Top News: MDA readies second BMD futures solicitation Inside Defense South Korea displays capability to develop nuclear-powered submarines The Korea Times Raisi ready for Vienna talks but without examining regional influence, ballistic missile program Asharq Al-Awsat United States MDA readies second BMD futures solicitation Inside Defense8/16/21 The Missile Defense Agency has published the second of two new industry competitions planned for the continued sustainment and development of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system. OPINION: Biden administration’s growing disconnect on nuclear deterrence priorities Washington Times8/16/21 China, Russia growing their nuclear arsenals, while U.S. delays modernization. East Asia South Korea displays capability to develop nuclear-powered submarines The Korea Times8/16/21 South Korea has now become a country that operates locally-built submarines capable of deploying submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs). ANALYSIS: When will the U.S.-North Korea negotiations stalemate be broken? Council on Foreign RelationsScott Snyder 8/16/21 The fundamental impasse between the United States and North Korea over North Korea’s denuclearization appears impossible to overcome. What, if anything, can the Biden administration do? OPINION: Why North Korea won’t abandon its nuclear weapons without a regime change NK ProNah Liang Tuang 8/17/21 The current campaign of punitive economic and strategic pressure is necessary as long as Kim Jong Un is in power. OPINION: After Afghanistan disaster, Taiwan must go nuclear Washington ExaminerMichael Rubin 8/17/21 The images of Afghans chasing an American C-130 plane at the Kabul airport and some plummeting to their deaths will sear the memory of a generation. Middle East Raisi ready for Vienna talks but without examining regional influence, ballistic missile program Asharq Al-Awsat8/16/21 The new Raisi administration is preparing to return to nuclear talks without the thought of presenting any concessions that would encourage Washington to extend or expand the deal so that it tackles the cleric-led country’s ballistic missile program and regional interferences. U.S. calls on Iran to halt ‘nuclear escalations’ Al Jazeera8/17/21 UN nuclear agency reports Iranian progress on uranium metal production as the US warns Tehran is threatening nuclear deal talks. IAEA reports Iranian progress on uranium metal despite Western objections Reuters8/16/21 Iran has made progress in its work on enriched uranium metal, the U.N. nuclear watchdog said in a report to member states on Monday seen by Reuters, despite Western warnings that such work threatens talks on reviving the Iran nuclear deal.