TOP NEWS Kim Jong-un makes first official mention of US talks BBC News Trump optimistic about North Korea summit but suggests it could slip to June The New York Times Iran unveils 83 achievements in nuclear technology Tehran Times EAST ASIA Kim Jong-un makes first official mention of US talks BBC News4/10/18 North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has publicly acknowledged talks with the US for the first time, according to state media reports. N.K. leader makes first comment on dialogue with U.S. at party meeting Yonhap News4/10/18 North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has talked about prospects for dialogue with the United States at a key party meeting, state media said Tuesday, in his first official comment on a planned summit with U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump optimistic about North Korea summit but suggests it could slip to June The New York Times4/9/18 President Trump expressed optimism Monday about his proposed summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, saying it will take place in late May or early June, the most specific time frame the White House has yet offered. MIDDLE EAST Iran unveils 83 achievements in nuclear technology Tehran Times4/9/18 During a ceremony on Monday marking National Day of Nuclear Technology, 83 technological developments in nuclear industry were unveiled at the presence of President Rouhani and number of other cabinet members including Ali Akbar Salehi, the vice president and the chief of the nuclear energy organization RUSSIA/FSU/EUROPE Russia’s foreign minister to visit North Korea Washington Post4/10/18 Lavrov said in televised comments on Tuesday after talks with his counterpart from North Korea, Ri Yong-ho, that he has agreed to visit Pyongyang. SOUTH ASIA India in talks with friendly nations for sale of missiles The Times of India4/9/18 India is holding talks with some friendly foreign countries to sell them the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and Akash air defence missiles, among other military hardware and software. OPINION AND ANALYSIS A passive U.S. approach to the next India-Pakistan crisis? Arms Control WonkMichael Krepon 4/10/18 Would the Trump White House define an “America First” foreign policy as being passive rather than proactive in the event of another crisis between India and Pakistan? The best deal Trump can hope for from North Korea is a flawed one. Here’s why that’s okay. The Washington PostAndrei Lankov 4/9/18 The official line in Washington, more or less echoed by Pyongyang as well as by Beijing and Seoul, is that the Trump-Kim summit will be held to advance the case for North Korea’s denuclearization. Alas, it is not that simple. Good things might emerge from the summit, but denuclearization is definitely not going to be one of them. Kim Jon-un will not give up North Korea’s nuclear weapons Brookings InstitutionEvans J.R. Revere 4/9/18 North Korea’s concept of “denuclearization” bears no resemblance to the American definition. Forget Donald Trump; the Moon-Kim summit matters more The Australian Financial ReviewDavid C. Kang 4/8/18 http://www.afr.com/news/politics/world/forget-donald-trump-the-moonkim-summit-matters-more-20180408-h0yh8f If the Moon-Kim summit goes poorly, there may not even be a Trump–Kim summit and tensions will spike on the Peninsula. If the first summit goes well, it will guide, direct and constrain how the US interacts with North Korea and raise the possibility of some type of de-escalation. How Congress Can Help Trump Out maneuver Iran Foreign PolicyLincoln P. Bloomfield, Jr. 4/6/18 The United States needs a policy that unifies its allies in curbing Tehran.