Top News: ANALYSIS: Examining international security at the nuclear nexus Defense News North Korea developed nuclear, missile programs in 2020: U.N. report Reuters U.S. may weigh baby steps to revive Iran nuclear deal Reuters United States ANALYSIS: Examining international security at the nuclear nexus Defense NewsRebecca Hersman, Maxwell Simon 2/8/21 The days of the so-called nuclear priesthood are numbered, not just because of the type of outdated policy primacy and elitism it suggests, but because future nuclear policy cannot survive and thrive in a sequestered existence apart from the push and pull of other strategic security challenges. FACTSHEET: New START Treaty mythbusters U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Russia2/3/21 New START prevents the Russian Federation from uploading more warheads onto its modernized ballistic missile force than the maximum permitted by the treaty. East Asia North Korea developed nuclear, missile programs in 2020: U.N. report Reuters2/8/21 North Korea maintained and developed its nuclear and ballistic missile programs throughout 2020 in violation of international sanctions, helping fund them with some $300 million stolen through cyber hacks, according to a confidential United Nations report seen by Reuters on Monday. U.S. officials fear China intends to expand its nuclear arsenal South China Morning Post2/9/21 Defence minister says France has exclusive economic zones in the Indo-Pacific that it intends to protect. China cool to Biden administration attempt to negotiate nuclear deal Fox News2/6/21 U.S. officials fear China intends to expand its nuclear arsenal. Middle East U.S. may weigh baby steps to revive Iran nuclear deal Reuters2/8/21 The United States is weighing a wide array of ideas on how to revive the Iranian nuclear deal, including an option where both sides would take small steps short of full compliance to buy time, said three sources familiar with the matter. Biden says U.S. won’t lift sanctions before Iran returns to nuclear deal NPR2/7/21 The United States and Iran remain at odds over what comes next in their standoff over Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Russia and Europe STRATCOM chief claims nuclear war with Russia or China a “real possibility” RT2/6/21 The head of US Strategic Command is warning that nuclear war with Russia or China is “a real possibility,” pointing to “destabilizing” behaviors of America’s rivals. Multilateral Arms Control ANALYSIS: Engaging the non-NPT nuclear-armed states UNIDIRWilfred Wan 2/9/21 In the fifth installment of the Nuclear Risk Reduction policy brief series, Wilfred Wan explores the ways in which all States have a role to play in the risk reduction conversation, including the nuclear-armed States outside the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).