(July 4, 97)

As informed, the U.S. government carried out the first subcritical test of nuclear weapons at the Nevada nuclear test site. The testing was done by ignoring the demand for suspension of the experiment repeatedly raised by the citizens of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. We feel that we are betrayed by the test.

The U.S. government responded to the international public opinion by saying that "The testing is essential for ensuring the safety and reliability of the stockpile of nuclear weapons (Department of Energy)". However, this reckless act violates the spirit of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and may lead to a resurgence of nuclear proliferation.

It seems that while the United States advocates for banning all nuclear testing through the CTBT, the U.S. wants to maintain the ability and its solid foundation for developing new types of nuclear weapons. In other words, it is a U.S. strategy to maintain nuclear deterrence policy and to grip the control over a nuclear armament.

In May, 1996, the U.S. Department of Energy publicized part of the document called "The Stockpile Stewardship and Management Program (Stewardship Plan)". It is obvious that the United States is planning to construct various kinds of simulation test sites on ground level, in stead of underground. The purpose of it does not imply only to assure the maintenance of a safe and reliable nuclear weapons stockpile.

Environmental Energy Research Foundation, a group of scientists, reports that every facility on the Stewardship Plan has the ability not only to improve the efficiency of present nuclear weapons, it is capable of designing new types of nuclear weapons and drawing up prototypes. (Assistant Professor, Fumiaki Nishiwaki, National Defense Academy. "America's Simulation Nuclear Test Program, a Possible Loophole in the CTBT.")

A total of six subcritical nuclear tests including this one planned by the U.S. government is naturally counted a part of the Stewardship Plan which enables the U.S. maintain the ability of developing new types of nuclear weapons. "The United States is concentrating its efforts to develop small and super small nuclear weapons", pointed out by Professor Emeritus of Nagoya University, Toshiyuki Toyota. His comment sounds ominous. He asserted that the U.S. government wants to indicate the world the existence of small usable nuclear arms just like the conventional weapons.

The New York Times dated May 31st reported that the United States government deployed the new type of nuclear weapons called "B61", which does not effect much to the ground surface, while destroying the headquarters and factories underground. In face, "weapon for use" may be true intention. We have a very strong sense of danger that even our moral restrain to stop the use of nuclear weapons is about to collapse.

Although the United States denies that the testing conducted this time did not intend to develop new types of nuclear weapons, there are some indications which create deeper suspicion.

The subcritical test hardens the attitude of India and Pakistan, who oppose the CTBT, claiming that is not effective to stop simulation tests. The testing also may lead other nuclear powers to a race of simulation experiments.

The preamble of the CTBT states, "Recognizing that the cessation of all nuclear weapon test explosions and all other nuclear explosions, by constraining the development and qualitative improvement of nuclear weapons and ending the development of advanced

new types of nuclear weapons, constitutes an effective measure of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation in all its aspects".

The sprit of the treaty seems to break down. Isn't it something that the United States wants to avoid the most?

According to Professor Jun Fujioka of Ritusmeikan University who researches the nuclear weapons system from the economic aspects, the factor supporting the present America's good economy comes from civilianization of nuclear arms-related technologies such as launching station, missiles, defense systems including information , communication and control towers. Therefore, even if the government abolishes the

nuclear weapons system itself, the American economy will hardly be affected. From an economic point of view, the time is ripe for the abolition of nuclear weapons.

Perhaps this testing is the last resistance against the trend toward the total elimination of nuclear weapons. The public opinion is most necessary to prevent further testing.

(April 5, '97)

A subcritical nuclear test is one of the simulation experiments using nuclear materials. The experiment is halted before the plutonium and uranium reach criticality. The observation of the process of various chemical reactions just before achieving chain- reaction fission is the main part of the experiment.

The test is conducted in an underground tunnel some 300 meters below ground at the Nevada Nuclear Test Site. In a location where hundreds of underground nuclear tests were being held. Hundreds of high chemical explosives are designed to take plutonium close to criticality. High-quality computers analyze shock waves produced by an explosion. The U.S. government emphasized that the purpose of the experiment is to improve the knowledge about the safety and reliability of nuclear weapons.

The subcritical test uses nuclear materials although it does not imply a nuclear explosion. Therefore the testing does not subvert the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).

(July 3, '97)

The United States carried out the first subcritical test of nuclear weapons on July 2 (Japan Date-July 3). The U.S. government announced the testing plan in April through the facility, at the Nevada Nuclear Test Site. They allowed the worldwide media coverage for the first time on May 30. The government emphasized the safety of the testing by allowing the media to cover the data in the neighboring areas.

The testing reverses the trend of the abolition of nuclear weapons, which has always been Hiroshima's desire, and betrayed the people seeking a world free of nuclear weapons. This triggered a torrent of protests from the people who have lived through the severe reality of the nuclear weapons, the survivors, Mayor of Hiroshima City, Takashi Hiraoka, leaders of self-governing bodies in Hiroshima Prefecture and groups of citizens, known for their acts against the atomic and hydrogen bombs. They demanded a stop the testing from the planning stage.

Despite the protest, the testing was pushed ahead. It seemed obvious that the U.S. government conducted the testing in a bid to improve knowledge about maintaining weapons and put it to practical use along with the previous data. Although testing was halted just before the plutonium reached criticality. The action of the U.S. government goes against the aim of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), which bans any testing with nuclear explosions. Anti-nuclear movement for both domestic and overseas appears to be escalating.