Nuclear Policy News – March 27, 2018

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TOP NEWS

Is Kim Jong Un in Beijing? Arrival of mystery train causes a stir
Washington Post

Seoul said to seek security guarantee for N Korea and denuclearization in talks
Asia Times

U.S. Experts Say Why Trump Should Support Iran Deal
New York Times

US Navy’s Virginia attack submarines will now fire nuclear weapons, marking dramatic shift
Fox News

EAST ASIA

Is Kim Jong Un in Beijing? Arrival of mystery train causes a stir
Washington Post3/27/18
On Monday afternoon, an unusual train chugged into Beijing Station under tight security.

Donald Trump, Kim Jong Un, John Bolton and the road to war in North Korea
Newsweek3/26/18
The issue now is to what end is Bolton going to use those skills as the historic Trump-Kim summit approaches.

North Korea: Kim Jong-un in China for ‘unannounced state visit’
The Guardian3/26/18
Relations have been strained due to China’s support of sanctions against North Korea’s nuclear programme

Seoul said to seek security guarantee for N Korea and denuclearization in talks
Asia Times3/27/18
South’s spy agency reveals bargaining position for inter-Korean summit to be held in April

Japan Foreign Minister Kono: U.S., Japan ‘completely in sync’ on North Korea
Reuters3/27/18
The United States and Japan are “completely in sync” over North Korea and agree that it must abolish its medium- and short-range missiles as well as intercontinental and intermediate range ballistic missiles, Japan’s foreign minister said on Tuesday.

Trump says sanctions are hurting the North Korean economy. But in some ways it appears stable.
Washington Post3/26/18
Amid the statistical blackout, there are some signs the country has remained stable, according to specialists working from commercial satellite photography, reports gathered at great risk from people in North Korea, and other sources.

What Kim Jong-un May Get in Reaching Out to China
New York Times3/27/18
A flurry of activity and speculation surrounding Beijing’s diplomatic quarter on Tuesday accompanied what officials described as an unusual, and highly secretive, visit by North Korean dignitaries, possibly even the country’s youthful leader, Kim Jong-un.

MIDDLE EAST

U.S. Experts Say Why Trump Should Support Iran Deal
New York Times3/26/18
The Iran nuclear accord, assailed by President Trump and his revamped retinue of advisers, received a strong endorsement Monday from a bipartisan group of more than 100 national security veterans, who said the United States gains nothing by scrapping it.

RUSSIA/FSU/EUROPE

Trump ordered the closure of Russian consulate near a US Navy submarine base that has a huge nuclear arsenal and is guarded by dolphins
CNBC3/26/18
President Trump expels 60 Russians from the United States and orders the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle, Washington.

U.S. NUCLEAR POLICY

US Navy’s Virginia attack submarines will now fire nuclear weapons, marking dramatic shift
Fox News3/26/18
The U.S. Navy is going to have its Virginia-class attack submarines be armed with nuclear warheads, marking a history shift in how the submarines are used.

Russia, China eclipse US in hypersonic missiles, prompting fears
The Hill3/27/18
Russia and China are outpacing the United States in the development of super-fast missile technology, Pentagon officials and key lawmakers are warning.

OPINION AND ANALYSIS

On Iran and North Korea: Don’t trust, and verify, verify, verify
Boston GlobeErnest Moniz
3/27/18
Ronald Reagan invoked the Russian proverb “trust, but verify” when negotiating nuclear disarmament with the Soviet Union, but in recent negotiations with Iran and upcoming talks with North Korea, our North Star was and must be “don’t trust, and verify, verify, verify.”

What Does Japan Think of the Iran Nuclear Deal?
The DiplomatScott Harold
3/26/18
A closer look at Tokyo’s views on the agreement and their significance.

When Trump Meets Kim Jong Un
Foreign AffairsToby Dalton and Ariel Levite
3/26/18
A Realistic Option for Negotiating With North Korea

A North Korean Gordian Knot: Undoing the Nuclear Link
The DiplomatMercy Kuo
3/27/18
With simmering tensions punctuated by two upcoming high-level dialogues – the inter-Korean summit in April followed by the Trump-Kim face-to-face in May – expectations for a fruitful outcome from these meetings are in suspense.

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