J. Robert Oppenheimer Discusses The Use Of Nuclear Weapons (1965)

 

J. Robert Oppenheimer did have regrets about the creation of nuclear weapons. At the time, it was thought it was the fastest way to end World War II. The ethics of killing Japanese civilians in Hiroshima and Nagasaki continues to be debated amongst historians. Large investments were made in building the atomic bomb, so at some point was going to be used. It was an estimated 2 billion dollars.  Using such a weapon was also a means of threatening the Soviet Union. Oppenheimer does not hide the fact that all scientists had different opinions about the project and nuclear weapons. Some hoped that the war would be over before the atomic bomb was completed. The hope it was not going to used in a war. J. Robert Oppenheimer understood the world would not be the same and that the use of  atomic energy posed risks. His efforts at regulation of atomic energy was met with resistance. He was a victim of the anti-communist witch hunts in the early 1950s. As a result he lost his security clearance and was no longer allowed to work in US government. Nine countries have nuclear weapons in the world today. The technology will spread and it makes J. Robert Oppenheimer's arguments about atomic energy regulation more relevant.   

Tension on The Korean Peninsula

 

Tensions are rising once more between North Korea and South Korea. Joint drills that South Korea conducts with the United States has only resulted in more missile launches. North Korea has conducted nuclear tests and could in the future become one of the major nuclear armed nations. The Korean War in the 20th century never resulted in peace treaty. That means both North and South Korea have been in a state of war since 1953. Japan also grows concerned with North Korea's missile launches. These weapons tend to fly over Japan or land in the ocean rather than hitting a target. Over the years tensions have occurred and then are reduced. The difference now is that sanctions, joint military drills, and the Asia pivot have made North Korea vexed. This is not about getting attention. North Korea has been on the mind of the United States for a long period of time. The country has been targeted for regime change, but the possibility of that is limited by China. A US and South Korean strike would trigger a reaction from one of Asia's most powerful nations. The failed talks over sanctions and the nuclear weapons program have resulted in a desire to ensure North Korea's security from future military intervention. The launch of ballistic missiles is more of an act of defiance to South Korea and the United States. Both the US and South Korea have been conducting a series of war games. The nuclear tests will continue as long as North Korea thinks it will be attacked by both the United States and South Korea. China does not want North Korea to become too powerful. If it does it will have another regional competitor and a country that is not dependent on it. North Korea has had a total of six nuclear tests. A seventh nuclear tests could be underway. Kim Jong Un expressed his desire to increase the strength of North Korea's military. The emphasis on missile tests and the nuclear program is just a part of that policy. 

Abdul Qadeer Khan Explains The Reasoning For Pakistan's Atomic Weapons Program

 

Abdul Q.  Khan ( 1936-2021) was the responsible for Pakistan's nuclear weapons program. He explains the reason that Pakistan needed nuclear weapons was a means to balance the power with India. India had a larger army, navy, and air force. Khan claims that in 1998 Pakistan was capable of making a nuclear strike on New Delhi. India conducted its first nuclear test in 1974. This alarmed Pakistan, so it sought to develop atomic weapons of its own. The defeat in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 made the country change its national security policy. The Khan Research Laboratories were established in 1976. By the end of the 20th century India, Pakistan, and China had nuclear weapons. Abdul Q. Khan was later accused of selling nuclear secrets to other nations. It was discovered that he sold secrets to Iran, North Korea, and Libya. Nuclear proliferation among nations will continue to be an issue among various regions of the world. Khan was pardoned by Pervez Musharraf  in 2004. The more conservative political circles considered Khan a national hero. Others believe that nuclear power should be used for peaceful purposes, rather than military applications. 

Kim Jong Un's Health

Kim Jong Un has fallen ill and some have speculated about his condition. It would be presumptuous to assume that he is in critical condition. Kim Jong Un underwent surgery allegedly for a heart condition and has had a difficult recovery. The concern is that if he were to pass away, North Korea could become unstable. Japan would have more concern about this considering its objection to its nuclear weapons program. China also has significant investment in North Korean affairs and has sent a medical team to advise Kim. This may actually embolden the US to take more aggressive military action. The desire for regime change has never gone away, which became more intense during the Bush administration. President Obama had a policy of strategic patience, President Trump has vacillated between diplomacy and bellicose rhetoric. Besides external threats to North Korea, the question of a successor becomes a problem. So far, it has been members of the Kim family that have ruled North Korea. Commentators have stated the likely candidate could be his sister Kim Yo-Jong. At the moment it can not be certain that North Korea is going through a sudden change in leadership.