Australia's Uranium Energy Resource

Australia's uranium has been mined since 1954, and four mines are currently operating. Of the world's proven estimated uranium reserves 23% are held in Australia ahead of Kazakhstan other main world reserves are held in the Russian Federation. In 2011-12 Australia produced 7700 tonnes of uranium oxide concentrate. It is the world's third-ranking producer, behind Kazakhstan and Canada.

Australia uses no nuclear power, but with high reliance on coal and likely carbon constraints on electricity generation, it remains a possibility. In the 1930s ores were mined at Radium Hill and Mount Painter in SA to recover radium for medical purposes. As a result a few hundred kilograms of uranium were also produced. Australia's uranium is sold strictly for electrical power generation only, and safeguards are in place to ensure this. Australia is a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as a non-nuclear weapons state.

Korea's Uranium Weapon Test: Hecker

According to U.S. nuclear scientist, North Korea may detonate a uranium-based bomb when it carries out its next nuclear test, estimating that the country may have developed one or two uranium bombs. The widely-respected nuclear weapons expert, who previously worked for the Los Alamos National Laboratory, the national U.S. nuclear developer, has made several trips to North Korea that included access to some of the country's key nuclear amenities.

Global concern has spiked sharply in recent weeks after North Korea effectively fired off a long-range rocket that can reach as far as the U.S. continent. The country is now threatening to conduct its third nuclear test. South Korean and U.S. officials say that North Korea is strictly ready to conduct a nuclear test at any time pending the approval from its top leader, Kim Jong-un.

Hecker supposed that the coming test, if conducted, may have political repercussions for the already isolated country, It cost them a political price particularly not only with U.N. sanctions but also with the disapproval of China.