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US President Donald Trump has reportedly ordered the US military to immediately begin procedures to restart the testing of nuclear weapons.
President Trump confirmed the comments on his Truth Social social media account while travelling to meet People’s Republic of China President Xi Jinping earlier this week in South Korea.
“Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our nuclear weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately,” President Trump said.
“Russia is second, and China is a distant third, but will be even within five years.”
The US government had previously announced a moratorium on testing explosive nuclear material in 1992.
North Korea is reportedly the only country to have carried out explosive nuclear testing in decades; the latest North Korean test taking place in 2017. The Soviet Union ceased in 1990 and China in 1996.
Despite this, Russia, the People’s Republic of China and North Korea have continually pushed for the development of larger, more efficient and longer-range rocketry designed to carry nuclear payloads.
Earlier this year, Russia tested a new nuclear-powered cruise missile as well as a new nuclear-powered autonomous torpedo in October.
Speaking to media after his meeting with the PRC president, President Trump confirmed that testing was to go ahead.
“With others doing testing, I think it’s appropriate that we do also,” he said.
“I’d like to see a denuclearisation because we have so many and Russia’s second and China’s third and China will catch up within four or five years.
“We are actually talking to Russia about that and China would be added to that if we do something.”
