Nuclear Policy News – March 16, 2021

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Top News:

In Japan, top Biden administration officials attempt to set the tone on China
Washington Post

Biden administration officials have tried to restart talks with North Korea.
New York Times

ANALYSIS: What it would take for Biden to revive the Iran deal
NPR

United States

OPINION: Does the U.S. need a nuclear-armed hypersonic glide vehicle?
Aviation Week3/16/21
As hypersonic weapons have become a growing component of the global arsenal of nuclear warheads, U.S. policymakers and analysts have started debating the implications for strategic stability, missile defense and the long-term composition of the Pentagon’s own stockpile.

OPINION: Extending New START makes U.S. nuclear modernization imperative
The Heritage FoundationPatty Jane Geller
3/16/21
The Biden Administration has agreed to an unconditional five-year extension of New START, but policymakers must not become lulled into a false sense of security.

East Asia

In Japan, top Biden administration officials attempt to set the tone on China
Washington Post3/15/21
President Biden’s secretary of state and defense secretary began a multi-nation tour in Asia with a stop in Japan as they seek to address concerns about China with allies and partners in the region, and with Beijing directly.

Japan, U.S. to share China worry as ministers meet in Tokyo
Associated Press3/16/21
Japan and the United States joined forces Tuesday to criticize China’s “coercion and aggression” in Asia as senior ministers from both countries held their first in-person talks since President Joe Biden took office in January.

Biden administration officials have tried to restart talks with North Korea.
New York Times3/15/21
The Biden administration has tried to restart discussions with North Korea over the fate of its nuclear program, but its overtures have not been returned, the White House press secretary confirmed on Monday.

U.S. outreach to North Korea has gone unanswered, White House says
Wall Street Journal3/15/21
The Biden administration has reached out to North Korea to launch a dialogue on Pyongyang’s nuclear-weapons and ballistic-missile programs but has yet to receive a response, the White House said Monday.

ANALYSIS: While North Korean missiles sit in storage, their hackers go rampant
Foreign PolicyMorten Larsen
3/15/21
Pyongyang’s hacker armies have shown a proficiency to finding vulnerabilities and exploiting them—and the world needs to be prepared.

Middle East

Pompeo questions Biden rejoining Iran nuclear deal: It’s a ‘head-scratcher’
Fox News3/16/21
Mike Pompeo said President Biden’s foreign relations team seems “wedded” to the Iran nuclear deal during an interview on FOX Business’ “Varney and Co.”

ANALYSIS: What it would take for Biden to revive the Iran deal
NPRJackie Northam
3/16/21
One of President Biden’s campaign promises — reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal — is at a standstill.

Russia and Europe

Two down, more to go? With hypersonic weapons already in the field, Russia looks to improve features
Defense News3/15/21
Hypersonic weapons are a top priority for the Russian government, a defense analyst with the state-run think tank IMEMO has told Defense News, and with two now fielded, the country is looking into further improving the technology.

ANALYSIS: Nuclear Notebook: Russian nuclear weapons 2021
Bulletin of Atomic ScientistsHans Kristensen, Matt Korda
3/15/21
Russia is in the middle of a decades-long modernization of its strategic and nonstrategic nuclear forces to replace Soviet-era weapons with newer systems.

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