As Japan struggles with its nuclear energy policy, the world is struggling with problems surrounding the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Introduced 15 years ago, the CTBT has been signed by 182 countries and ratified by 155.
The treaty prohibits nuclear weapon test explosions anywhere and provides a means to verify any test. The treaty has languished, since many countries known to possess or to be developing nuclear weapons — or suspected of such — have failed to ratify it.
To its credit, Japan was the fourth state to ratify the CTBT and the first of the nuclear-capable states to ratify the treaty. That initial approval did nothing to deter one of the worst nuclear accidents in the world at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power station.