TOP NEWS Air Force test-launches intercontinental ballistic missile from Vandenberg Associated Press Iran’s Rouhani says path open for nuclear talks Financial Times Russian S-500 air missile system tested in Syria Anadolu Agency Rapidly expanding nuclear arsenals in Pakistan and India portend regional and global catastrophe Science Advances United States Air Force test-launches intercontinental ballistic missile from Vandenberg Associated Press10/2/19 The U.S. Air Force has tested an unarmed Minuteman 3 intercontinental ballistic missile with a launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Middle East Iran’s Rouhani says path open for nuclear talks Financial Times10/2/19 Iran’s president Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that the Islamic republic believed the path was open for negotiations with major powers over its nuclear activities and regional policies. East Asia North Korea announces test of new type of submarine-launched ballistic missile Washington Post10/3/19 North Korea announced Thursday it had successfully tested a new type of ballistic missile the previous day that is designed to be fired from a submarine, in a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions just ahead of a resumption of negotiations with the United States over its nuclear weapons program. Exclusive: Here’s the nuclear proposal the US plans to offer North Korea this weekend Vox10/2/19 To end the stalemate, the Trump administration plans to propose a deal to move forward on dismantling North Korea’s nuclear program — and it’s less than the all-or-nothing approach Washington has taken so far. China’s latest display of military might suggests its ‘nuclear triad’ is complete South China Morning Post10/2/19 Tuesday’s National Day parade featured the country’s latest ground, sea and air-based weapons, which allow it to conduct far-ranging attacks from any platform. Nuclear weapons, interfaith ties top agenda for pope in Asia Associated Press10/2/19 Pope Francis will voice his opposition to nuclear weapons and honor victims of Japan’s 2011 nuclear disaster during a visit to the country that is expected to be a highlight of his upcoming trip to Asia. North Korean missile delivers a message: There’s little Japan can do New York Times10/2/19 The North Korean missile that landed in Japanese waters on Wednesday offered another stark reminder of the threat posed to Japan by the kinds of short-range weapons that the North has been testing in recent months. Russia Russian S-500 air missile system tested in Syria Anadolu Agency10/2/19 The Russian S-500 air defense system was tested in Syria, Russian daily Izvestia reported on Wednesday. Analysis/Commentary Rapidly expanding nuclear arsenals in Pakistan and India portend regional and global catastrophe Science AdvancesOwen B. Toon, Charles G. Bardeen, Alan Robock, Lili Xia, Hans Kristensen, Matthew McKinzie, R. J. Peterson, Cheryl S. Harrison, Nicole S. Lovenduski, and Richard P. Turco 10/2/19 Pakistan and India may have 400 to 500 nuclear weapons by 2025 with yields from tested 12- to 45-kt values to a few hundred kilotons. If India uses 100 strategic weapons to attack urban centers and Pakistan uses 150, fatalities could reach 50 to 125 million people. Erdogan’s nuclear dream may be nightmare for U.S. ties Asia TimesOmer Taspinar 10/3/19 The crisis between Turkey and the United States over the purchase of the Russian S-400 missile-defense system, and the subsequent suspension of Turkey’s participation in the F-35 fighter jet project this year, has further clarified for Ankara the problem of relying on NATO and the United States. Keeping up with the plot of the Trump-Kim nuclear show Washington PostJon Herskovitz and Youkyung Lee 10/3/19 Three meetings between the leaders of the U.S. and North Korea resulted in no concrete plans to end Pyongyang’s atomic ambitions.