Top News North Korean, South Korean, U.S. delegates had constructive meeting, host Finland says Reuters IAEA says it will ‘actively’ contribute to denuclearization process for N.K. Yonhap News Agency Pompeo appointment cements notion in Tehran that US will exit Iran deal Al-Monitor China provides ‘high-performance tracking system’ for Pakistan’s missile programme The Express Tribune EAST ASIA North Korea says its diplomatic moves are not a sign of weakness Military Times3/21/18 North Korea’s recent moves to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula are evidence of its confidence and national strength, not a sign of weakness, according to its state-run media. North Korean, South Korean, U.S. delegates had constructive meeting, host Finland says Reuters3/21/18 Informal talks held in Finland between North Korean, South Korean and U.S. delegates ended on Wednesday, the Finnish foreign ministry said, describing the talks as constructive. Koreas, US conclude ‘constructive’ talks in Finland The Washington Post3/21/18 Finland’s government said Wednesday that delegates from North Korea, South Korea and the United States concluded “constructive” unofficial diplomatic talks in the Nordic country that were widely believed to be laying the groundwork for an upcoming meeting between the Koreas and a planned U.S.-North Korea summit. IAEA says it will ‘actively’ contribute to denuclearization process for N.K. Yonhap News Agency3/22/18 A high-ranking official of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said the nuclear watchdog will play an active role in the process of North Korea’s denuclearization, a foreign ministry official said Thursday. MIDDLE EAST U.S.-European Division Clouds Effort to Salvage Iran Nuclear Deal Wall Street Journal3/22/18 A disagreement between Washington and Europe over a key Trump administration concern about the Iran nuclear agreement threatens to scuttle efforts to preserve the international accord, U.S. officials said, as talks continue on a supplemental agreement. Pompeo appointment cements notion in Tehran that US will exit Iran deal Al-Monitor3/21/18 In Tehran, the reaction to the appointment of Pompeo as secretary of state is an increasing sense that Trump is bent on withdrawing from the nuclear deal. Israel Acknowledges Having Bombed A Suspected Syrian Nuclear Reactor In 2007 NPR3/21/18 After more than a decade of silence, the Israeli Defense Forces confirmed Wednesday that an Israeli airstrike destroyed a suspected nuclear reactor under construction in Syria in 2007. U.S. makes contingency plans in case Iran nuclear talks fail Reuters3/21/18 The United States has had constructive talks about the Iran nuclear deal with Britain, France and Germany but is making contingency plans should they fail, the lead U.S. negotiator said on Wednesday. SOUTH ASIA China provides ‘high-performance tracking system’ for Pakistan’s missile programme The Express Tribune3/22/18 China has sold Pakistan a powerful tracking system in an unprecedented deal that could speed up the military’s development of multi-warhead missiles, according to South China Morning Post. China Acknowledges Sale Of Advanced Missile Technology To Pakistan NPR3/22/18 China has sold Pakistan an advanced tracking system that could boost Islamabad’s efforts to improve ballistic missiles capable of delivering multiple warheads, according to The South China Morning Post. CHINA SOLD ADVANCED MISSILE TECH TO PAKISTAN, FUELING ASIAN ARMS RACE Newsweek3/22/18 China has admitted it sold advanced missile technology to Pakistan, fueling the ballistic missile arms race developing between the Islamic republic and its arch-rivals India. U.S. NUCLEAR POLICY The U.S. military wants more plutonium triggers for nuclear warheads The Washington Post3/22/18 The U.S. military is concerned that the government isn’t moving quickly enough to ramp up American production of the plutonium cores that trigger nuclear warheads, as the Trump administration proceeds with a $1 trillion overhaul of the nation’s nuclear force. Here’s what the US should do if Russia launches a nuclear attack, according to the top American nuclear commander CNBC3/21/18 The Air Force general in charge of America’s nuclear arsenal provided a rare glimpse into what he would do if Russia launched two nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles at the United States. OPINION AND ANALYSIS General: U.S. Needs New Generation of Nuclear Weapons to Counter Russia, China and North Korea The National InterestDave Majumdar 3/21/18 The United States needs a new generation of non-strategic nuclear weapons of various yields so that Washington has options to escalate during a potential nuclear war, according to U.S. Strategic Command. Is China Abandoning Its ‘No First Use’ Nuclear Policy? The DiplomatBen Lowsen 3/21/18 China is modernizing its nuclear arsenal. Will this affect its “No First Use” nuclear policy? Can America Prevent Saudi Arabia from Going Nuclear? The National InterestEmily B. Landau and Yoel Guzansky 3/21/18 Unless the JCPOA is strengthened, Saudi Arabia may find a way to get the bomb as a counter to Iran. Russia to Receive Entire Fleet of Upgraded Supersonic Nuclear-Capable Bombers by 2030 The DiplomatFranz-Stefan Gady 3/21/18 Russia’s entire new fleet of Tu-160M2 bombers will be upgraded by 2030, the deputy Russian defense minister says.