nuclear states; the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Russia and China. It promotes cooperation and the goal of nuclear disarmament in an age where states arm themselves to deter other states from resorting to the use of nuclear weapons. Japan “is what non-proliferation specialists call a “threshold” nuclear weapons state – a …[state] that could stage a nuclear breakout virtually overnight should its electorate and leadership resolve to do so” (Holmes, 2012). For the purpose of this essay, the term nuclear will cover both nuclear energy and nuclear weapons as uranium can form both.
The Manhattan Project from 1942 to 1946 was commissioned to develop the atomic bomb, costing over two billion dollars, leading to the creation of four nuclear weapons. Theoretical Physicist Robert Oppenheimer declared, after the first nuclear test named ‘Trinity’, “now I am become death, the destroyer of worlds” (Oppenheimer, 1945). This encapsulates the following events, in just a month the United States dropped two nuclear weapons upon Japan, on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, creating destruction within miles of the drop site. This devastation ended World War Two, however it triggered the tensest war to date, the Cold War. The Cold War brought about a new language and struck a new fear within governments, if a nuclear war broke out, the effects would destroy the majority of the international arena. This led to the creation of nuclear non-proliferation treaties; each state would sign a declaration not to use their nuclear
Bibliography: Cortazzi, H. (1993) Modern Japan: A Concise Survey. The MacMillan Press Ltd: London Halliday, J Hane, M. (1996) Eastern Phoenix: Japan since 1945. Westview Press: United States Herman, S Holmes, J. (2012) Japan: Joining the Nuclear Weapons Club? It could [Online] Available from: http://thediplomat.com/the-naval-diplomat/2012/10/22/japan-joining-the-nuclear-weapons-club-it-could/ [Accessed 1 May 2013] Hook, G., Gilson, J., Hughes, C Horsley, W. and Buckley, R. (1990) Nippon New Superpower: Japan since 1945. BBC Books: London Ilenda, R Kakuchi, S. (2013) Tug-of-war over Nuclear Future [Online] Available from: http://www.ipsnews.net/2013/03/tug-of-war-over-nuclear-future/ [Accessed on 1 May 2013] Krieger, D Kyodo, AP. (2013) North Korea May Start Up Reactor Soon [Online] Available from: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/05/03/asia-pacific/north-korea-may-start-up-reactor-soon/#.UYKrVrWyDzw [Accessed 2 May 2013] Oettinger, G Oppenheimer, R. (1945) I Am Become Death [Online] Available from: http://www.faktoider.nu/oppenheimer_eng.html [Accessed on 8 May 2013] Ricking, C Rudd, K. (2008) Japan and the Future of Nuclear Disarmament [Online] Available from: http://www.fpif.org/articles/japan_and_the_future_of_nuclear_disarmament [Accessed on 1 May 2013] Takubo, M Toki, M. (2008) Japan and the Future of Nuclear Disarmament [Online] Ed. Feffer, J. Available from: http://www.fpif.org/articles/japan_and_the_future_of_nuclear_disarmament [Accessed on 1 May 2013] Trento, J Waltz, K. N. (1995) ‘More May be Better.’ In The Spread of Nuclear Weapons: A Debate, by Scott D. Sagan and Kenneth N. Waltz. W. Norton & Company: New York