TOP NEWS New North Korea Solution Emerges: A Down Payment on Denuclearization Wall Street Journal Companies Face A Tough Choice After Trump Pulls Out Of Iran Nuclear Deal NPR Russia to deploy new intercontinental ballistic missile systems and nuclear bombers in 2018 Newsweek North Korea’s Sudden Shift Puts South’s Leader on the Spot New York Times EAST ASIA New North Korea Solution Emerges: A Down Payment on Denuclearization Wall Street Journal5/17/18 An initial surrender of some nuclear weapons by North Korea proposed as a way to get talks with U.S. back on track U.S. demanded North Korea ship some nuclear warheads, ICBM abroad within six months: media Reuters5/17/18 The United Stated has demanded North Korea ship some nuclear warheads, an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and other nuclear material overseas within six months, the Asahi newspaper said on Thursday, citing several sources familiar with North Korean issues. U.S. Brushes Off Pyongyang’s Tough Talk, Proceeds With Planning for Summit Wall Street Journal5/16/18 North Korean official balks at assertions country should quickly dismantle its nuclear arsenal in return for economic benefits Why North Korea Is Angered by ‘Libya Model’ in Nuclear Talks New York Times5/16/18 In issuing its threat to back out of the summit meeting, the North referred to Mr. Bolton’s comments, calling them a “Libya mode of nuclear abandonment.” China urges North Korea to proceed Trump summit amid threats ABC News5/16/18 China on Wednesday urged ally North Korea not to cancel a historic summit between its leader, Kim Jong Un, and U.S. President Donald Trump. North Korean Threats Are ‘Splash of Cold Water’ on Expectations for Talks New York Times5/16/18 The White House on Wednesday brushed aside threats by North Korea to cancel a summit meeting between President Trump and its leader, Kim Jong-un, but the harsh words underscored the chasm that will separate the two leaders next month in Singapore over how to deal with North Korea’s nuclear arsenal. North Korea’s Sudden Shift Puts South’s Leader on the Spot New York Times5/17/18 The matchmaking role that has defined Mr. Moon’s presidency is suddenly in doubt. MIDDLE EAST Companies Face A Tough Choice After Trump Pulls Out Of Iran Nuclear Deal NPR5/16/18 The 2015 nuclear deal with Iran was heralded as the reopening of the country’s battered economy, and big foreign companies such as Airbus, Siemens and Samsung rushed to take advantage of the opportunity. Trump’s Iran deal pullout sends a bad message to North Korea, former UN chief says CNBC5/16/18 Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon is worried about America’s image when it comes to establishing credibility in its upcoming talks with North Korea. RUSSIA/FSU/EUROPE Russia backs EU plan to meet on Iran nuclear deal in Vienna next week Reuters5/16/18 Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Wednesday Russia supported a European Union proposal to hold a meeting on the Iran nuclear deal in Vienna next week, Interfax news agency said. Russia to deploy new intercontinental ballistic missile systems and nuclear bombers in 2018 Newsweek5/16/18 Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that 14 military units across the country will receive an upgrade to their nuclear-capable missile forces by the end of the year. SOUTH ASIA Indian minister holds talks in North Korea, first trip in 20 years Reuters5/16/18 India has sent a government minister to North Korea for the first time in nearly two decades for talks on political and regional issues, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday, following signs of a thaw on the Korean peninsula. U.S. NUCLEAR POLICY President Trump ‘Doesn’t Think He Needs’ to Prepare Much for His Meeting With North Korea’s Kim Jong Un Time5/16/18 With just one month until a scheduled sit-down with North Korea’s leader, President Donald Trump hasn’t set aside much time to prepare for meeting with Kim Jong Un, a stark contrast to the approach of past presidents. Navy Looks Outside Budget To Help Build New Boomers Breaking Defense5/16/18 The Navy is moving ahead with its Ohio replacement submarines, and is using a little-noticed budgetary gimmick to pay for some of it. OPINION AND ANALYSIS Killing the nuke deal won’t bring the regime change Iran hawks want The HillFarshad Farahat 5/16/18 The implementation of the umbrella sanctions will again consolidate the Revolutionary Guard’s economic power. North Korea’s bluff should be a White House wake-up call Washington Post5/16/18 North Korea’s threat to call off the summit meeting between dictator Kim Jong Un and President Trump next month is surely a bluff, but all the same it should serve as a wake-up call for the White House. What we talk about when we talk about North Korean denuclearization NK NewsAbigail Stowe-Thurston and Adam Mount 5/16/18 The Trump administration must be clearer about what it expects from Pyongyang On North Korea, Trump is getting played by both sides Washington PostPaul Waldman 5/16/18 Back to today: Are these threats from North Korea just gamesmanship? Sure. But they also suggest that the president is getting played, not just by Kim but by some in his own administration. John Bolton proposed the ‘Libya model’ for North Korea. Why is Pyongyang so angry about it? Washington Post5/17/18 If you’re serious about peace and denuclearization, maybe don’t mention Libya. How Iran Will Determine the Nuclear Deal’s Fate Foreign AffairsAriane Tabatabai 5/16/18 The Decision-Making Process Is No Simple Top-Down Exercise Enough with the gamesmanship. Dealing with North Korea requires pragmatism. Washington PostBob Menendez 5/16/18 We must be clear-eyed about the challenges ahead. On the objectives of arms control Arms Control WonkMichael Krepon 5/16/18 With the benefit of hindsight, have the canonical objectives of nuclear arms control been met or surpassed?