As we enter the 21st century, recent trends in technological development make the problems of nuclear weapons a pressing issue requiring greater attention and a more serious response.
Technology for guiding missiles or bombs to their intended targets with precision has made great strides, and integrating that technology into nuclear weapons systems will increase the danger of making the nuclear weapons usable weapons, contradictory to the doctrine that nuclear weapons are for deterring the enemy, with their actual use excluded -- a doctrine used as a justification for possession of nuclear weapons.
Over the several last decades, information technology has reached remarkable levels of development. The main driving force has been military R&D born in the course of nuclear weapons development. Among many byproducts, laser beam communications and global positioning systems are particularly relevant to the present argument.