MS TAIMUN I Committee: Committee for Disarmament and International Security 200 Chair: Jason Issues: 201 Prevention of Nuclear

Terrorism Purpose of Committee The Committee for Disarmament and International Security is one of the six main committees of the General Assembly, which were established for the purpose of enhancing the efficiency of the Assembly by distributing to specific committees the pertinent issues. This committee is responsible for questions related to disarmament and international security such as the prohibition of nuclear proliferation, reduction in military budgets, the impact of science and technology on international security, and prevention of an arms race in space. General Overview of the Topics Prevention of Nuclear Terrorism, is concerned with measures to be taken to prohibit developments in nuclear weaponry and ultimately a complete eradication of such weapons from the world in order to prevent their misuse by either nations or terrorist groups to promote international security. Definition of Key Terms Enriched Uranium Uranium with an increased concentration of the isotope U-235. (Generally at 0.7 percent in its natural form, at 3-5 percent for purposes of energy production, and at or above 90 percent for purposes of nuclear weaponry) Fission The process of splitting the nuclei of heavy atoms (such as U-235) into two smaller nuclei to produce large amounts of energy. Fusion The process of merging multiple atomic particles (such as hydrogen) to form a new, heavier nucleus, which produces large amounts of energy (surpassing the amount released by fission). Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Nuclear, chemical, or biological weaponry capable of killing large numbers of people and/or damaging artificial structures, natural structures, or the environment. Background to the topics The prevention of nuclear terrorism has been a growing concern with various developing nations who were past allies of the Soviet Union in the Cold War, during which nuclear weaponry was largely produced. Today, there are estimated to be over 23,000 nuclear warheads with the majority being held by the US and Russia. However, there have been reports of several developing nations, most noticeably India, Pakistan, Israel, Iran, and DPRK, advancing their technology in nuclear weaponry or increasing their cache of operational nuclear warheads. Recently, the spotlight has focused on the activities of DPRK and Iran in terms of their potential developments in nuclear weaponry and the possible threats they pose to international security.

The DPRK has especially been an international focus in the issue of nuclear terrorism due to its numerous breaches of treaty conditions and safeguards. In 1985, the DPRK signed the NPT but failed to take any actions to comply with safeguards which had to be fulfilled within 18 months of signing as defined by the treaty. It was not until 1992, that the DPRK fulfilled its safeguards requirements. Furthermore, deeper investigations and analyses showed that the DPRK had attempted multiple times to conceal the number of power plants in their possession as well as the amount of plutonium they had produced, which is an alternative for uranium that could be used to manufacture nuclear warheads. Satellite images provided by the USA for the IAEA have also confirmed that the DPRK had intentionally attempted to camouflage two facilities in which nuclear waste was stored. Due to its lack of cooperation with IAEA guidelines and requests, the issue was brought to the UN Security Council in 1993, which issued a formal invitation to the DPRK to comply with IAEA requirements. Consequently, DPRK threatened in October of 1993 to withdraw from the NPT although the decision was not effected due to negotiations with the USA. The following year, in 1994, the Security Council called upon the DPRK yet again to allow IAEA inspections after which the state rapidly disposed of fuel from what they claimed to be their first core of their 5 MW (e) Experimental Nuclear Power reactor in such a manner as to prevent verification of their claims about the core. Soon after, the DPRK left IAEA which it had been a member of since 1974. After this withdrawal, multiple events and negotiations involving the establishment of KEDO (Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization), the signing of the US-DPRK Agreed Framework, and intermittent cooperation with the IAEA, official withdrawal from the NPT in 2003, and a series of negotiations involving PRC, Russian Federation, USA, Japan, ROK, and DPRK, known as the Six-Party Talks. In 2006, DPRK performed test ballistic missile launches condemned by the Security Council followed by an announced nuclear test. After further negotiations, in 2007, IAEA relations with DPRK improved and agreements for verification of the shutdown of nuclear facilities were reached and complied with. However, this cooperation was short-lived and in 2008, DPRK requested the removal of all surveillance and inspection equipment and personnel. Most recently in May of 2009, DPRK announced and conducted another nuclear test, which was confirmed by investigations of the CTBTO and raised international concern and condemnation. Iran also emerged as a concern in this issue with the recent report of a secret nuclear plant disclosed in 2009 after USA accusations of their creation of an enrichment plant. While Iran maintains that the enriched uranium is solely for purposes of creating energy, a right of the nation, many nations especially Israel, Russia, and the USA are concerned by its implications as enriched uranium could be used to create uranium bombs or it could be reprocessed to form platinum for platinum bombs. Suspicions are further raised due to their rejection of an offer to process the enriched uranium in France and Russia and return fuel rods for energy production in their reactors. The IAEA and UN Security Council have requested that Iran ceased all enrichment activities but there has been no response from Iran. In May of 2010, a conference will take place to review the NPT and negotiating nations hope to have reached a consensus on the sanctions to be imposed on Iran in the event that it continues to be uncooperative in ending its enrichment processes and discharge the enriched uranium with which the option of creating nuclear weaponry lies. Finally, Israel, which never signed the NTP, has been a concern of the late twentieth and early twenty first century regarding its nuclear capabilities. Israel itself had always remained ambiguous about its possession of a nuclear arsenal never admitting to the possession of such weapons. However, it has been long suspected by Arab nations such as Egypt as well as the United States of America to hold nuclear weapons, and thus constantly pressure the state to sign the NTP. While the international community has had speculations about the nations military advancements, the rapid advancements of Israeli test fires have surprised the world on more than one occasion. In fact, Israel is believed to have kept this option

open since 1949 when it established the Israel Atomic Energy Commission (IAEC). France is reported to have acted as an ally and mentor to Israel in developing its nuclear reactors and a chemical reprocessing plant, providing the necessary resources to create an atomic bomb. Israel assured that it would comply with international inspection procedures and use the reactors solely for peaceful purposes in return for uranium fuel from France. By 1960, the CIA in Tel Aviv had reported that the establishment of a nuclear weapon system in Israel was undeniable. The suspected purposes of the nuclear reactors were never conceded by Israel, who allowed inspections which proved to be inconclusive due to various reasons. While Israel definitely has the means to create nuclear warheads and is highly suspected to have done so, there is no categorical proof to support it, nor has there been substantial evidence of nuclear tests by the Israeli military.

Timeline of Events 2006 DPRK announces and carries out a internationally condemned nuclear test explosion 2009 DPRK announces and carries out another nuclear test explosion; Iran is found to possess over 20% enriched uranium Important, Relevant Documents - The NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty) (1968) provided a starting point for negotiations and actions to be taken in order to curtail a potential nuclear arms race through prohibiting any attempts to encourage or participate in the development of nuclear weaponry, and implementing measures to work towards an eventually complete disarmament of nuclear weapons. - The Agreed Framework (October 21st, 1994) was a bilateral treaty which listed specific measures to be taken by both the US and DPRK in order to improve relations between the two nations. This treaty bound DPRK back to the NPT which it withdrew from in 1993, asked it to freeze and eventually dismantle its nuclear plants, allow IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) to inspect its nuclear plants, and consistently cooperate in efforts to fully denuclearize the Korean Peninsula. Simultaneously, the USA promised to provide heavy oil to compensate for the energy loss, and to refrain from ever threatening DPRK with or using nuclear weapons against it. - The CTBT (Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty) (1996) was a document concerned with nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, prohibiting all nuclear explosions or the encouragement of or participation in such explosions, establishes the CTBTO in Vienna to ensure the implementation of the treaty and provide for a forum of consultation and cooperation, elaborates on national implementation measures, and further explains the global verification system to monitor compliance with the treaty stipulations. Bibliography <http://www.armscontrol.org/act/2009_12/IAEAIran> <http://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/dprkchron> <http://www.nytimes.com/info/north-korea/?scp=1-spot&sq=north%20korea&st=cse>

<http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/Focus/IaeaDprk/fact_sheet_may2003.shtml> <http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/Focus/IaeaDprk/dprk.pdf> <<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4031603.stm> <http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/israel/nuke/index.html> Appendix (Useful Links) - United Nations https://www.un.org/ - Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Organization http://www.ctbto.org/ - CIA World Factbook https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/ - Official DPRK Government Website http://www.korea-dpr.com/ - Arms Control Association http://www.armscontrol.org/ - International Atomic Energy Agency http://www.iaea.org/index.html/ - Federation of American Scientists: Status of World Nuclear Forces http://www.fas.org/programs/ssp/nukes/nuclearweapons/nukestatus.html - International Crisis Group Report on North Koreas Nuclear and Missile Programs http://www.crisisgroup.org/library/documents/asia/north_korea/168_north_koreas_nuclear_and_missile_ programs.pdf - Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee http://www.un.org/sc/ctc/resources.html#