Top News: Tactical nuclear arms among issues discussed by Russia, U.S. in Vienna — Pentagon official TASS Japan to consider strike capability to replace missile defence system Reuters S. Korean, U.S. defense chiefs urge N. Korea to abide by peace agreements Yonhap United States U.S. sees no reason to resume nuclear tests — Department of State TASS6/24/20 Billingslea said the Russian delegation had sought to understand whether press reports regarding the U.S. plans to un-sign CTBT were accurate. OPINION: China has ‘first-strike’ capability to melt U.S. power grid with electromagnetic pulse weapon ForbesJames Conca 6/25/20 Last week, the Department of Homeland Security issued a scary report on China’s ability to conduct an Electromagnetic Pulse attack on the United States. East Asia Japan to consider strike capability to replace missile defence system Reuters6/25/20 Japan is to consider the acquisition of weapons able to strike enemy missile launchers to bolster defence against North Korea after a decision to cancel the Aegis Ashore missile defence system, the defence minister said on Thursday. North Korea says only option is to ‘counter nuclear with nuclear’ against U.S. New York Post6/25/20 North Korea claimed Thursday that, in the face of “hostile policy” by the US, it had no choice but to counter “nuclear with nuclear” — an announcement that came on the 70th anniversary of the start of the Korean War. S. Korean, U.S. defense chiefs urge N. Korea to abide by peace agreements Yonhap6/25/20 Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo and U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper on Thursday urged North Korea to abide by landmark 2018 agreements the communist nation signed for peace on the Korean Peninsula. ANALYSIS: System overload: Can China’s military be distracted in a war over Taiwan? INSSJoel Wuthnow 6/25/20 A war with Taiwan remains the primary contingency of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). While the near-term prospects of China initiating a war are low due to the enormous economic costs and military risks, the PLA must still prepare to compel Taiwan’s leaders to accept unification or, barring that, to seize and occupy the island. Middle East U.S. warns Russia, China of U.N. isolation if Iran arms ban extension blocked Reuters6/24/20 China will be isolated at the United Nations if they continue down the “road to dystopia” by blocking a U.S. bid to extend a weapons ban on Iran, U.S. Iran envoy Brian Hook told Reuters ahead of his formal pitch of the embargo to the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday. Russia and Europe Germany hails Russia-U.S. nuclear arms control talks — foreign ministry Tass6/24/20 According to the spokesman, despite the fact, that New Start is a bilateral treaty, it is “crucial for Europe”, as it forms a proper basis for disarmament Tactical nuclear arms among issues discussed by Russia, U.S. in Vienna — Pentagon official TASS6/24/20 On June 22, Russia and the United States held talks on strategic stability and arms control behind closed doors in Vienna. South Asia Pakistan-North Korea can route nuclear weapons tech via China-Turkey Economic Times6/25/20 A German report, accessed by ET, has pulled up Pakistan and North Korea for pursuing efforts to build nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction and expressed concern that China and Turkey could be used as routes to transfer either raw material or technology accessed from Europe.