As the world grapples with the increasing threat of sensitive nuclear technologies and materials falling into the hands of terror outfits like the Al Qaeda or the manufacture of “dirty bombs”, world leaders will gather in Seoul, South Korea, early next week to discuss the various issues surrounding nuclear security.
The 9/11 attacks in 2001 appear to have spurred countries across the globe to discuss measures that are needed in the event of nuclear materials and facilities actually falling into the hands of non-state actors. Nuclear security is hence seen as a step to combat the threat of nuclear terrorism.
The gathering of 58 world leaders will take place in the South Korean capital of Seoul, which will be playing host to the second Nuclear Security Summit on March 26 and 27.
The first was held in Washington DC in April 2010 after US President Barack Obama mooted the idea in a speech in Prague in 2009. President Obama, who singled out nuclear terrorism as the most serious threat to international security in his speech, will be in Seoul. Leading the Indian participation in the summit will be Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. As foreign secretary Ranjan Mathai put it on Wednesday, the PM’s participation in the Seoul summit is a “demonstration of our high-level commitment”. Prior to his participation in the summit, the PM will be on a bilateral visit to South Korea on March 24 and 25.