The Meniti Observer
Article 143, 6/01/2019State of Kiteahu continues nuclear program
Photograph from Riscelnian Satellite showing Site I-7B
- The State of Kiteahu, a belligerent and militant autocracy in South-East Nori, had an active nuclear weapons development program from some time in the mid-1990's until 2011, when a mixture of international pressures, funding issues, and policy changes led to the shutting down of the program, to much relief from the international community. Kiteahu was very secretive about it's former program, and declassified the bare minimum of information, leaving a wide number of questions around how much progress was made towards a bomb.
In satellite images released publicly by the Riscelnian government, activity seems to have significantly picked up at Site I-7B, an identified site operated by the Kiteahu Atomic Energy Commission. Image analysts believe there may be a system of tunnels adjacent to the above-ground site, though their purpose is unidentified. Careful intelligence analysis has also indicated that the country has ramped up Uranium production. Several new extraction sites have been identified over the previous year, though their potential purpose was unknown until now as Kiteahu used it's position as a premier exporter of Uranium to excuse activity. Satellites from numerous nations are now combing the Kiteahui interior in search of other potential nuclear sites.
Worryingly, it is impossible to predict how long Kiteahu has been operating the development program for, as it made no indication that it was doing so. Activity at Site I-7B has only increased recently, though other sites may exist and underground activity would be very difficult to identify. The Kiteahu government has yet to make any statement, though a flurry of disapproval from the international community is expected. Kiteahu, a war-like nation not aligned to any particular sphere of influence, is the last country anyone wants with the bomb.