TOP NEWS ANALYSIS: Hypersonic missiles: Why the new “arms race” is going nowhere fast Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists ANALYSIS: Why EU powers rejected Trump’s call to leave Iran nuclear deal Voice of America VIDEO: Russia’s hypersonic Kinzhal missile in action during large-scale drills in the Black Sea RT United States OPINION: Building post-INF missiles would be a waste, or worse Defense OneKingston Reif and Shannon Bugos 1/10/20 There is no military need for intermediate range missile in Europe. Canada Ontario alert warned of a nuclear ‘emergency,’ then backed down New York Times1/12/20 Millions of people in Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, were greeted by a screeching alarm on their cellphones on Sunday morning and an ambiguous “emergency alert” about an “incident” at one of the world’s largest nuclear power plants. Europe/Russia VIDEO: Russia’s hypersonic Kinzhal missile in action during large-scale drills in the Black Sea RT1/10/20 Russia’s cutting-edge, air-launched Kinzhal cruise missile has been spotted during massive military drills in the Black Sea, which also featured other missile weaponry, including the trusted Kalibr cruise missiles. Middle East ANALYSIS: Why EU powers rejected Trump’s call to leave Iran nuclear deal Voice of AmericaMichael Lipin 1/11/20 European powers have rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for them to join him in abandoning the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, with several factors pushing them to try to keep the deal alive, analysts say. East Asia North Korea says won’t trade nuclear weapons for sanctions lift Bloomberg1/11/20 North Korea won’t rely on the personal relationship between its leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump as it doesn’t intend to trade its nuclear weapons for a lift of sanctions, its state-run media said, citing a Foreign Ministry advisor. Defense Minister Taro Kono to meet U.S. defense chief Mark Esper in Washington, inspect missile-defense system in Hawaii Japan Times1/11/20 Defense Minister Taro Kono said Friday he will visit Washington this coming week for a meeting with his U.S. counterpart, Mark Esper, to discuss the situation in the Middle East and other regional affairs. ANALYSIS: Minor modifications at the abandoned 50 MWe reactor at Yongbyon 38 NorthFrank V. Pabian 1/10/20 Commercial satellite imagery of the previously abandoned, never completed, 50 MWe (200 MWth) Reactor at North Korea’s Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center indicates several unusual activities have occurred around this site over the past several years. ANALYSIS: As Trump targets Iran, North Korea’s Kim would be wise to tone down his rhetoric and lie low South China Morning PostJohn Barry Kotch 1/13/20 When the US invaded Iraq in 2003, North Korea’s Kim Jong-il went into hiding, fearing he may end up being targeted like Saddam. As US-Iran tensions escalate now, it is worth wondering what lesson Kim Jong-un has drawn from that episode ANALYSIS: As Iran-U.S. drama plays out, North Korea leader Kim Jong Un takes notes Channel News AsiaSteven Borowiec 1/11/20 To Kim, the Iran crisis underscores how vital nuclear weapons are to the hermit kingdom and how important patience is in playing the long game. South Asia ANALYSIS: Foundational basics of Pak nuclear program Pakistan TodayRajkumar Singh 1/10/20 Pakistan gradually moved from a civilian to a civil-military nuclear program and ultimately a de facto nuclear weapon state. Hypersonic Missiles ANALYSIS: Hypersonic missiles: Why the new “arms race” is going nowhere fast Bulletin of the Atomic ScientistsAndrew W. Reddie, CSIS PONI Mid-Career Cadre 1/13/20 The systemic consequences of hypersonic missiles will be minimal to nil, and the narrative that Washington is “behind” in a hypersonic arms race fails to take into account the different strategic challenges facing China, Russia, and the United States—not least that the United States need not overcome an adversary’s missile defense systems.