Strengthening physical protection of nuclear material -: National systems versus multinational systems

The paper gives a brief history of the development of multinational systems on the physical protection of nuclear material, the roles of national physical protection systems and multinational systems, political and social changes in the post-Cold-War era and their implications on the physical protection activities, as well as recommendations. In the early 1970s there were many terrorist attacks including airline hijacking worldwide. Subsequently, the nuclear community was seriously concerned about the possible risks of unauthorized removal of nuclear material by sub-national groups, threatening to produce and use crude nuclear explosive devices. The IAEA published the guidelines on the physical protection of nuclear material during use, storage and transport (INFCIRC/225) in 1975. The multinational nuclear export control regime (the Nuclear Suppliers' Guidelines) incorporated the requirement of physical protection measures (1978), and the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material entered into force in 1987. The responsibility for physical protection of nuclear material in individual States rests with the State. The purpose of multinational systems is, basically, to formulate and recommend internationally accepted guidelines, etc. Also, a State can be requested to ensure maintenance of the responsibilities from international treaties, etc. National systems and multinational systems are interdependent, and changes to national systems will lead to eventual changes to multinational systems and vice versa. In the post-Cold-War era, there have been many political and social changes. The most significant political, security and social changes are: diversification of the risks of nuclear proliferation, illicit trafficking of nuclear material, and weakening of the power of 'nation States'. In view of this, the worldwide physical protection activities should be strengthened, especially those of multinational systems. In the last section of the paper, seven specific personal recommendations of the author are given.