Top News China Missile Buildup Exposes Nuclear Spending Divide in Congress Wall Street Journal Satellite images reveal North Korea expanding facility used to produce weapons-grade uranium CNN Australia, UK and U.S. to ‘engage’ with IAEA over nuclear submarines Reuters United States China Missile Buildup Exposes Nuclear Spending Divide in Congress Wall Street Journal9/17/21 Spending debates between Congressional Democrats and Republicans have intensified as China continues its military buildup. ANALYSIS: What is the sole purpose of U.S. nuclear weapons? Federation of American ScientistsAdam Mount 9/16/21 The U.S. should clearly define the sole purpose of its nuclear weapons through a declaratory policy and presidential directives. OPINION: Generals should not have to break the rules to prevent nuclear war Defense OneTom Collina 9/16/21 President Biden should reform the rules and procedures surrounding presidential nuclear authority so the president can only authorize retaliatory strikes on their own, while first-strikes require Congressional approval. East Asia Yongbyon Nuclear Research Center’s UEP may not be operating 38 North9/16/21 Cooling units were removed from the Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center sometime in late August, signaling that the uranium enrichment plant (UEP) may not be operating. Satellite images reveal North Korea expanding facility used to produce weapons-grade uranium CNN9/16/21 North Korea is expanding the Yongbyon Nuclear Research Facility, according to analysis by the Center for Nonproliferation Studies. Pacific Australia, UK and U.S. to ‘engage’ with IAEA over nuclear submarines Reuters9/16/21 The U.S., U.K., and Australia have reassured the IAEA that they will be “engaging” with the organization on safeguards and nuclear submarines in the near future. ANALYSIS: The new Australia, UK, and US nuclear submarine announcement: a terrible decision for the nonproliferation regime Bulletin of Atomic ScientistsSébastien Philippe 9/17/21 The U.S., U.K., and Australia nuclear submarine deal has negative implications for the nonproliferation regime because it introduces poorly monitored uranium into Australia and sets the precedent for sharing nuclear submarine technology. ANALYSIS: Could AUKUS give Iran a nuclear excuse? PoliticoAlexander Ward and Quint Forgey 9/17/21 By giving nuclear submarine technology to Australia, the U.S. and U.K set a dangerous precedent that provides Iran with an excuse to pursue nuclear submarines and access highly enriched uranium through a safeguards loophole. International OPINION: Nuclear weapons and climate change: the two great challenges European Leadership NetworkDavid Hannay 9/16/21 Former U.K. ambassador to the European Economic Community and United Nations David Hannay emphasized that the two greatest challenges facing the international community are nuclear weapons issues and climate change.