The Bomb: Who has it? Who wants it?

May 11, 1998
Web posted at: 8:54 p.m. EDT (0054 GMT)

(CNN) -- India's underground nuclear tests Monday returned attention to questions of which nations have nuclear capability and which nations are striving to get it.

Only five of the world's powers acknowledge having nuclear weapons. The United States was first, ending World War II by dropping two atomic bombs on Japan and simultaneously beginning the nuclear age.

Britain, China, France and the former Soviet Union subsequently developed nuclear capability. All five countries have signed the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, which bans any nuclear test explosion but has not been ratified yet.

Three nations now harboring nuclear weapons - the former Soviet republics of Belarus, Kazakstan and Ukraine -- have turned control of their nuclear weapons over to Russia. All three have signed the 1970 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which restricts and limits the spread of nuclear technology.

India, Israel and Pakistan are classified by the United States as "threshold" countries that have the capability of making the bomb but have yet to declare nuclear powers. Some put North Korea in that category. None have signed the non-proliferation treaty.

South Africa acknowledged having nuclear devices but gave them up before the black majority took control of the government.

Other nuclear "wannabes" include Iran, Iraq and Libya.

World leaders are worried by India's tests because they endanger an effort by the traditional nuclear powers to move away from the nuclear option.

Gary Milhollin of the Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms says the rest of the world should try to stop nations from acquiring nuclear weapons.

"I think the rest of the world has to send a signal to India now that doing this is going to cost it (India) more than India gains. The best way is to simply hurt India in the pocketbook," he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.  

Related story:

• India nuclear tests condemned by Pakistan, U.S. - May 11, 1998
• India conducts underground nuclear tests - May 11, 1998
• India, Pakistan break ice at talks - April 9, 1997

Related sites:

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• India on the Web
• The Official Pakistan Page

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