3 ms·
So enriched uranium or plutonium on hand? Because it would take time to build all that infrastructure; my understanding at least.
by le-mark 8y ago
So enriched uranium or plutonium on hand? Because it would take time to build all that infrastructure; my understanding at least.
- detaro 8y agoThey have enrichment facilities (for reprocessing spent fuel) with over-capacities, and a pretty large stockpile of material. I.e. https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsjapan-revises-plutonium-guidelines-6284647 https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsjapan-revises-plutonium...
- jbay808 8y agoThe main obstacle is cultural. Even contemplating the building of nuclear weapons is considered a deep disrespect to the memory of the people who died in the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. There would be a lot of domestic opposition to any such project, and it might even be difficult to recruit people and companies to contribute to it, because involvement in that work could harm their reputation. But they definitely aren't lacking the technological, material, or financial ability. (Source: lived in Japan and discussed this with various engineers there)
- pfdietz 8y agoJapan, at the end of 2017, had a stockpile of 47.3 tons of reactor grade plutonium separated from spent LWR fuel. This material is not ideal for nuclear weapons, but it CAN be used to make them.