Nuclear Policy News – September 29, 2021

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Top News

North Korea tested new ‘hypersonic missiles’: state media
NK News

AUKUS submarine deal ‘very tricky’ for nuclear inspectors – IAEA chief
Reuters

‘Neglected danger’: Nukes not in forefront in speeches at UN
Associated Press

United States

PODCAST: Strengthening our nuclear guardrails
Ploughshares FundMichelle Dover, Tom Collina, Jeffrey Lewis, Andrew Bacevich
9/28/21
Participants discuss the chain of command for nuclear launches and the recent dismissal of Leonor Tomero from the Department of Defense.

Middle East

ANALYSIS: Iran seeks to fill a Middle East power vacuum
Foreign PolicyMichael Hirsh
9/28/21
Damaged U.S. credibility following the withdrawal from Afghanistan has given Iran the impression that U.S. options in the Middle East are limited, and leveraging this will draw U.S. concessions in nuclear negotiations.

South Asia

ANALYSIS: The agonizing problem of Pakistan’s nukes
BrookingsMarvin Kalb
9/28/21
World leaders are anxious about the safety of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal, as recent events in Afghanistan have raised concerns about terrorist organizations and nuclear security.

East Asia

North Korea tested new ‘hypersonic missiles’: state media
NK News9/28/21
North Korea tested a new “hypersonic” missile called the Hwasong-8. Experts believe hypersonic missiles are intended to help North Korea evade missile defense systems.

ANALYSIS: North Korea’s arsenal has grown rapidly. Here’s what’s in it
New York TimesChoe Sang-Hun
9/29/21
North Korea’s growing arsenal features nuclear warheads, intermediate and long-range missiles, and increasingly sophisticated weaponry.

Pacific

AUKUS submarine deal ‘very tricky’ for nuclear inspectors – IAEA chief
Reuters9/28/21
Rafael Grossi noted that the IAEA must enter “a very complex, technical negotiation” with the U.S., U.K., and Australia over nuclear submarines to ensure the nonproliferation regime is not weakened.

Nuclear subs put workers in Australia’s shipbuilding hub on edge
Bloomberg9/28/21
Concerned shipbuilders in Adelaide are wondering what involvement they will have in building nuclear submarines from AUKUS.

International

‘Neglected danger’: Nukes not in forefront in speeches at UN
Associated Press9/28/21
UN speeches and the “General Debate” document did not lend significant attention to nuclear issues this year, raising concerns for nonproliferation and disarmament advocates.

ANALYSIS: The art of communicating nuclear risk
Bulletin of Atomic ScientistsSara Kutchesfahani, Tom Weis
9/29/21
Practitioners in the nuclear field should look to artists, designers, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations to craft better approaches to public communication about nuclear risk.

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