Forum: The United Nations Security Council Issue: Nuclear Terrorism Student Officer: Lukas Vacek

Description of Issue
The only possible successful way to combat one of the greatest threats to international security nuclear terrorism is prevention. To this day, international agreements and treaties concerning nuclear weapons have focused on managing nuclear proliferation, such as through the Nuclear NonProliferation Treaty, by restricting the ability of states to gain access to fissile material. However, this does not address the risks of acquisition of nuclear weapons by non-governmental organizations, particularly terrorist groups. Such terrorist groups are not bound by the same legal and moral obligations as national governments, effectively meaning that if these terrorist organizations gain possession of nuclear material and/or weapons, their deadly use would most likely be imminent. The serious repercussions of a successful nuclear terrorist attack are undeniable. Although no major acts of nuclear terrorism have been committed, numerous minor incidents, usually involving attempted theft of fissionable material, have occurred that highlight the threat of nuclear terrorism to global security. Furthermore, this threat is augmented by nuclear proliferation as more states successfully develop and gain the ability to use nuclear weapons. This significantly increases the risk of such weapons falling in the wrong hands. The United Nations has taken some steps towards limiting nuclear proliferation, especially the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, in order to protect international security from nuclear attacks. These steps are beneficial for preventing nuclear terrorism by placing nuclear facilities, including civilian ones, under strict control of international agencies and institutes, such as the IAEA. Currently only five out of the nine confirmed nuclear nations are signatories of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty the United States, Russia, United Kingdom, France and China. The other four nations, North Korea, India, Pakistan and Israel are confirmed or widely believed to possess nuclear weapons, whilst Iran is thought to have attempted to use its nuclear program to develop nuclear weapons. These nations cannot be forced to allow their nuclear programs to be inspected by the IAEA and other nuclear agencies. This secrecy behind the development of nuclear weapons and facilities and lack of cooperation between member states further weakens nations much-needed defense against nuclear terrorism. The United Nations has taken steps towards acting against nuclear terrorism, including resolutions 1540 (2004) which makes it illegal for any non-state party to obtain or use nuclear weapons and resolution 1887 (2009) that addresses nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. Yet the fact remains that nuclear terrorism is one of the biggest threats to global security, and such resolutions are merely small stepping-stones in solving this much bigger issue.

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Steps must be taken to guarantee that terrorist organizations will not be able to procure nuclear capability, including through conflicts within a nuclear power and sponsorship by a nuclear power. Faced with these new risks, the Security Council must develop new means of managing nuclear terrorism and proliferation.

Definitions of Key Terms:

Nuclear Terrorism: The use or threat of use of nuclear weapons and/or radioactive material in acts of terrorism. This can include using a nuclear weapon, using a dirty bomb, attacking a nuclear facility such as a nuclear reactor and attacking a nuclear submarine, plane and/or base. Nuclear proliferation: The spread of nuclear weapons, fissile material for their production, and nuclear weapon-applicable technology to non-Nuclear Weapon States under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT): Officially titled The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons; an international treaty designed to contain the spread of nuclear weapons and technology and encourage the goal of nuclear and non-nuclear disarmament. Nuclear Weapon States: United States, Russia, United Kingdom, France and China. They are also the five permanent members of the Security Council. Terrorism: The use of terror or violence with the intent to cause death, serious bodily injury, substantial damage to property and/or to the environment in order to compel a person, an organization or a State to do or refrain from doing an act. Dirty Bomb: Also known as radiation dispersal devices. Disperse radioactive material through the use of conventional explosives.

Positions of Key Member Nations and Other Bodies on the Issue

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
The IAEA is a key organization in preventing nuclear terrorism. Its work includes developing an action plan to specifically combat nuclear terrorism. Through this action plan, the IAEA states that the primary defense against acts of nuclear terrorism is the strong physical protection of nuclear facilities and material storage. The IAEA has started a fund to upgrade the worldwide security of nuclear sites.

Nuclear Control Institute

A United States organization researching how to prevent nuclear proliferation and nuclear terrorism. This institute identifies the elimination of atom bomb materials and their disposal from nuclear warheads without introducing them into civilian hands and facilities as a focus point for prevent such acts of terrorism.

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United States
In the wake of the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks, the United States has been engaged in a long-term War on Terrorism. In 2010, President Obama has acknowledge that Nuclear Terrorism is the single biggest threat to the security of the United States. Nevertheless, the United States has engaged in confirmed cyber-attacks with Israel against Iranian nuclear sites, such as with the Stuxnet virus.

Russia
Russia has been subject to several attempted acts of nuclear terrorism through the use of dirty bombs especially by Chechen separatists. This includes North Caucasian terrorists planning to seize a nuclear submarine in 1995-1996 Chechen separatists placing a dirty bomb containing 70 pounds of Cesium-137 and dynamite in Moscow in 1995.

China
Chinas rapidly expanding nuclear-energy sector and close alliance with North Korea make it a key nation in this topic. As a veto-holding nation in the SC and an important power in Asia, its strategic position and interests make it one of the primary nations in the Asiatic and global scene in preventing nuclear terrorism.

North Korea
North Korea is actively pursuing the development of nuclear weapons. Although originally a signatory of the NPT, North Korea withdrew from the treaty in 2003 and as a result is free from the Safeguards Agreement of the IAEA.

Pakistan
The Talibans advances in Pakistan combined with Pakistans secretive nuclear program together form a mix that is particularly threatening to international nuclear safety. The political instability of the regime and nation make other nations particularly worried about the safety of Pakistani nuclear facilities.

Israel
Israel has maintained strict secrecy surrounding its nuclear program and has refused to allow inspection by IAEA officials. Israel has signed the UN Convention for Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism and is part of international efforts to combat nuclear terrorism. However, it has been accused of nuclear terrorism by Iran against its nuclear facilities.

Iran
It is believed that Iran has attempted to develop nuclear weapons from its secretive nuclear program, although such reports are unconfirmed as the program is closed to the IAEA. Irans nuclear program has been fairly heavily targeted by assailants and in attempts of sabotage, actions which are considered to be nuclear terrorism. Furthermore, Iran has recently accused Israel and the USA of nuclear terrorism by claiming they attempted to sabotage nuclear facilities within Iran.

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Main Issues
Terrorist organizations such as Al-Qaeda that threaten to use nuclear weapons in acts of terrorism are major threats to collective international security. These organizations are a far bigger threat than individuals as they are much more likely to have the sufficient means to produce nuclear weapons from fissionable material, or at the very least make a dirty bomb. Such terrorist groups must be dealt with accordingly and their complete elimination is the only guarantee to international protection from nuclear terrorism. There is a lack of an effective legal framework for which to police and punish crimes as nuclear terrorism. The 2005 International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism is a treaty designed by the UN to criminalize acts of nuclear terrorism while encouraging the policing and legal cooperation to prevent and punish such acts. Although this does provide a major step towards preventing nuclear terrorism, unfortunately 58 nations still have to ratify this treaty. Furthermore, the prevention of Nuclear Terrorism largely depends on restricted access to fissionable material. Nuclear proliferation increases the risk of nuclear terrorism by providing terrorists with more opportunities to overcome physical security and gain access to fissionable material. Likewise, the acquiring of nuclear material by less developed countries further jeopardizes international security, as these nations simply cannot match the physical and financial means of strong powers to protect nuclear facilities. This is made worse when countries refuse to adhere to IAEA safeguards and do not engage in conventions and treaties designed to limit the exploitation of nuclear capabilities. This risk caused by nuclear proliferation is further augmented by the secrecy behind nuclear weapon development by member states. This is due to the fact that international organizations are unable to aid in protecting critical nuclear sites if nations are unwilling to admit the possession of nuclear weapons and development programs. The danger of countries being targeted or exploited by nuclear terrorists is significantly increased if these nations refuse to cooperate with international organizations and accept both their assistance and critique. The United Nations has been unable in the past to successfully force member states to accept inspections by officials from organizations like the IAEA. Likewise, international cooperation to prevent nuclear terrorism is insufficient to successfully combat this threat. Currently, there are many smaller organization, conventions, treaties and initiatives (e.g. the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism) resulting in a duplication of effort and financing. It would be far more desirable and economical to have a single organization tasked with preventing nuclear terrorism. This is again further hindered by the secrecy surrounding nuclear programs and nations restricting access to officials from international nuclear agencies.

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Questions for debate

Delegates should consider and create means to prevent nuclear terrorists from gaining access to fissionable material. The security of existing nuclear sites and facilities must be accounted for in order to prevent terrorist acts against such facilities. This includes how to maintain strong physical security surrounding these sites as well as protection from cyber attacks initiated by nuclear terrorists. A means of effectively acting against terrorist organizations that actively pursue and threaten to use nuclear weapons should be developed. Furthermore, delegates should evaluate means to share information concerning nuclear terrorists and increase cooperation between member states in this area. The viability of a single, neutral international task force designed to deal with such terrorist organizations should be debated as a potential means of eliminating such terrorist groups. Delegates should also consider how to effectively prevent terrorist organizations from building dirty bombs and nuclear weapons. They should consider the safeguards, or a lack of them, behind the free access to radioactive, but not necessarily fissionable material. The threat of nuclear proliferation increasing the risk of nuclear terrorism must also be taken to account. Delegates should consider means of effectively limit such propagation of nuclear weapons and clearly provide methods to enforce member states to adhere to treaties and conventions concerning such matters. The question of the level of secrecy behind nuclear weapon development must also be addressed. Nations with nuclear programs must be more open to the interference organizations designed to ensure nuclear safety on an international level, yet at the same time terrorists should not have access to public blueprints for nuclear devices. Finally, the best method to prevent nuclear terrorism is to achieve complete nuclear disarmament. By decreasing the amount of nuclear weapons present, the risk of nuclear terrorism likewise is reduced. Through the Security Council, delegates should further address means to solve the question of nuclear disarmament.

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