www.radicalcartography.net/nuclear_full.png [2]

North Korea was at the receiving end of global condemnation after it announced that it carried out its first underground atomic weapons test in 2006. The US, Japan, China and Britain were the first to criticise and demanded action by the United Nations Security Council. Barring Japan, all these countries have conducted several nuclear tests of their own.

It is now possible to learn about nuclear tests from the website, www.radicalcartography.net/nuclear_full.png [2], which plots all nuclear explosions of the world by size, location and country. The map gives an idea about the number of nuclear tests conducted, whether in air, underground or in water, by some of the countries.
The US and Russia have conducted 1123 and 982 nuclear tests while France has carried out 210. China has conducted 48 nuclear tests so far.
India and Pakistan also came for heavy criticism after its nuclear tests in 1998. India conducted nuclear tests in 1974 and again in 1998 and Pakistan in 1998. Critics point out nuclear tests pose a threat to global peace and security.
The map also shows the intensity of nuclear explosion by each country at different locations. According to the website, the nuclear explosions by India, Pakistan and North Korea are of low intensity compared to the tests carried out by other nuclear weapons states. The map highlights that rather than criticising a few there is need for concerted effort by all countries to put a moratorium on nuclear tests so that global anti-proliferation efforts are not undermined.