The course brought together diplomats and practitioners from 22 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Pacific, including representatives from one of the five nuclear-weapon states recognised under the NPT. It covered key issues in nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, ranging from the nuclear fuel cycle to IAEA safeguards, and included a visit to the Vienna International Centre, where participants learned about the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty's International Monitoring System.
On 23 September, Degtyarev delivered a presentation entitled “Understanding DPRK Nuclear Capabilities: Open-Source Analysis of the DPRK’s Nuclear Programme”, demonstrating how open-source information can help assess North Korea's nuclear capabilities and interpret related developments. He also shared findings from the multi-year VERTIC-led Project on Open-Source Assessments of the DPRK’s Nuclear Programme, which concluded in March 2026.
Ashraf successfully completed the course; his participation, alongside Degtyarev's contribution, reflected ONN's commitment to strengthening technical expertise, sharing open-source analytical methodologies and supporting informed dialogue among international practitioners, ultimately contributing to broader nuclear risk reduction efforts.
