On-Site Inspections: The Integrated Field Exerci...

For the first time, the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) tested its on-site inspection regime in an integrated fashion. On-site inspections are the ultimate verification measure to establish whether or not a suspected nuclear explosion has indeed taken place.The Integrated Field Exercise 2008 took place at the former Soviet Union nuclear test site Semipalatinsk in what is today the independent nation of Kazakhstan. The exercise simulated...

"1945-1998" by Isao Hashimoto (Japan, © 2003)

Multi-media artwork "2053" - This is the number of nuclear explosions conducted in various parts of the globe from 1954-1998.

Clip 3 - OSI - First integrated on-site inspecti...

Clip 1 - OSI - First integrated on-site inspecti...

The CTBTO has embarked upon its large scale on-site inspection exercise in September 2008 in Kazakhstan. The so-called “Integrated Field Exercise 2008”, short IFE 08, will test the on-site inspection regime, which is a key aspect of the global alarm system the organization is building to monitor compliance with the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. The scope of the exercise is unprecedented, involving a team of 40 inspectors and 50 tonnes of equipment.

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The CTBTO has now completed the first phase of the “Integrated Field Exercise 2008” and did not find any evidence of a recently conducted nuclear explosion in the fictitious State of “Arcania”. However, a number of areas of interest requiring further investigation were identified by the inspection team, so the exercise proceeded into the second phase, known as the “continuation period”.

CTBT: For a Safer and More Secure World

CTBT: For a Safer and More Secure World (c) CTBTO 2007

DPRK's announced nuclear test on 9 October 2006

Clip 16 from CTBT: For a Safer and More Secure World (c) CTBTO 2007

Civil and Scientific Applications

Clip 15 from CTBT: For a Safer and More Secure World (c) CTBTO 2007

On-site inspections

Clip 14 from CTBT: For a Safer and More Secure World (c) CTBTO 2007

The Global Alarm System

Clip 17 from CTBT: For a Safer and More Secure World (c) CTBTO 2007