Trump orders Pentagon to begin testing nuclear weapons ‘immediately’

GYEONGJU, South Korea — President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he had instructed the Pentagon to “immediately” resume testing nuclear weapons.

“Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis,” Trump said in a Truth Social post shortly before his highly anticipated meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea. “That process will begin immediately.”

The United States has voluntarily halted nuclear explosive testing since 1992. However, it has the ability to resume tests at the Nevada National Security Site.

During his first term, Trump sought a nearly tenfold increase in the U.S. nuclear arsenal, NBC News reported at the time.

Russia announced a test of a new long range nuclear powered underwater weapon on Wednesday, and recently tested a nuclear capable missile.