New nuclear arms race in Asia, Opinion News & Top Stories

Any nuclear accident is worrying, but the one that took place in the far north of Russia at the beginning of the month carries a special warning. It reminded us cruelly that we were quickly returning to the kind of major-power nuclear arms race that made the darkest days of the Cold War so dangerous. And this time, the biggest dangers are in Asia.

According to Washington, the accident occurred during the test of a new Russian nuclear propulsion cruise missile. Named Burevestnick by the Russians and Skyfall by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), it is one of many new missile programs announced by President Vladimir Putin last year.