“We will restart nuclear tests” confirmed US President Donald Trump, without directly answering whether these would include the “traditional” underground tests that were common during the Cold War era.
“You’ll find out very soon, we’re going to do some tests,” he told reporters aboard the presidential aircraft taking him to Palm Beach, Florida. “Other countries are doing it. Since they’re doing it, we’ll do it too,” he said.
Trump: The nuclear message to China and Russia
On Thursday, Trump said he ordered the military to immediately restart the nuclear weapons testing process for the first time in 33 years. This move appears to be a “message” to rival nuclear powers, China and Russia.
It’s not currently clear whether Trump was referring to nuclear weapons explosion tests or missile tests capable of carrying nuclear warheads. No other nuclear power, except North Korea, has conducted nuclear weapons tests in 25 years.
North Korea’s last test dates back to 2017.
