Nuclear Security Summit: Leaders, experts meet to discuss global nuke safety

World Today

World leaders and nuclear experts are meeting in Washington to address the security and reduction of the global nuclear stockpile.

CCTV America’s Nathan King reports on the Nuclear Security Summit this week in Washington, D.C.

Since the detonation of the atomic bomb, governments have worried about the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Now, there are growing concerns over the transfer of nuclear technology to terror groups, like al-Qaida and the alleged terror cell behind the terror attack in Brussels.

‘The bombers in Brussels had the intention at least of trying their hands on some radioactive material,” Thomas Karako, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said. 

This week, the Nuclear Security Summit, held in Washington, D.C., will take a look at halting any terrorists or rogue states from accessing nuclear material.

The summit also plans on tackling the international community’s response to securing tons of nuclear material held by the world’s civilian and military programs. But challenges remain, as many countries are reluctant to open their nuclear program to inspectors.


Howard Hall on NSS and terrorism
To discuss the Nuclear Security Summit and how the fatal terror attack in Brussels has shined a light on the growing nuclear terror threat, Dr. Howard Hall, director of the Institute for Nuclear Security at the University of Tennessee joins the show.


Cheng li on the Nuclear Security Summit

CCTV America’s Mike Walter interviewed Cheng li, the director of the China Center at the Brookings Institution about the Nuclear Security Summit and Xi’s visit to the U.S..


Which countries produce and consume the most nuclear power?

The answers may surprise you. CCTV America’s Malini Wilkes has a breakdown.

When it comes to the country with the highest percentage of nuclear electricity generation, the International Atomic Energy Agency said France is by far the leader at nearly 77 percent in 2014

Slovakia and Hungary are number two and three, with about 57 percent and 54 percent respectively.

But percentages don’t tell the whole story.

In France, total nuclear energy supplied in a year is 418,000 gigawatt hours. Slovakia and Hungary supply just a fraction of that amount: less than 15,000 gigawatt hours each.

Some other notable nuclear power producers:

  • The Republic of Korea is a leader in Asia with a 30 percent share of nuclear electricity generation, supplying more than 149,000 gigawatt hours.
  • The U.S. has a 19.5 percent share of nuclear electricity generation. But it leads the world in total amount supplied with nearly 799,000 gigawatt hours.
  • Russia has about the same share as the U.S., nearly 19 percent. But it’s total output is significantly lower at 169,000 gigawatt hours.
  • Just 2.4 percent of China’s power is nuclear-generated. But the total amount supplied is nearly 124,000 gigawatt hours – the fifth largest output worldwide.

William Tobey on nuclear safety

For more we were joined by William Tobey, a nuclear non-proliferation expert. He’s a senior fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and served on the National Security Council Staff in three administrations, in defense policy, arms control, and counter-proliferation positions.