Top News: Iran nuclear talks make ‘progress,’ will reconvene next week Politico STRATCOM commander calls on Congress to update U.S. triad as China’s nuclear program advances weekly Stars and Stripes North Korea continues to work on submersible missile test barge at Nampo Beyond Parallel United States STRATCOM commander calls on Congress to update U.S. triad as China’s nuclear program advances weekly Stars and Stripes4/20/21 The Chinese military’s nuclear capabilities are increasing rapidly and, for the first time, might be primed for use, the U.S. military officer in charge of America’s nuclear arsenal warned Tuesday as he urged Congress to upgrade America’s aging nuclear infrastructure. POLICY PAPER: G7 Non-Proliferation Directors Group United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office4/19/21 The G7 is committed to working together and with our partners to build the conditions for a more secure, more stable, and safer world. OPINION: Biden could win back progressives by pausing a controversial new nuclear weapon ForbesMatt Korda 4/20/21 On April 9th, the Biden administration released its Pentagon budget request for Fiscal Year 2022. East Asia North Korea continues to work on submersible missile test barge at Nampo Beyond ParallelJoseph Bermudez, Victor Cha 4/201/21 Satellite imagery on April 19 shows that North Korea has positioned a cylindrical object on the submersible missile test barge at Nampo. China close to ‘any plausible nuclear strategy’, says USSTRATCOM chief Janes4/21/21 China is capable of executing “any plausible nuclear employment strategy” within the Indo-Pacific region and will soon be able to do so at intercontinental ranges, U.S. Navy Admiral Charles A Richard, the commander of the US Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), said in a written statement to the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services on 20 April. OPINION: U.S. nuclear arms posture sends misleading signals to trap adversaries Global Times4/20/21 U.S. Strategic Command issued a posture statement preview on Tuesday, saying “The spectrum of conflict today is neither linear nor predictable. INTERVIEW: After Trump ‘failed’, South Korean leader hopes Biden can salvage nuclear deal New York TimesMoon Jae-in 4/21/21 President Moon Jae-in of South Korea has a message for the United States: President Biden needs to engage now with North Korea. Middle East Iran nuclear talks make ‘progress,’ will reconvene next week Politico4/21/21 One diplomat said talks have ‘picked up speed’ and reached ‘approximately halfway.’ Iran nuclear talks closer to ‘practical steps’ in Vienna Aljaeera4/20/21 Remaining parties to 2015 nuclear deal agree to form third expert working group to focus on steps to restore the accord. Russia and Europe Putin says advanced weaponry in Russia’s nuclear triad to exceed 88% in 2021 Tass4/21/21 Russia is constantly improving and strengthening its Armed Forces, Putin said. Top military official warns China and Russia are modernizing nuclear weapons faster than U.S. CNN4/20/21 The top U.S. military official who runs the American nuclear arsenal warned that China and Russia are modernizing their nuclear weapons and capabilities faster than the U.S., saying during a congressional hearing on Tuesday that if it does not start investing more in nuclear defense and infrastructure, the US will be “at risk of losing credibility in the eyes of our adversaries.”