Top News Russia says satellite tests created no threats in outer space Tass Action needed to address the W80-4 warhead program’s schedule constraints Governmental Accountability Office U.S. official says N.K. must return to diplomatic engagement Yonhap United States Cost tripled for missile defense warhead, despite prior warnings, GAO finds Defense News7/23/20 Despite numerous warnings of critical problems from experts within and outside the government over roughly 10 years, the cost to develop the now-canceled Redesigned Kill Vehicle program for homeland missile defense more than tripled, and the program’s schedule slipped by four years, a new U.S. government watchdog report reveals. Action needed to address the W80-4 warhead program’s schedule constraints Governmental Accountability Office7/24/20 According to the NNSA, it will deliver the first W80-4 nuclear warhead by September 2025. However, GAO found this date is more than a year earlier than the program’s own analysis says is reasonable. Arms control 2.0? With open source tools, desktop sleuths can go where governments won’t Bulletin of Atomic ScientistsHenrietta Wilson, Olamide Samuel, Dan Plesch 7/27/20 The arms control community was outraged by the Trump administration’s decision to withdraw from the Open Skies Treaty in May 2020. East Asia N.K. could react positively if S. Korea, U.S. exercise flexibility on joint drills: minister nominee Yonhap7/24/20 North Korea could respond if South Korea and the United States exercise flexibility on their summertime joint military exercises as it could be seen as a “new message” for Pyongyang, unification minister nominee Lee In-young said Thursday. U.S. official says N.K. must return to diplomatic engagement Yonhap7/24/20 A senior U.S. official has emphasized the need for North Korea to abide by U.N. Security Council resolutions and return to diplomatic engagement, the State Department said Thursday. Middle East JCPOA signatories bent on maintaining nuclear accord: Iranian envoy Press TV7/23/20 Iran’s ambassador to Moscow says the remaining signatories to the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers are determined to preserve the accord, adding that the US’ attempts at destroying the deal have not produced the exact result sought by Washington. OPINION: Does Iran really want to build nuclear weapons at any cost? maybe not HaaretzYossi Melman 7/27/20 July 13 marked the fifth anniversary of the nuclear accord between Iran and the major powers, which remains in effect until 2025. Russia and Europe U.K. and U.S. say Russia fired a satellite weapon in space BBC7/24/20 The US State Department described the recent use of “what would appear to be actual in-orbit anti-satellite weaponry” as concerning. Russia says satellite tests created no threats in outer space Tass7/24/20 Russia’s Foreign Ministry thus commented on statements by US and UK officials over the Russian satellite’s tests.