US stop nuclear test

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Top US scientists called on President Donald Trump- Thursday to not resume nuclear weapons tests, saying such tests would heighten the danger of a nuclear war.

In a letter published on the 75th anniversary of the planet s first ab test in 1945, about 70 scientists, including a half-dozen Nobel prize recipients, quest atomic bombed the Trump administration s possible decide to end a 28-year moratorium on tests.

Doing so "could increase the danger of another nuclear race also as an inadvertent or intentional nuclear war," they said within the letter published within the journal Science.

"Following within the long tradition of scientists opposing nuclear weapons thanks to their harmful effects on both humanity and therefore the planet, we ask the United States government to desist from plans to conduct nuclear tests," they said.

The Washington Post reported in late May that the Trump administration had discussed the likelihood of undertaking a nuclear weapons test to send a warning to Russia and China, both nuclear powers.

There was no agreement on doing so, but the report sparked concerns within the community committed to arms and nuclear weapons control.

The letter in Science noted that in the post-World War II conflict with Russia, we undertook 1,030 nuclear bomb tests, quite all the tests combined by the planet s other nuclear powers.

Washington imposed on itself a moratorium on tests in 1992 and in 1996 signed the great ban Treaty.

But us has yet to formally ratify the treaty, whilst it's adhered to and promoted its goals.

"Restarting US nuclear weapons tests of any size, underground or above ground, would give license to other countries, like North Korea, India, and Pakistan, to resume testing," the scientists wrote.

They warned that underground tests can spread dangerous radioactivity into water supplies, while atmospheric tests -- currently banned by a 1963 treaty -- could spread radiation quickly and widely.

The group urged the administration to ratify the great ban Treaty and involved the Senate to adopt a proposed law to stop any funding to travel to nuclear tests.

The White House has not confirmed the discussion to resume nuclear weapons tests.

In a statement Thursday to mark July 16, 1945, first "Trinity" atom bomb test in New Mexico, Trump said US nuclear weapons power has been an important deterrent to threats to the country s security, which he was investing to modernize and revitalize the US nuclear shield.

However, he said, "True to our word, we maintain our moratorium," on tests, albeit Russia has conducted weapons experiments "that produce nuclear yield," and despite concerns that China has done so also.

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