Top News Acting US defense chief: Major military drills with South Korea still on hold Military Times ‘Purged’ North Korean diplomat Kim Yong Chol appears in state media CNN This Russian Drone Looks Like a Stealth B-2 Bomber (A Test Flight Is Coming Soon) The National Interest U.S. Nuclear News Acting US defense chief: Major military drills with South Korea still on hold Military Times6/2/2019 Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said Sunday that so far he sees no need to restore large-scale military exercises with South Korea that have been curtailed over the past year as a diplomatic olive branch to North Korea. Air Force Targets Next-Day Space Launches Air Force Magazine5/31/2019 A recent Air Force solicitation takes the first steps toward being able to order space launches on just 24 hours notice, a goal that would make the service more responsive to combat developments and avoid the weeks- or months-long waits typical of launches. East Asia ‘Purged’ North Korean diplomat Kim Yong Chol appears in state media CNN6/3/2019 High-ranking North Korean diplomat Kim Yong Chol was identified attending an art performance alongside leader Kim Jong Un in the country’s state media on Sunday — two days after one of South Korea’s biggest newspapers said he had been banished and sentenced to hard labor and his deputy executed. Chinese submarine test-fires next-gen ballistic missile – reports (VIDEO) RT6/3/2019 A Chinese next-generation submarine-launched ballistic missile (JL-3) was reportedly successfully test-fired on Sunday – the same day the defense minister vowed to “fight to the end” if challenged by the US. North Korean missiles ‘similar yet different’ to Russia’s Iskander, Seoul says UPI6/2/2019 South Korea’s defense minister said Sunday the projectiles North Korea launched on May 9 are likely “very similar” to the Russian Iskander, a short-range, nuclear-capable ballistic missile. Russia/FSU/Europe Three Russian nuclear-powered subs surface through Arctic ice in drills TASS Russian News Agency6/3/2019 The Project 885 lead multirole nuclear-powered submarine and two Project 667BDRM strategic subs practiced surfacing in open water patches amid Arctic ice during drills in May, the press office of Russia’s Northern Fleet reported on Monday. This Russian Drone Looks Like a Stealth B-2 Bomber (A Test Flight Is Coming Soon) The National InterestDavid Axe 6/2/2019 Hunter-B’s much-anticipated first flight could signal the beginning of a long development that could end with the Russian air force operating fighter-style stealth drones. Opinion/Analysis/Commentary Chinese Nuclear Armed Submarines in Russian Arctic Ports? It Could Happen The National InterestLyle J. Goldstein 6/1/2019 What once seemed completely farfetched has now evidently become a topic of semi-serious discussion. Time to Abandon Denuclearization? Defense OneEric M. Brewer 6/2/2019 An unwavering faith in the gospel of denuclearization is not supported by its track record, and some of the fears of moving toward a new policy are overblown.