For this episode I met with Professor Kier Lieber - a member of SSP’s core faculty - to discuss Nuclear Weapons, Deterrence, and Strategy.

We started out by discussing current events surrounding North Korean ICBM testing and really stuck to that theme throughout our conversation.

We then touched on some of the mechanics behind nuclear weapons, including the difference between fission and fusion; the cost/benefit of uranium and plutonium; and covered different nuclear delivery systems.

Lastly, we covered deterrence, international relations, and strategy in a world with nine nuclear powers.

Now we weren’t alerted until after, but North Korea actually fired a missile over Japan during our interview. We don’t have the details, but when I asked whether this was an alarming development Professor Lieber said that while they’ve done it before, “this is pretty provocative.”

The Security Studies Podcast is produced by Jeffrey Palmer.

Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music