80 years since the atomic bombing on Japan: Nuclear threats stop at

80 years since the atomic bombing on Japan: Nuclear threats stop at

While the world commemorates the 80th anniversary of a nuclear weapon on the Japanese city of Hiroshima at the end of the Second World War, experts and survivors warn that humanity is closer than ever to experience these weapons again. 80 years ago, on August 6, 1945, a US bomber of the type B-29 dropped the atomic bomb "Little Boy" on Hiroshima. Just three days later, the neighboring city of Nagasaki was hit by a second US atomic bomb.

The devastating consequences of the atomic bombing

In the attacks, more than 110,000 people died immediately, while hundreds of thousands more suffered from the consequences of injuries and radiation -related diseases over the years. To date, these are the only operations of nuclear weapons in conflicts, and yet these weapons represent an acute threat.

Growing nuclear threats

"We don't have much time while we have a greater nuclear threat than ever before," said the Japanese organization Nihon Hidankyo, which consists of survivors and last year received the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to abolish nuclear weapons. "Our biggest challenge is to get the nuclear gun states to at least listen a little."

The current tensions are reflected in the past few weeks, such as the nuclear threatening gesture between Russia and the United States in connection with Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. In addition, there have been US attacks on Iranian nuclear systems in the past few months to stop Tehran's nuclear program. The world also alerted the conflict between India and Pakistan about the controversial Kashmir region.

Alarming Signs and the "DoomsDay Clock" concept

Hans Kristensen, Senior Fellow at Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri), reported in June about a clear trend of rising nuclear arsenals and intensified nuclear rhetoric. The worrying developments contributed to the “Doomsday Clock” of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists closer than ever before - now to 89 seconds. This small change should never be regarded as a reason for the celebration because it shows an extremely dangerous situation.

"The countries that have nuclear weapons increase the size and role of their arsenals and invest hundreds of billions in weapons that are able to destroy civilizations," says the "Doomsday Clock" report.

Current stocks and the nuclear future

The Hiroshima atomic bomb had an explosive force of 15 kilotons and would be considered weak nuclear weapon after today's standards. In contrast, the largest nuclear weapon in the US arsenal has an explosive force of 1.2 megatons and is therefore 80 times stronger. A single modern nuclear warhead could kill millions of people on the spot if he detonates over a large city.

There are currently more than 12,000 nuclear explosive heads, spread over nine nuclear powers: the USA, Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel. According to the Sipri report, almost all of these countries continue their intensive programs for modernizing nuclear weapons.

The future of nuclear armor in different countries

The United States and Russia together hold around 90 % of global nuclear weapons, while smaller nuclear powers, such as China, India and North Korea, expand or plan their arsenals. China in particular adds around 100 nuclear explosive heads annually. North Korea is not very cooperative; Kim Yo Jong, the leader Kim Jong Un sister, clearly explained that Pyongyang would not give up his nuclear weapons in exchange for talks with Washington and Seoul.

"Any attempt to deny the position of the DVRK as a nuclear weapon state is refused," she warned, with DVRK standing for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.