The United Kingdom and United States are planning to cooperate to simulate a cyber attack on a nuclear power plant. The move is done to test the readiness of the nuclear plants during a terrorist attack.
Sources disclosed that the cooperation of the UK and US was not brought by such threat. The insider revealed that it was inspired by their prudent planning, The Guardian reported. The exercise provides the opportunity to test the systems and learn any lesson. It followed the scheme last year that tested how huge banks respond to cyber security attacks. The announcement comes before UK Prime Minister David Cameron's visit to Washington to participate in the Nuclear Security Summit that starts on March 31.
"It's an opportunity for the UK, the US and Europe who show how countries can work together to deal with nuclear waste. It's an opportunity for us to show some leadership to the rest of the world", the source said.
During the summit, Cameron is set to announce the UK and US exchange deal to help fight against cancer, Straits Times reported. The UK and US agreement includes sending of nuclear waste from facilities in Scotland to the U.S. It is regarded as the largest movement of highly-enriched uranium out of Britain. On the other hand, the U.S. will send its uranium for the reactors in the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom).
"They can produce medical isotopes that are used in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions including thyroid cancer." The product will be dispensed for use across Europe.
As International Business Times reports, the U.K. is expected to share its expertise in dealing with cyber attack as well as testing the capacity of the power plants. Cameron will also announce his commitment of £10 million (S$19.4 million) investment for International Atomic Energy Agency to enhance the security of nuclear facilities around the globe.
Barack Obama is hosting the summit, which is his fourth and final during his presidency. The UK and US and the rest of the world leaders are going to tackle the safety of nuclear systems. According to the president's prior announcement before the summit, the nations are going to review their counterterrorism efforts to prevent the most dangerous networks such as the ISIL or ISIS from acquiring the world's most unsafe weapons.
