Top News Trump sought options for attacking Iran to stop its growing nuclear program New York Times Pentagon says it shot down unarmed missile in sea-based test Washington Post Putin, extending Russian footprint, approves new naval facility in Sudan Reuters United States New nuclear explosion monitoring capability achieves significant milestone NNSA11/16/20 An NNSA-led team of experts is preparing to launch the next generation of equipment to detect underground nuclear explosions. Draper Lab searches for enabling technologies in guidance for submarine-launched hypersonic munitions Military Aerospace11/17/20 Prompt Global Strike hypersonic weapons could enable the U.S. to respond quickly to enemy threats with conventional or nuclear weapons payloads. Pentagon says it shot down unarmed missile in sea-based test Washington Post11/17/20 In a first for the Pentagon’s push to develop defenses against intercontinental-range ballistic missiles capable of striking the United States, a missile interceptor launched from a U.S. Navy ship at sea hit and destroyed a mock ICBM in flight on Tuesday, officials said. OPINION: Four steps Biden must take to reset the nuclear agenda Defense NewsAlex Bell 11/17/20 While the danger of nuclear weapons was rarely mentioned on the presidential campaign trail, the nuclear weapons policy approaches of the two candidates stood in stark contrast. East Asia Chinese long-range ballistic missiles struck moving ship in south china sea The Drive11/16/20 The test could represent the first full demonstration of a real Chinese long-range anti-ship ballistic missile capability. China now has the nuclear strength to hit back at a first strike, former PLA colonel says South China Morning Post11/17/20 The military has built an ‘underground Great Wall’ of tunnels to hide and move its arsenal of ballistic missiles, Wang Xiangsui tells Moganshan forum. PUBLICATION: The DPRK nuclear program UNIDIRTanya Ogilvie-White 11/16/20 “The fourth instalment of the UNIDIR Nuclear Risk Reduction policy brief series examines the risk of nuclear weapon use on the Korean Peninsula, linked to the DPRK’s accelerating capabilities, the brinkmanship of the Kim Jung Un regime, and a complex and difficult strategic environment.” ANALYSIS: Engaging North Korea anew Foreign AffairsVictor Cha 11/17/20 Made-for-TV summits have accomplished little beyond allowing North Korea to expand and deepen its nuclear weapons arsenal. Middle East Trump sought options for attacking Iran to stop its growing nuclear program New York Times11/16/20 The president was dissuaded from moving ahead with a strike by advisers who warned that it could escalate into a broader conflict in his last weeks in office. Israeli ambassador says Biden should not return to Iran nuclear deal Axios11/16/20 Israeli ambassador to Washington Ron Dermer said today the incoming Biden administration would be making a mistake if it returned to the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran. Russia and Europe Putin, extending Russian footprint, approves new naval facility in Sudan Reuters11/16/20 President Vladimir Putin on Monday approved the creation of a Russian naval facility in Sudan capable of mooring nuclear-powered surface vessels, clearing the way for Moscow’s first substantial military foothold in Africa since the Soviet fall.