About six nuclear tests were conducted between 1998 and 2009: two by India and two by Pakistan in 1998, one by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) in 2006 and another one by the DPRK in 2009, thus four times breaking the de facto moratorium that the CTBT had established.

India conducted two underground nuclear tests, code-named “Shakti (Power) ‘98”, on 11 and 13 May 1998 at its Pokhran underground testing site. In contrast to India’s initial nuclear test in 1974, this time there were no claims that these were “peaceful tests”. On the contrary, government officials were quick to emphasize the military nature of the explosions.

A scant two weeks later, Pakistan reacted, conducting two underground nuclear tests at its Ras Koh range.

Both India and Pakistan immediately moved to announce unilateral moratoriums on nuclear testing and have conducted no nuclear tests since 1998.

To read more about the 1998 tests conducted by India and Pakistan, See The Treaty: History.

Again on 9 October 2006, the announced nuclear test by the DPRK broke that eight-year-long de facto moratorium. It was met with near unanimous global expressions of concern. The UN Security Council strongly condemned the act as a clear threat to international peace and security. The Chairman and the Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), as well as States Signatories, expressed grave concern at the declared test and characterized the event as an action against the letter and the spirit of the CTBT.

To read more about the announced nuclear test by the DPRK and the CTBTO findings in connection with this declared test, please click here.

To read more about the  efforts and treaties curbing and banning nuclear testing, see The Treaty: History