TOP NEWS Kim-Putin summit: North Korea’s ‘pivot’ to Russia Asia Times Sidetrack or kickstart? How to respond to the US proposal on nuclear disarmament Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists – Lyndon Burford, Oliver Meier, Nick Ritchie How maximum security inmates took on Cambridge in a debate about nuclear weapons — and won Washington Post East Asia North Korea Criticizes National Security Advisor John Bolton on State Media TIME4/20/2019 North Korea on Saturday issued a relatively mild criticism of White House national security adviser John Bolton for calling on North Korea to show more evidence of its disarmament commitment before a possible third leaders’ summit. North Korea slams Bolton’s call for sign of denuclearization as ‘dim-sighted,’ ‘nonsense’ CBS News4/20/2019 North Korea has criticized National Security Adviser John Bolton’s “nonsense” call for Pyongyang to show that it’s serious about giving up its nuclear weapons, the second time it has criticized a leading U.S. official in less than a week. Kim-Putin summit: North Korea’s ‘pivot’ to Russia Asia Times4/22/2019 ¬In their first ever summit on Wednesday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Vladivostok. The usual secrecy that accompanies Kim’s foreign travels will keep finer details on the exact timings and venues of Kim’s interactions under wraps until very last minute. South Asia India’s nuclear weapons not for Diwali — Modi Gulf News India4/21/2019 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said India is no longer afraid of Pakistan’s nuclear threats as today it is among the world powers with capability to carry out nuclear attacks across land, water, and in the air. Addressing a poll rally here, he said: “The NDA government has instilled fear in the minds and hearts of terrorists. We hit terrorists, getting right into their homes. Now India is no more afraid of Pakistan’s threats.” ‘Pak’s Nukes Aren’t Kept for Eid Either’: Mufti’s Jibe at PM Modi India TV4/22/2019 A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at an election rally, said that India’s nuclear weapons are not kept for Diwali, PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti passed a similar remark in response, on Monday, 22 April. According to news agency ANI, her remarks loosely translate to: “The ones with Pakistan aren’t kept for Eid either. It’s a tit-for-tat thing.” Russia/FSU/Europe Thousands turn out for Easter peace marches across Germany Deutsche Welle4/22/2019 More than 100 events were planned this weekend calling for an end to German arms exports to crisis areas. Decades after their Cold War heyday, the annual peace marches are still going strong. Opinion/Analysis More Russian Talks Likely Won’t Stop a Nuclear War Wall Street Journal4/21/2019 Regarding George P. Shultz, William J. Perry and Sam Nunn’s “The Threat of Nuclear War Is Still With Us” (op-ed, April 11): The authors’ call for greater bilateral cooperation between the U.S. and Russia in reducing nuclear uncertainty ignores the elephant—or rather the dragon—in the room. Any future arms control agreement limiting nuclear weapons and their delivery means is pointless if it doesn’t impose reciprocal limits on China’s growing arsenal. Preserving New START – OpEd Eurasia Review – Baber Ali Bhatti4/21/2019 Days of frequent explosive nuclear testing were considered to be passed. The arms race throughout the long duration of Cold War led the United States and the former Soviet Union (and the rest of humanity) to the brink of catastrophe owing to the lack of agreed constraints on nuclear weapons. Today, there are multiple treaties and agreements that avert another dreadful era of unconstrained nuclear development. There is no rationale in dismantling the agreements that bring us stability and peace. Sidetrack or kickstart? How to respond to the US proposal on nuclear disarmament Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists – Lyndon Burford, Oliver Meier, Nick Ritchie4/19/2019 Speaking to the Geneva-based Conference on Disarmament on March 26, US Assistant Secretary of State Chris Ford presented the “Creating an Environment for Nuclear Disarmament” (CEND) initiative. According to Ford, the scheme “aims to help the international community find a path forward by setting in motion a ‘Creating an Environment Working Group’ process.” Special Interest How maximum security inmates took on Cambridge in a debate about nuclear weapons — and won Washington Post4/20/2019 Could the three incarcerated men, from a six-year-old debate team with no access to the Internet or to the world beyond their prison walls, outsmart the Cambridge team, ranked among the top teams at this year’s world debating championship? The topic of the day’s debate: “This house believes that all states have a right to nuclear weapons.” Given first pick of sides, Cambridge would argue in opposition, while the Bard students would attempt to defend the proposition.