One of the more prominent characteristics of the past year was the frequency of nuclear crises. The Iran nuclear crisis and the Korean Peninsula nuclear crisis took turns in grabbing the world's attention.

There is also the possibility of triggering a nuclear arms race among other countries. Therefore it is really not an exaggeration to call 2006 a year of nuclear crises.

The nuclear crises are a considerable challenge to nuclear non-proliferation and anti-terror strategy as well as to regional security mechanisms and cooperation in regional security.