Nuclear Policy News – December 9, 2019

FacebookTwitterLinkedInEmailCopy Link

TOP NEWS

Russia says will respond to U.S. on missile deployment
Reuters

Europeans step up pressure on Iran over nuclear violations
Wall Street Journal

ANALYSIS: North Korea’s experimental light water reactor: possible testing of cooling system
38 North

Trump, South Korea’s Moon discuss trying to maintain talks with North Korea
Reuters

United States

ANALYSIS: Why America’s nuclear attack defense must evolve
National InterestBill Gortney
12/8/19
The U.S. already has a highly capable and technologically advanced system, and we should do more to keep a step ahead of threats.

ANALYSIS: A nuclear ICBM could destroy us in half an hour
National InterestMichaela Dodge
12/8/19
Now that North Korea has signaled its intention to continue developing long-range ballistic missiles capable of threatening the U.S. with nuclear warheads, it is all the more important for the Trump administration’s Ballistic Missile Defense Review to fund comprehensive missile defense.

Russia

Russia says will respond to U.S. on missile deployment
Reuters12/6/19
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday that Russia will not hesitate to respond to any new deployment of missiles by the United States.

Amid Trump impeachment fury, U.S. and Russia expected to talk arms control
Voice of America12/9/19
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov heads to Washington for hastily scheduled meetings with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and, possibly, President Donald Trump, on Tuesday.

ANALYSIS: This is a nuclear weapons offer Trump ought not refuse
Washington Post12/8/19
Russia is willing to renew the New START nuclear weapons treaty immediately, before the year is out, and without any preconditions.

Middle East

Europeans step up pressure on Iran over nuclear violations
Wall Street Journal12/6/19
European powers will take the first step towards re-imposing international sanctions on Iran in the coming weeks if Tehran further violates the 2015 nuclear deal, diplomats said.

ANALYSIS: The secret history of Israel’s nuclear weapons program
National InterestZachary Keck
12/7/19
Although Israel doesn’t officially acknowledge it, it is well understood that the country possesses a nuclear weapon arsenal (although the exact number of warheads are in dispute).

East Asia

Trump, South Korea’s Moon discuss trying to maintain talks with North Korea
Reuters12/6/19
U.S. President Donald Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in held a half-hour phone discussion on ways to maintain diplomacy with North Korea, Seoul said on Saturday, as Pyongyang warns of waning patience with stalled nuclear talks.

North Korea turns up pressure on the United States for concessions
New York TimesChoe Sang-Hun and David E. Sanger
12/7/19
With North Korea’s deadline for American concessions fast approaching, the North announced Sunday that it had conducted a “very important test” at a missile-engine site, rapidly ramping up pressure after months of carefully calibrated provocations.

ANALYSIS: North Korea’s experimental light water reactor: possible testing of cooling system
38 NorthElliot Serbin and Allison Peccioni
12/6/19
After analyzing over 170 high-resolution commercial satellite images of North Korea’s Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center captured between August 2012 and November 2019, Stanford’s Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC) has observed activity at the Experimental Light Water Reactor (ELWR) that may provide new insights into its operational status.

ANALYSIS: As North Korea’s deadline looms, what are Kim Jong Un’s options?
ReutersJosh Smith
12/9/19
Frustrated by what it sees as a lack of flexibility by the United States, North Korea has set a year-end deadline for Washington to change its policies or leader Kim Jong Un may embark on a “new path”.

ANALYSIS: And the prize for global nuclear security goes to… China
Bulletin of the Atomic ScientistsSara Z. Kutchesfahani
12/6/19
In fact, when it comes to nuclear security policies and practices, as well as laws, regulations, management, monitoring, and the structure of emergency response, the country is unusually transparent—and readily meets international standards.

FacebookTwitterLinkedInEmailCopy Link