Top News: No countermeasure for Russia’s Kinzhal hypersonic missile at this point — Rostec CEO Tass U.S. Navy tests second stage hypersonic missile motor The Defense Post Phased approach to North Korea’s nuclear program gaining traction Korea Times United States U.S. Navy tests second stage hypersonic missile motor The Defense Post9/3/21 The U.S. Navy Strategic Systems Programs live tested the second stage Solid Rocket Motor (SRM) in support of the navy’s Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) offensive hypersonic strike capability and the army’s Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW). East Asia Phased approach to North Korea’s nuclear program gaining traction Korea Times9/2/21 Grappling with the fallout from its withdrawal from Afghanistan, the United States is weighing the possibility of shifting its tone on North Korea’s nuclear program ― in other words, seeking to maintain the status quo on the Korean Peninsula rather than aggressively pursuing complete denuclearization. ANALYSIS: What the restarting of North Korea’s Yongbyon reactor means CarnegieAnkit Panda 9/2/21 North Korea’s five-megawatt electrical reactor at its Yongbyon complex appears to be back up and running. ANALYSIS: Why did North Korea restart its nuclear reactor? The DiplomatMitchShin 9/2/21 The reported restart of the Yongbyon nuclear reactor is likely a bid for attention at a time when the United States is more focused on China’s rise. OPINION: China pushes for nuclear weapons buildup after U.S. claims it will surpass Russia’s arsenal Newsweek9/2/21 The Global Times, a China state-run media outlet, denied its nuclear arsenal will surpass Russia’s nuclear capabilities anytime soon, but advocated for continuing to develop the weapons to deter a conflict with the United States. OPINION: Japan should develop strike capabilities to agument its defense Heritage FoundationBruce Klinger 9/2/21 To date, Tokyo has reserved discussion of attacking enemy targets on foreign soil to North Korean contingencies. Middle East Iran nuclear deal: What’s next for the JCPOA? Al Jazeera9/3/21 With a conservative government in Iran and Biden touting ‘other options’, restoring JCPOA will be difficult, analysts say. OPINION: After Biden’s Afghanistan blunder, is the Iran nuclear deal finally dead? The HillAndrew Lathan 9/2/21 U.S and Iranian negotiators took a break earlier this summer after six rounds of indirect talks to revive the Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Russia and Europe No countermeasure for Russia’s Kinzhal hypersonic missile at this point — Rostec CEO Tass9/1/21 The Kinzhal is the newest Russian aviation complex that includes the MiG-31K carrier plane and a hypersonic missile.