Nuclear Policy News – January 28, 2019

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TOP NEWS

US nuclear weapons: first low-yield warheads roll off the production line
The Guardian

World’s nuclear weapons club to meet in China as trade talks and Meng Wanzhou extradition deadline loom
South China Morning Post

India is Building a Deadly Force of Nuclear-Missile Submarines
The National Interest

East Asia

Perry says upcoming summit will not lead N.K. to give up nuclear weapons
Yonhap News Agency1/25/2019
The expected second summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is unlikely to lead to the North’s abandonment of its nuclear weapons, former U.S. Defense Secretary William Perry has said.

We ranked the world’s nuclear arsenals — here’s why China’s came out on top
Business Insider1/25/2019
Business Insider has ranked the world’s nuclear arsenals with the help of Hans Kristensen, the director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists. Their criteria addressed nuclear doctrine, safety, and whether the nukes work as intended and are capable of surviving an initial attack.

World’s nuclear weapons club to meet in China as trade talks and Meng Wanzhou extradition deadline loom
South China Morning Post1/26/2019
China will host a key nuclear weapons meeting in Beijing on Wednesday, the outcome of which could affect efforts to stop the spread of nuclear arms around the globe.

South Asia

India is Building a Deadly Force of Nuclear-Missile Submarines
The National Interest1/27/2019
Despite the many milestones ahead for India to bring its SSBN force to maturity, the Indian Navy may possess the missiles and boats to maintain credible submarine nuclear-deterrence by the mid-2020s.

Middle East

Meet Israel’s Super Dolphin-Class Submarine (Armed with Nukes?)
The National Interest1/27/2019
Israel’s submarine corps is a tiny force with a big open secret: in all likelihood, it is armed with nuclear weapons. According to Der Spiegel, the Dolphin II subs can stay underwater for up to eighteen days.

U.S. Hits a Wall in Efforts to Turn the Screws on Iran, Diplomats Say
Bloomberg1/25/2019
The Trump administration is pushing to re-open a special investigation into the military dimensions of Iran’s past nuclear work. But it’s not gaining traction among the international officials who can make it happen.

U.S. Nuclear Policy

US nuclear weapons: first low-yield warheads roll off the production line
The Guardian1/28/2019
The US has begun making a new, low-yield nuclear warhead for its Trident missiles that arms control advocates warn could lower the threshold for a nuclear conflict.

Opinion and Analysis

How Donald Trump’s missile defence review – and its impact on China and Russia – threatens global security
South China Morning PostAnkit Panda
1/26/2019
The Trump administration has released its missile defence review – a strategic document setting the stage for an expansion of how the US protects its territory, allies and military forces from cruise, ballistic and hypersonic threats. Ankit Panda writes, that the document’s consequences will range far past just “defence”, however.

‘Trust but verify’ is no easy task with North Korea
The HillRobert Holwill
1/26/2019
President Donald Trump expects to meet with North Korea Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un (KJU) in late February. Before he does, he should commit to Ronald Reagan’s rule for arms control agreements: “Trust but verify.”

Nuclear Diplomacy with North Korea and Iran: From Transformational to Transactional
Lawfare BlogRobert Litwak
1/27/2019
Iran and North Korea have posed thorny problems for multiple U.S. administrations. The Trump administration is trying a new tack, hoping to transform the regimes and eschewing intermediate steps. Robert Litwak of the Wilson Center calls for a more transactional approach, working incrementally to decrease the danger these rogue regimes pose rather than trying, and probably failing, to fundamentally transform them.

Special Interest

Is China’s plan to use a nuclear bomb detonator to release shale gas in earthquake-prone Sichuan crazy or brilliant?
South China Morning Post1/27/2019
China is planning to apply the same technology used to detonate a nuclear bomb over Hiroshima during the second world war to access its massive shale gas reserves in Sichuan province.

24 years ago today, the world came disturbingly close to ending
Vox1/25/2019
January 25, 2019, marks the 24th anniversary of the Norwegian Rocket Incident, which almost resulted in a US-Russian nuclear exchange. The article reflects on other close-calls in history.

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