Top News: Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons set to enter into force The Diplomat House Armed Services chairman foreshadows change to nuclear posture and modernization delay if Biden wins Washington Examiner U.S. election result ‘will not affect Iran’s policy’ – Khamenei BBC United States House Armed Services chairman foreshadows change to nuclear posture and modernization delay if Biden wins Washington Examiner11/3/20 America’s nuclear modernization effort may be in for a delay or the elimination of the ground-based deterrent if Joe Biden wins the presidency, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith indicated in a recent discussion. ANALYSIS: Arms control and great power politics War on the RocksTimothy Crawford and Khang Vu 11/4/20 The administration of President Donald Trump seems to consider arms control — specifically, the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) — a useful tool to frustrate ties between China and Russia. East Asia New North Korea submarine capable of firing ballistic missiles, South says South China Morning Post11/3/20 A South Korean official said the North is building two new submarines, including a second one that can carry a submarine-launched ballistic missile. South Korean lawmaker says North building submarine capable of firing ballistic missiles The Hill11/3/20 North Korea is building two new submarines, one of which is capable of carrying submarine-launched ballistic missiles, a South Korean official told Reuters Tuesday. ANALYSIS: Living with a nuclear-arming North Korea: deterrence decisions in a deteriorating threat environment StimsonBrad Roberts 11/4/20 As the latest chapter in US diplomacy aimed at denuclearizing North Korea comes to another unhappy end, it is time to take stock. ANALYSIS: Peeking under the shroud of North Korea’s monster missile Arms Control WonkJosh Pollack 11/5/20 Some unresolved questions surround the huge new mobile missiles that North Korea showed off in last month’s parade. Middle East U.S. election result ‘will not affect Iran’s policy’ – Khamenei BBC11/3/20 “Our policy… is clearly defined. It does not change with the movement of individuals,” he said. “It does not matter to us who comes and goes.” U.S. may return to Iran nuclear deal if Biden is elected president, says Russian senator Tass11/5/20 According to him, however, it doesn’t mean that the US will ease its pressure on Iran. ANALYSIS: How a Biden win could transform U.S. policy in the Middle East and North Africa European Council on Foreign RelationsAsli Aydintasbas et al 11/3/20 Victory for Joe Biden is likely to bring three big policy shifts in the region, opening new possibilities and challenges for Europeans. Russia and Europe RESEARCH: Perceptions in the Euro-Atlantic UNIDIRUlrich Kuhn 11/2/20 The third instalment of our Nuclear Risk Reduction policy brief series, this publication looks at the risk of nuclear weapons use in the Euro-Atlantic. It discusses sources of the political volatility and risk drivers that are contributing to the tense environment, and recommendations in the service of nuclear risk reduction. Multilateral Arms Control Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons set to enter into force The DiplomatRajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan 11/5/20 The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), or the Nuke Ban Treaty, is set to enter into force soon. First Committee approves 22 drafts, most be recorded votes, reflecting growing divergence UN11/3/20 Reflecting a growing divergence on how best to rid the world of atomic arsenals, the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) held more than 50 separate recorded votes on multiple provisions of the 22 nuclear‑weapon‑related draft resolutions and decisions Member States approved today.