Obama: I want a world free of nuclear arms

 
Look my way: Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev at the nuclear summit in Seoul
Ben Feller26 March 2012

Barack Obama today set out his vision for “a world without nuclear weapons” and offered to slash the US warhead arsenal.

But in a highly-charged speech, he called on North Korea and Iran “to have the courage to pursue peace” or face the wrath of the world.

The US President drew applause from students at Hankuk University in South Korea as he said that as a father he did not want to see his daughters grow up under the shadow of a nuclear threat.

He admitted America had more warheads than it needed and said he would discuss more cuts with new Russian president Vladimir Putin in May.

Mr Obama was speaking before a summit in Seoul aimed at reducing the risk of nuclear terrorism. Tensions rose as South Korea threatened to shoot down a North Korean rocket carrying a satellite if it violates its territory. Seoul claims the North is testing a long-range missile for its atomic weapons programme.

Mr Obama told the North’s leaders: “By now it should be clear. Your provocations and pursuit of nuclear weapons have not achieved the security you seek, they have undermined it. Instead of the dignity you desire, you are more isolated.”

Adding Iran to the warning, he said: “There is no escaping the choice. Treaties are binding. Rules will be enforced. And violations will have consequences.” The President admitted “we have more nuclear weapons than we need,” adding: “I firmly believe we can ensure the security of the US and our allies, maintain a strong deterrent, and still pursue further reductions in our nuclear arsenal.”

The US would seek to follow on from the New Start pact struck with Russia in 2010, which trims the two nations’ strategic arsenals to 1,550 deployed warheads, a cut of about 30 per cent. Mr Obama said he was also prepared to discuss shorter-range tactical nuclear weapons.

On the summit sidelines Mr Obama met outgoing Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, and was due to meet his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao.

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