ctbto Spectrum

“What counts isto show the worldthat the CTBT’sverification systemreally works.”CTBTO’s Executive Secretary,Tibor Tóthground penetrating radar and many more.Some of these methods are applied from theair, typically from helicopters.In spite of this technicalsophistication, the OSI regime strikesa careful balance between the abilityto detect signs of nuclear testing andsafeguarding the national security interestof the inspected Member State. In orderfor the OSI to be as unobtrusive aspossible, the technical methods permittedare prescribed very precisely, even downto which type of radionuclide may bemeasured for inspection purposes andwhich must be ignored.The area to be inspected is alsolimited to 1000 square kilometres, whichis still larger than New York City with itsfive boroughs – a vast area for a handfulof inspectors. Therefore the search forevidence of a nuclear explosion can bethe proverbial search for the needle in thehaystack!All OSI procedures are set out inthe OSI draft operational manual, whichhas been worked on since the inceptionof the CTBTO in 1996, and currentlycomprises – around 1000 pages includingall subsidiary documents.The final verdictIt is important to note that, according tothe Treaty, it is the Member States andnot the CTBTO who will pronouncethe final verdict on whether a nuclearexplosion (and hence a Treaty violation)H e l i c o p t e r o v e r f l i g h t s a r e e s s e n t i a l t o o b ta i na g e n e r a l o v e rv i e w o f t h e i n s p e c t i o n a r e ahas indeed taken place. The CTBTO’srole will be limited to presenting thetechnical analysis on which the MemberStates base their verdict. In light of theconstantly increasing sophistication ofthe verification system, however, thesetechnical findings are likely to becomeever more unambiguous.The system went through its baptism offire in October 2006, when the DemocraticPeople’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) declaredD e c o n ta m i n at i o n s tat i o n p r o c e d u r e s . F i e l d o f f i c e r s u s i n g S tat e - o f - t h e - a r t s e i s m i c e q u i p m e n t .C T B T O S p e c t r u m 1 1 | S e p t e m b e r 2 0 0 8Pa g e 1 5