{
  "id": "RL30699",
  "type": "CRS Report",
  "typeId": "REPORTS",
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  "source": "EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
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      "id": 348400,
      "date": "2008-02-20",
      "retrieved": "2016-04-07T03:39:23.980078",
      "title": "Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Weapons and Missiles: Status and Trends",
      "summary": "The United States has long recognized the dangers inherent in the spread of nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) weapons, and missiles. This report, which analyzes NBC weapons programs potential threat patterns around the globe, is updated as needed.\nThe total number of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons in the world is shrinking as the major powers scale back their inventories through unilateral reductions and arms control, but other countries and groups still try to acquire these weapons. There are five established nuclear weapon states (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States). India and Pakistan declared their nuclear weapons capability with nuclear tests in 1998, as did North Korea in 2006. Israel is also widely believed to have a nuclear weapon arsenal.\nAbout a dozen countries have offensive biological weapons (BW) programs, and the same number have chemical weapons (CW) programs. That number could grow, as new technologies are developed and the international flow of information, goods, expertise, and technology continues. While the United States and Russia eliminated intermediate-range missiles and are reducing their intercontinental missile inventories, China is modernizing and expanding its missile force. North Korea, Iran, Israel, India, and Pakistan are building short- and medium-range missiles and are developing longer-range missiles. Dozens of countries have or are developing short-range ballistic missiles and more are likely to buy them. Over 80 countries have cruise missiles; about 40 manufacture or have the ability to manufacture them. And terrorists continue their efforts to acquire NBC capabilities.\nElements in North Korea, Russia, China, India, Pakistan, and other countries continue to export weapons technology. The potential for secondary proliferation markets has grown, and concern about the ability of individual actors like the Pakistani nuclear scientist, A.Q. Khan, to peddle nuclear technology has grown considerably.\nThe number of countries or groups that will acquire or produce NBC weapons may decrease if diplomacy, arms control treaties, nonproliferation regimes, and security and assistance strategies are effective. NBC weapons and missiles will remain a potential threat for the foreseeable future, but most observers readily agree that, even if nonproliferation policies alone are insufficient to halt NBC programs, such measures can slow those programs until states are persuaded that NBC weapons are not in their national security interest.",
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    {
      "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metacrs6337/",
      "id": "RL30699 2005-01-14",
      "date": "2005-01-14",
      "retrieved": "2005-06-12T17:00:04",
      "title": "Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Weapons and Missiles: Status and Trends",
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      "topics": [
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Weapons systems",
          "name": "Weapons systems"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "National security",
          "name": "National security"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Chemical weapons",
          "name": "Chemical weapons"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Biological weapons",
          "name": "Biological weapons"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Nuclear weapons",
          "name": "Nuclear weapons"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Defense policy",
          "name": "Defense policy"
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      "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc816126/",
      "id": "RL30699_2004Jul02",
      "date": "2004-07-02",
      "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26",
      "title": "Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Weapons and Missiles: Status and Trends",
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    {
      "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metacrs2060/",
      "id": "RL30699 2001-08-10",
      "date": "2001-08-10",
      "retrieved": "2005-06-12T17:01:22",
      "title": "Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Weapons and Missiles: The Current Situation and Trends",
      "summary": null,
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORT",
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      "topics": [
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Weapons systems",
          "name": "Weapons systems"
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        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "National security",
          "name": "National security"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Chemical weapons",
          "name": "Chemical weapons"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Biological weapons",
          "name": "Biological weapons"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Nuclear weapons",
          "name": "Nuclear weapons"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Defense policy",
          "name": "Defense policy"
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  "topics": [
    "Foreign Affairs",
    "Intelligence and National Security",
    "National Defense"
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}