New weapons of mass destruction; radiological weapons

The possibility that new weapons of mass destruction might emerge was taken into account by the Commission for Conventional Armaments in 1948, when it defined such weapons as including “atomic explosive weapons, radioactive material weapons, lethal chemical and biological weapons, and any weapons developed in the future which have characteristics comparable in destructive effect to those of the atomic bomb or other weapons mentioned above”. At that time, “radioactive material weapons”, now known as “radiological weapons” (devices containing radioactive substances, which are dispersed by conventional explosives), did not exist, and they are still not known to be produced.

Related Subject(s): Disarmament