Nuclear Weapons Advisory Opinion (Lawfulness of nuclear weapons)

In this international law case, the General Assembly asked the ICJ to rule on whether the threat or use of nuclear weapons was lawful. The ICJ refused to rule such weapons unlawful, but said they must be used in accordance with the other rules of war, which means they must be used in a way that distinguishes civilians from combatants, and which minimises unnecessary suffering - both of which are essentially impossible for nuclear weapons.