US says nuclear arsenal includes 5,113 warheads

According to figures released by the Pentagon, the US nuclear arsenal has been reduced by 84 percent from its maximum level of 31,225 warheads at the end of fiscal year 1967.

By releasing the data during the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty review conference, analysts said the United States was trying to show it is cutting its arsenal so as to help persuade other states to tighten the global nonproliferation regime.

The total disclosed by the Pentagon does not include the number of warheads that have been retired and scheduled for dismantlement, an estimated 4,600 according to the Federation of American Scientists nonprofit group.

Washington had previously disclosed its operationally deployed strategic warheads -- 1,968 at the end of 2009, down from about 10,000 in 1991 according to the State Department -- but it had not released the overall total.

The NPT is designed to halt the spread of atomic weapons and encourage the elimination of existing arsenals; Kazinform cites China Daily.

See www.chinadaily.com.cn for full version