EDITORIAL: Nuclear terrorism

The United States will host a summit meeting in April on nuclear security. The gathering will discuss ways to prevent nuclear terrorism and nuclear proliferation, mainly by strengthening measures against theft and black market sales of nuclear fissionable materials that can be used to produce nuclear weapons.

The idea had its roots in President Barack Obama's landmark speech in Prague last April on nuclear weapons. While announcing his intent to seek "a world without nuclear weapons," he said that nuclear terrorism is "the most immediate and extreme threat to global security."

"One terrorist with one nuclear weapon could unleash massive destruction," Obama said. "Al-Qaida has said it seeks a bomb and that it would have no problem with using it."

Since the terrorist attacks known as 9/11, there has been growing apprehension that terrorist groups would use whatever means they had at their disposal to continue their war against the West. Since then, the existence of a "nuclear black market" has been revealed, fueling concern that a nuclear terror attack could indeed occur. Measures to prevent nuclear terrorism are an integral part of efforts to create a nuclear-free world.

Obama announced the United States will host a Global Summit on Nuclear Security within the next year. After much consultation, it was decided the summit must be held without delay.

A preparatory meeting will be held in Tokyo this week to discuss the various issues, including measures to enhance nuclear security and drafts of documents that will be adopted at the summit meeting.

In November, following summit talks in Tokyo between Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and Obama, the two leaders issued a joint statement in which they stressed the importance of bilateral cooperation on nuclear security. The policy should gain as much ground as possible.

Obama has expressed concern that if one nuclear device exploded in a major city such as New York, Paris or Tokyo, it could not only kill a large number of people but also throw the international community and the global economy into upheaval. His fundamental recognition that nuclear terrorism is a genuine threat cannot be understated. It is also correct to expedite measures to deal with the threat. We must spread this common recognition that prevention of nuclear terrorism is essential for the stability and prosperity in this age of globalization.

In Japan, there is concern about North Korea's nuclear program and China's nuclear strategy. They are, of course, serious matters, but Japan should at the same time grapple more with the U.S. concern about nuclear terrorism. It is time, as a key ally, for Japan to make every possible diplomatic effort to alleviate Washington's concern about the threat of nuclear terrorism.

Achieving nuclear security means protecting nuclear materials, keeping tighter control over illegal export of such materials and cracking down on smugglers. In implementing those measures, developing nations that don't have nuclear weapons would be often required to provide manpower and help shoulder the cost. When the United States tries to take the initiative, it will likely be asked to reduce its own nuclear arsenals first. If Japan, as the only country to have experienced atomic warfare, takes the lead in efforts to prevent nuclear terrorism, that would be highly persuasive. This kind of cooperation will be an important key toward the creation of a multilayered Japan-U.S. alliance that Hatoyama has in mind.

Nonparties to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) like India, Pakistan and Israel are expected to participate in the preparatory meeting in Tokyo. The meeting will provide a great opportunity to promote international cooperation against nuclear terrorism and nuclear proliferation, as a way to complement the NPT.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Nov. 30(IHT/Asahi: December 1,2009)