circle of dt"t.", inclutling the present nuclear-weapon States' This raises the possibi]-ity, e.g', that orr" ot to"u of the nuclear"weapon States may target some of their own nuclear wea1:ons on an emerging nuclear-veapon State in order to prevent its engaging in nucLear blacknail or threats against other countries" 382, Because of the nany uncertainties and destabilizing elements present in the fr-rif.rat,ion scenario it is not surprising that the international comrunity pays ilose attention to the problem' A State going nuclear could therefore expose itself to a wid.e range of politieal condemnation, including sanctions' This rnay bear direct].y on nationaf 'security in the rni]-itary sense or on various areas of ilternational relations, such as irade, economics and technical co-operation' It shows that conmitments not to acquire nuclear weapons hare become intenroven into the fu11 complex of relations among States' 383. It used to be that the holding of a nuclear-treapon test was the demonstration of a State becoml-ng , ,ro"i"u.t-*"rpJn power. Ttrere ii today, however " the energing ;.;#;;; .i-trr. Ir"a."1ared,' nu-cf ear-weapon state. There have been persistent reports that a few States may alrea'Iy have carried out a considerable amount of work towards d.eveloping a nuclear-weapon capacrty' - A State.in-this category could thus be suspected of having a- nuclcar capability vithout actuar-Ly havlng demonstrated it, and consequently be regarded as posing a th"eat of nuclear attack' If so, rnany of the advers" -"o"="!""""ts for natioiral ::"Ttt" w:r111^::-. present in the sense that has been discussed above ' In tlris field' the"e are pefsastent rumors tltat lsrael and so,.tr, ar"i". bave acquired" or are on the way to acquiTing a nuclear rteapon. Two United Nations studies are presently under lray on this subJect' Tbere i:s no doubt that these tvo cases t"" t totti"" of concern llithin the internati.onal conmunitJ' Nuclear weaPons and re