LONDON, March 23 (Reuters) – The British government released its first comprehensive National Counter-Proliferation Strategy, detailing the risks from the spread such weapons and what Britain and other countries can do to stop it.
It came out days before leaders from more than 50 countries, including U.S. President Barack Obama, gather in Seoul, South Korea, for a March 26-27 nuclear security summit focusing on measures to protect nuclear materials and facilities and to prevent illicit trafficking.
The British strategy identified a terrorist chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) attack on Britain or its interests, including British armed forces, as one of the most serious potential risks to its national security. In the new strategy, Britain, which itself has nuclear weapons, said there were “serious concerns” about a military dimension to Iran’s nuclear programme and it also voiced concerns about North Korea’s proliferation activities.
Britain is working to tighten the security of sensitive nuclear information, making nuclear scientists aware of the risks and of the need to keep information secure, officials said. The conservative government of Britain will urge attendees at the Seoul meeting to develop innovative approaches that address the shared need of world corporations and nations to avert spread of nuclear terror. READMORE