Atomic 'Doomsday Clock' closest to midnight since the end of Cold War
- 6 years ago
A group of atomic scientists have moved the symbolic Doomsday Clock 30 seconds closer to midnight,... which signifies the extinction of humankind due to nuclear war.
It stands at 11:58 p.m.,... and it's the closest time to midnight,... since the end of Cold War.
Park Ji-won has more.
The so-called Doomsday Clock now points to two minutes to midnight: eleven fifty-eight p.m.
Since 1953,... it's the closest time to midnight,... which signifies the symbolic annihilation of humankind due to nuclear war.
Nuclear threats from North Korea and a lack of arms control negotiations among other things prompted the group of atomic scientists,... which include 15 Nobel Laureates,... to move the clock 30 seconds closer to midnight.
"We considered the ossified state of arms control negotiations and non-proliferation agreements as well as new testing undertaken by North Korea, nuclear exercises built into Russia's plans and an enhanced commitment to nuclear weapons in Pakistan, India and China."
The scientists also said the nuclear arsenals of all the major weapons states have been enhanced,... and expressed concerns the Trump administration's nuclear posture review appears to lower the threshold for nuclear use.
Dangers of a loss of trust in political institutions and in the media,... as well as the threat posed by climate change,... were other reasons behind the decision.
"If governments are not acting to protect you as they should, you need to take the lead. You need to demand action. It is not yet midnight, and we have moved back from the brink in the past. Whether we do so in the future, may be in your hands."
They also urged the international community to establish new set of regulations to penalize the misuse of information technology,.. undermining public trust,... to reduce the possibility of a nuclear war by miscalculation or by accident.
Park Ji-won, Arirang News.
It stands at 11:58 p.m.,... and it's the closest time to midnight,... since the end of Cold War.
Park Ji-won has more.
The so-called Doomsday Clock now points to two minutes to midnight: eleven fifty-eight p.m.
Since 1953,... it's the closest time to midnight,... which signifies the symbolic annihilation of humankind due to nuclear war.
Nuclear threats from North Korea and a lack of arms control negotiations among other things prompted the group of atomic scientists,... which include 15 Nobel Laureates,... to move the clock 30 seconds closer to midnight.
"We considered the ossified state of arms control negotiations and non-proliferation agreements as well as new testing undertaken by North Korea, nuclear exercises built into Russia's plans and an enhanced commitment to nuclear weapons in Pakistan, India and China."
The scientists also said the nuclear arsenals of all the major weapons states have been enhanced,... and expressed concerns the Trump administration's nuclear posture review appears to lower the threshold for nuclear use.
Dangers of a loss of trust in political institutions and in the media,... as well as the threat posed by climate change,... were other reasons behind the decision.
"If governments are not acting to protect you as they should, you need to take the lead. You need to demand action. It is not yet midnight, and we have moved back from the brink in the past. Whether we do so in the future, may be in your hands."
They also urged the international community to establish new set of regulations to penalize the misuse of information technology,.. undermining public trust,... to reduce the possibility of a nuclear war by miscalculation or by accident.
Park Ji-won, Arirang News.