1 Nuclear, MissileNuclear, Missile & Space Digest & Space Digest
Volume 12, Number 3 A Fortnightly Newsletter from the Indian Pugwash Society February 2020
Convenor Contents A. India Amb. Sujan R. Chinoy ó India's communication satellite GSAT-30 launched successfully ó Dr. Jitendra Singh launches Bhuvan Panchayat V 3.0 Web portal Space technology has reached the houses of common man, says Minister ó India Can Bring US Back Into Compliance With Iran Nuclear Deal: Iran Finance Minister Javad Zarif ó Gaganyaan astronauts to get ISRO's module-specific training in India after Russia session ó PM congratulates ISRO on GSAT-30 launch ó India test fires K-4, a 3,500 km nuclear-capable missile meant for Arihant submarine Executive Council ó Adani out of race for mega Navy submarine deal, Ministry of Defence shortlists 2 firms Cdr. (Dr.) Probal K. Ghosh ó India Tests K-4 Submarine-Launched Missile, Pushing Its Sea-Based Air Marshal S. G. Inamdar Deterrent Forward (Retd.) ó Kashmir, UN, defence, nuclear pacts - France has always had India's back, no matter what Dr. Roshan Khanijo ó Imran Khan's remarks on India, Kashmir show frustration: MEA Amb. R. Rajagopalan ó K4 test and new fighter base boost India's Act East Policy ó Chandrayaan 3: Isro Starts Work on Second Lander Mission to the Moon, Dr. Rajesh Rajagopalan Launch Planned in Early 2021 Shri Dinesh Kumar ó India, Russia discuss cooperation in third countries Yadvendra ó Nuclear power for India! Stalled reactor project to get back on track ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit ó Chandrayaan-2 stimulated youth's interest in technology: President Kovind
B. China ó China regrets Britain, France, Germany's decision to trigger Iran deal dispute mechanism ó China's first LEO 5G broadband satellite moves into orbit ó Chinese Rocket Force exercise ensures nuclear counterattack capability ó China reveals space plan for 2020 ó China makes major breakthrough in space propulsion technology ó China and Russia's push to develop hypersonic weapons raises fears of arms race with US ó Three seaborne launches planned for Long March 11 rocket this year
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C. Pakistan ó Pakistan Nuclear Smuggling Activity Caught as US Indicts Five Men for Running Weapons Racket ó Idea of war between two nuclear-armed countries can't even be contemplated, says PM Imran ó Pakistan expresses concern over India's missile defence system ó Pakistan today conducted a successful training launch of surface to surface ballistic missile Ghaznavi, capable of delivering multiple types of warheads upto a range of 290 kilometers. ó Indian Nuclear Threats Must Be Taken Seriously: AJK President:
D. USA ó U.S. allows time to wind down deals hit by fresh Iran sanctions ó Orano achieves industry first in used fuel transfer ó Trump, EU chief to meet in Davos as U.S tariffs loom over digital tax: sources ó Large-box cask transfers resume at WIPP ó U.S. urges China to join nuclear arms talks with Russia ó US committee hears plea for Green Nuclear Deal ó GEH and TerraPower team up for VTR development ó Oak Ridge prepares for legacy waste processing ó San Onofre dismantlement starts next month ó US DOE funds compact particle accelerator development ó U.S. renews waivers on Iran nuclear work, but sanctions top Iran nuclear official ó Edging World Closer to Nuclear War, Trump Deploys 'Low Yield'-More 'Usable'-Atomic Warhead on US Submarine ó Illinois governor wants clean energy legislation, could push state out of PJM power grid ó GE Hitachi initiates US licensing of BWRX-300
E. Europe ó Germany confirms Trump made trade threat to Europe over Iran policy ó UK's Johnson, France's Macron reiterate commitment to Iran nuclear deal ó Macron, meeting Netanyahu, says Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons ó Denmark urges all JCPOA signatories to honor their obligations ó EU chief, German FM discuss JCPOA
F. Russia ó New sea tanker to enter service with Russia's Northern Fleet on January 21 ó Russia's Nuclear-Powered Icebreaker Escorts Up 54% in 2019 ó Lavrov slams E3's statement on Iran nuclear deal as 'dangerous turn' ó US and Russia discuss possibility of moving beyond bilateral format on arms control ó Rosatom transfers Tianwan unit 3 to Chinese customer ó KHNP awards new uranium enrichment contract to Russia's Tenex ó NATO initiates dangerous games in space - Lavrov ó Shipbuilders to build five more Project 23130 logistic support tankers for Russian Navy ó New sea tanker enters service with Russia's Northern Fleet ó Third Project 22220 serial icebreaker to be laid by July 2020 - Baltic Shipyard 3 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
ó Russia completes testing of latest fast reactor fuel ó Russia expects commission on Iranian nuclear deal to prevent crisis ó Russia proceeds with tests of new fast reactor fuel ó Russia-North Korea Trade Up Despite Sanctions, Reports Say ó Russian floating nuclear plant supplies 10GWh of electricity to Chukotka ó First serial batch of MOX fuel loaded into BN-800 ó Fortum, Tractebel to assist in Estonian SMR deployment ó Roscosmos says first Russian nuclear space tug set for launch in 2030 ó Kazatomprom to sell stake in enrichment JV
West Asia G. Iran ó Iran's Rouhani threatens European troops amid nuclear pressure ó Iran's nuclear enrichment at higher level than before 2015 deal: Rouhani ó E3 think they're living in 19th century: Zarif ó Iran's top leader praises attack on US bases in Iraq ó Zarif says Iran will never negotiate a new deal with U.S. ó Iran may review cooperation with IAEA if EU pressure mounts: TV ó Iran says it is preparing for satellite launch ó Iran says it will quit global nuclear treaty if case goes to U.N. ó Zarif says quitting NPT to be raised if Europeans refer Iran to UN Security Council ó Iran has not ruled out talks to end nuclear dispute ó Iran threatens to quit global nuclear treaty and build a bomb ó Iran MP offers reward for killing Trump, U.S. calls it 'ridiculous' ó By triggering dispute mechanism, Europe proves its incapability: Salehi ó Iran tells Europe not to follow U.S. by undermining nuclear pact ó No talks over NPT withdrawal in cabinet: Iran ó Iranian diplomat says maximum pressure will spread unilateralism ó Trump administration officials to brief senators on Iran next week ó EU's Borrell extends timeline for dispute mechanism on Iran deal ó Fars news goes offline 'due to U.S. sanctions' ó 'NPT withdrawal plan' now on MPs' agenda
H. Saudi Arabia ó Saudi Arabia a 'pioneer' in energy transformation, minister tells Davos ó Saudi Arabia's envoy to UK: We need to do a better job of showing who we are
I. Iraq ó Iraqi FM: U.S. pullout from Iran nuclear deal destabilizes region ó U.S. seeks Iraqi nod to bring in air defenses after Iran attack
J. Turkey ó Turkey, Japan scrap partnership in Sinop nuclear plant in Turkey's north ó Welded reactor cover completed for Turkey's first nuclear plant: Akkuyu NPP ó 'Armenian nuclear plant poses threat to Turkey' 4 Volume 12, Number 3 February 15, 2020
K. Israel ó Report: Israel, Russia agree in principle on Issachar pardon, finalizing details ó Energy minister: Israel stopped 'very serious' cyber attack on power plant
East Asia L. North Korea ó North Korea's Kim taps tough-talking military veteran as foreign minister ó North Korea signals tougher stance against US ó North Korea says may seek 'new path' of weapons build-up ó North Korea abandons nuclear freeze pledge, blames 'brutal' U.S. sanctions ó North Korea to make Munich Security Conference debut in 2020 ó North Korea to make Munich Security Conference debut in 2020 ó North Korea urges citizens to 'break through barriers' as nuclear standoff continues ó US defense official expresses support for peace declaration with N. Korea ó Satellite imagery suggests security patrols at NK nuclear test site ó North Korea's Kim offers condolences to China's Xi about virus outbreak: KCNA
M. South Korea ó US envoy surprised that NKorea didn't give 'Christmas gift' ó S. Korea, US agree to closely coordinate on inter-Korean projects: nuclear envoy ó Inter-Korean cooperation will occur within framework of denuclearization: official ó S. Korea to jack up spending on energy R&D in 2020 ó Moon stresses military reform, innovation ó US to continue 'patient' diplomacy with N. Korea: official ó Furlough threat hangs over US military bases in S. Korea ó Moon says no progress in nuclear talks with North Korea in 2019 'regrettable' ó S. Korean envoy departs for Europe for talks on denuclearization, peace efforts
N. Japan ó Costs for managing Japan's nuclear plants to total 13 trillion yen ó Residents win appeal to halt Ikata reactor over safety fears ó Japan's Shikoku Electric says to delay nuclear reactor restart after court order ó Japan nuclear plant host town mayor received money from construction firm ó Kansai Electric begins extracting MOX fuel from nuclear plant ó Kepco to halt two nuclear reactors after missing counterterrorism deadline
O. Misc ó U.N. sanctions experts warn - stay away from North Korea cryptocurrency conference ó Michelle Nichols ó US sends nuke-detecting plane to air base in Japan ó Why nuclear doomsday threat is not waning ó Love without borders, or nuclear threats? ó The NPT - nuclear development for the few ó Canada Nuclear Waste Storage Plan Near Lake Huron Faces Vote ó Iran's revenge might be to go nuclear 5 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
P. Op-Ed India ó Inside India's Large and Deadly Nuclear Weapons Program ó India Stands Up New Su-30MKI Squadron ó Explained: What is Vyommitra's space job? China ó US should repent over its foiled plot against Huawei ó US Space Force can't be taken lightly Pakistan ó Pakistan Has a Truly Deadly and Scary Nuclear Weapons Program ó India's Evolving Nuclear Posture: Implications for Pakistan USA ó How America Planned to Use Its Nimitz-Class Aircraft Carriers Against Russia ó Why and How Russia Is Jamming American Fighter Jets Near Iran ó The United States Must Contain North Korea ó Iran-US conflict: Worst is over, but core issues remain unresolved ó Want to stop climate change? Embrace the nuclear option ó How America's B-1 Bomber Is Basically a Flying Missile Carrier ó Why the Navy's Decision to Build the First Supercarrier Was Such as Big Deal Europe ó Europe Gives More Time to Nuclear Diplomacy ó Europe's Goals To Activate Snapback Mechanism: Buy Time Or Take Case To Security Council? Russia ó Is Russia's Submarine Force Dying? ó How Russia's Kilo-Class Submarines Are a Huge Threat to American Aircraft Carriers ó Sailing These Russian Nuclear Submarines Was Basically A Suicide Mission ó How We Know Russia Is Probably (Not) Secretly Testing Nuclear Weapons Underground ó These 5 Submarines Could Destroy The World In 30 Minutes West Asia Iran ó Iranian regime under pressure from three sides ó How close is Iran to producing a nuclear bomb? ó 'Europe must take a separate path from U.S.' ó Iran's one strike may have changed Mideast forever Turkey ó The Rift Between Turkey and America Has Paved the Way for Russia's Rebound ó The Turkish-Qatari Axis Challenges Washington ó Ties binding Turkey and Russia more diverse than ever Israel ó Netanyahu calls for sanctions against International Criminal Court ó Trump Is Failing to Protect Israel Against Iran East Asia North Korea ó Taking 'new path' ó Test in March on N. Korea South Korea ó Joseon era of 19th century vs. 21st century Korea ó Test in March on N. Korea 6 Volume 12, Number 3 February 15, 2020
Japan ó Japan planning to release over a million tonnes of radioactive water into sea from Fukushima power plant
Q. Think Tanks ó Memo to Mr. Trump: This nuclear treaty with Russia will make you a winner! ó Don't gut the US-South Korea alliance ó Bosnia and Herzegovina Veterinary Labs Equipped to Diagnose Animal Diseases Using Nuclear-Derived Techniques ó Physicists mobilize to reduce the nuclear threat. Again. ó New START: The Future of U.S.-Russia Nuclear Arms Control ó The low-yield nuclear warhead: A dangerous weapon based on bad strategic thinking ó Why U.S.-Iran Conflict Suits Russia ó Russia Is Updating Their Nuclear Weapons: What Does That Mean for the Rest of Us? ó The US has a backup plan to kill the Iran nuclear deal. It could spark a crisis at the UN. 7 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
A. India Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh launched the Bhuvan India’s communication satellite Panchayat V 3.0 web portal in Bengaluru GSAT-30 launched successfully today.
PIB Delhi, January 17, 2020 Speaking after inaugurating the National India’s latest communication satellite GSAT- Workshop on “Space Based Information 30 was successfully launched from Support for Decentralised Planning the Spaceport in French Guiana during the Update”, the Minister appreciated the early hours today. The launch vehicle ISRO’s effort in developing the portal and Ariane 5 VA-251 lifted off from Kourou also said that Space technology has Launch Base, French Guiana at 2:35 am reached the houses of the common man. IST carrying India’s GSAT-30 and He further said that the space technology EUTELSAT KONNECT for Eutelsat, as has contributed to ease of living of common scheduled. After a flight lasting 38 man. Space technology has applications minutes 25 seconds, GSAT-30 separated in various fields, he said. The Government from the Ariane 5 upper stage in an initiatives have boosted the Indian Space elliptical Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit. Programme, he added. The Minister added that that the vision of Vikram Sarabhai has With a lift-off mass of 3357 kg, GSAT- been fulfilled. 30 will provide continuity to operational services on some of the in-orbit satellites. https://pib.gov.in/ GSAT-30 derives its heritage from ISRO’s PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1600855 earlier INSAT/GSAT satellite series and will replace INSAT-4A in orbit. “GSAT- India Can Bring US Back Into 30 has a unique configuration of providing Compliance With Iran Nuclear flexible frequency segments and flexible Deal: Iran Finance Minister Javad coverage. The satellite will provide Zarif communication services to Indian mainland and islands through Ku-band and wide India, January 17, 2020 coverage covering Gulf countries, a large ‘India has good relations with the US,’ said number of Asian countries and Australia Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad through C-band” ISRO Chairman Dr K Zarif on Friday has sought New Delhi’s Sivan said. Dr. Sivan also said that ”GSAT- assistance in recoursing the United States 30 will provide DTH Television Services, for negotiating on withdrawing from the connectivity to VSATs for ATM, Stock- nuclear deal. “India can play a leading role exchange, Television uplinking and in bringing US back into compliance with Teleport Services, Digital Satellite News the agreement and we’ll not reject that Gathering (DSNG) and e-governance possibility,” Zarif said, speaking at a public applications. The satellite will also be used event. for bulk data transfer for a host of emerging telecommunication applications.” “India is a very dear friend of Iran and has good relations with US, it can https://pib.gov.in/ encourage US to come back to the table,” PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1599635 he added, seeking India’s support in building a dialogue with the US to pursue Dr Jitendra Singh launches Bhuvan negotiations. The Iran foreign minister’s Panchayat V 3.0 Web portal Space statement comes a day after he outrightly technology has reached the houses refused any negotiations with the global of common man, says Minister superpower and described the current political situation in West Asia as PIB Delhi, January 28, January 2020 dangerous and sad.
The Union Minister of State (I/C) Ministry https://www.india.com/news/world/india-can- of Development of North Eastern Region, bring-us-back-into-compliance-with-iran-nuclear- MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances and deal-iran-finance-minister-javad-zarif-3913001/ 8 Volume 12, Number 3 February 15, 2020
Gaganyaan astronauts to get ISRO’s French Guiana in the early hours of Friday. module-specific training in India https://www.deccanherald.com/national/pm- after Russia session congratulates-isro-on-gsat-30-launch- Sandhya Ramesh, The Print, January 17, 795624.html 2020 India test fires K-4, a 3,500 km The four astronauts, who have been selected for the Gaganyaan project, will begin their nuclear-capable missile meant for 11-month training in Russia from next Arihant submarine week. Union Minister of State (Independent Snehesh Alex Philip, The Print, January 19, Charge) for Atomic Energy and Space 2020 Jitendra Singh has said in a statement the astronauts shall also receive module-specific After repeated delays, India successfully training in India after that. In India, “they test fired the 3,500 km range K-4 nuclear- will be trained in crew and service module capable missile meant for the indigenous designed by ISRO, learn to operate it, work Arihant-class submarines. The missile was around it and do simulations”, said the tested Sunday from a fixed underwater statement. pontoon on the east coast. This is the fourth time the Defence Research and ISRO has put out a call asking for 10 types Development Organisation (DRDO) has of microgravity experiments to be placed attempted to test fire the missile since inside and outside the crew module. October, but various climatic conditions Experiments with bacteria, medical prevented it. investigations, environmental monitoring, and more are also expected to take place. The K-4 is the most potent missile in India’s inventory that can be fired from a https://theprint.in/science/gaganyaan-astronauts- submarine, giving the country to-get-isros-module-specific-training-in-india- unprecedented second-strike capability after-russia-session/350893/ and a huge deterrence power.
PM congratulates ISRO on GSAT-30 https://theprint.in/defence/india-test-fires-k-4-a- launch 3500-km-nuclear-capable-missile-meant-for- arihant-submarine/351853/ Deccan Herald, January 17, 2020 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday Adani out of race for mega Navy congratulated the Indian Space Research submarine deal, Ministry of Organisation for the launch of its first Defence shortlists 2 firms satellite in the year 2020, saying it will help Snehesh Alex Philip, The Print, January 21, in enhancing DTH services, ATM and stock 2020 exchange connectivity. “Congratulations to our @isro team for the first satellite launch The Ministry of Defence Tuesday of 2020. GSAT-30, with its unique shortlisted two domestic firms for the configuration will provide DTH Television multi-billion-dollar contract to build six services, connectivity to ATMs, stock conventional submarines for the Indian exchanges and e-Governance. Wish many Navy. They are Larsen & Toubro and state- more successful missions to ISRO in the run Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders. Adani year,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a Group was also in the race, but wasn’t tweet quoting Modi. considered. The ministry also approved five foreign companies for the mega India’s “high power” communication contract, valued at over Rs 60,000 crore, satellite GSAT-30, aimed at providing high- which is part of a 30-year plan to construct quality television, telecommunications and 18 conventional and six nuclear-powered broadcasting services was launched submarines. successfully by Ariane space rocket from 9 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
“Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) Council, building its defence ecosystem to headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, batting for the country at critical in its first meeting of 2020 and after the multilateral forums, Paris has never shied constitution of Chief of the Defence Staff, away from promoting New Delhi’s approved shortlisting of Indian Strategic interests on the global platform. Partners (SP) and the potential Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) that While the defence cooperation between would collaborate with SPs to construct six both nations is well-known, a lesser- conventional submarines in India,” a known fact is that it was because the statement released by the defence ministry French took the lead that India was able said. to join three of the four critical nuclear non-proliferation regimes — the Missile https://theprint.in/defence/adani-out-of-race-for- Technology Control Regime (MTCR), the mega-navy-submarine-deal-ministry-of-defence- Wassenaar Arrangement and now the shortlists-2-firms/352787/ Australia Group.
India Tests K-4 Submarine- https://theprint.in/diplomacy/kashmir-un- Launched Missile, Pushing Its Sea- defence-nuclear-pacts-france-has-always-had- indias-back-no-matter-what/353155/ Based Deterrent Forward Ankit Panda, The Diplomat, January 21, 2020 Imran Khan’s remarks on India, Kashmir show frustration: MEA On Sunday, India conducted a test launch of the K-4 intermediate-range submarine- Elizabeth Roche, Livemint, January 23, launched ballistic missile (SLBM). The test 2020 was overseen by the Defense Research and India on Thursday dismissed Pakistan Development Organization (DRDO), the Prime Minister Imran Khan’s reported call Indian agency tasked with developing for global intervention to prevent a indigenous weapons systems. The test took showdown between “two nuclear-armed place in the Bay of Bengal, off the coast of countries”, saying that Islamabad’s efforts the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, near would be better spent in taking verifiable Vizag. The test took place between noon and action against terror groups on its territory 1 p.m. local time on Sunday, according to than trying to “distract” the global Indian reports. community. Indian foreign ministry A nuclear-capable missile, the K-4 will spokesman Raveesh Kumar said there was eventually arm India’s fleet of nuclear- “nothing new” in what Khan had said at propelled ballistic missile submarines. the World Economic Forum meet in the Currently, a single Indian ballistic missile Swiss resort town of Davos earlier this submarine, INS Arihant, is operational. The week. K-4 is reported to have a range capability of “His remarks suggest that he is desperate around 3,500 kilometers. and rapidly losing hope. The global https://thediplomat.com/2020/01/india-tests-k-4- community can now see through their submarine-launched-missile-pushing-its-sea- double standards. While they pretend to based-deterrent-forward/ be victims of terrorism on the one hand, they foster extremists who spread Kashmir, UN, defence, nuclear pacts terrorism in India and other countries on — France has always had India’s the other,” Kumar said. back, no matter what https://www.livemint.com/news/india/imran- Nayanima Basu, The Print, January 23, 2020, khan-s-remarks-on-india-kashmir-show-frustra- tion-mea-11579792378197.html From supporting India’s stance on the Kashmir issue at the United Nations Security 10 Volume 12, Number 3 February 15, 2020
K4 test and new fighter base boost at a space event in Bengaluru. India’s first India’s Act East Policy attempt to soft-land at a chosen spot in the lunar South Pole failed on 7 September Atul Aneja and Dinakar Peri, The Hindu, 2019, when the Vikram lander (and the January 23, 2020 rover inside it) crash-landed due to a India’s decision to test the K4 Submarine velocity glitch. That said, the mission will Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) and to feature a lander and rover, but not an establish a new base of Sukhoi-30 fighter jets orbiter. not far from the Bay of Bengal coast is https://www.firstpost.com/tech/science/ adding new teeth to its Act East Policy. It is chandrayaan-3-isro-starts-work-on-second- also reinforcing lines of contact with China’s lander-mission-to-the-moon-launch-planned-in- Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) — a giant early-2021-7959961.html connectivity project on land and sea.
The 3,500-km range K4 missile, which can India, Russia discuss cooperation be launched from Arihant class nuclear in third countries submarines, add a new dimension to India’s World Nuclear News, January 27, 2020 second strike capability—the ability to carry out a retaliatory nuclear attack after Russia and India are discussing the absorbing an initial strike by an atomic construction of power plants in Africa as weapon. The newly acquired heft to carry the next stage in their cooperation in out a crushing nuclear counterattack with nuclear energy, the Indian ambassador to an Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile Moscow, Venkatesh Varma, told Russian (IRBM), from a concealed underwater news agency RIA Novosti last week. They platform, steels India’s nuclear deterrent. could replicate the Rooppur project in Bangladesh, he reportedly said. Moscow https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/k4-test- and New Delhi are collaborating in the and-new-fighter-base-boost-indias-act-east-policy/ project to build two VVER-1200 units for article30634867.ece the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission at Rooppur, on the eastern Chandrayaan 3: Isro Starts Work on bank of the river Ganges in Pabna district. Second Lander Mission to the Moon, Unit 1 is scheduled for commissioning in Launch Planned in Early 2021 2023, the second in 2024. Firstpost, January 27, 2020 “Russia already has agreements on this topic with a number of African countries, Months after the Chandrayaan 2 Vikram Ethiopia is one of them, as well as with moon lander failed to make its intended soft- several countries in the Middle East. These landing, the Indian Space Research will be Russian projects, but with the Organisation (ISRO) has reportedly begun participation of India. Negotiations are on- work on a second attempt, with India’s third going at the initial stage, but we hope that moon mission, Chandrayaan 3. Top officials this will be a new era of cooperation at the agency have said that the mission between Russia and India in the field of is scheduled for launch as soon as 2021. On nuclear energy. This follows the success 1 January 2020, the ISRO Chairman Sivan of Russian-Indian cooperation in told media at a press conference that the Bangladesh,” the diplomat said. government had approved a spacecraft and rover to land on the Moon’s south pole latest https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/ by early 2021. India-Russia-discuss-cooperation-in-third-countrie
“We have started working on our third lunar mission to land an unmanned spacecraft near the Moon’s south pole. The project work has gained momentum to launch the lander and rover by early 2021,” Sivan said 11 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
Nuclear power for India! Stalled country’s youth, President Ram Nath reactor project to get back on track Kovind said on Friday. “The objective of ahead of US President Donald India’s space programme has always been service to humanity. Due to the tireless Trump’s visit work of country’s space scientists, Huma Siddiqui, Financial Express, January Chandrayaan-2 has stimulated a new 29, 2020 interest in technology among the country’s youth,” Ram Nath Kovind told lawmakers Ahead of the forthcoming visit of the US during a joint sitting of the Parliament. President Donald Trump next month, top officials of both sides are having several “My government has already approved rounds of talks in an effort to resolve issues Chandrayaan-3. The Isro is also working related to the six US nuclear power plants expeditiously on the manned spacecraft in India. For over a decade officials from programme - Gaganyaan, as well as both sides have had several rounds of Aditya-1 Mission,” Ram Nath Kovind commercial as well as technology-related said. negotiations for the US company to build six nuclear reactors. India has planned to https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/ triple its nuclear capacity by 2024 in an effort chandrayaan2-isro-president-ram-nath-kovind- to give up the fossil fuels. If and when the youth-gaganyaan-aditya1-1642085-2020-01-31 contract between India and the US becomes active it is expected to give a big push to the B. China country’s $150-billion nuclear power China regrets Britain, France, programme. Though the dates of President Trump’s visit have not been officially Germany’s decision to trigger Iran announced, it is expected that the visit will deal dispute mechanism be in the second half of February. Global Times, January 15, 2020 A site in Gujarat to build a nuclear power China regrets that the UK, France and station with a total capacity of 2,500 MW Germany - known as E3 - have launched has already been allotted. As has been the dispute resolution mechanism of the reported earlier, sites have been identified Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action for GE plants in Andhra Pradesh with an (JCPOA), believing that this will not help initial capacity of 3,200 MW. Negotiations solve the problem or ease current tensions, are stuck with US’ Exim Bank for a loan of the Chinese Foreign Ministry said around $8-9 billion to part-fund the building Wednesday. “China believes that there is of the reactors. In the hope that the problems a reason for Iran to reduce the could be sorted fast, the two sides were implementation of the comprehensive negotiating the terms of the loan with Exim agreement,” Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bank. spokesperson Geng Shuang said during a routine press conference in response to a https://www.financialexpress.com/defence/ query on China’s thoughts on the three nuclear-power-for-india-stalled-reactor-project-to- get-back-on-track-ahead-of-us-president-donald- countries’ pulling the diplomatic trigger on trumps-visit/1838386/ JCPOA. Geng noted that the fundamental reason for Iran’s nuclear tensions lie in US’ Chandrayaan-2 stimulated youth’s disregard of international law, unilateral withdrawal from the comprehensive interest in technology: President agreement and its extreme pressure on Kovind Iran, as well as its obstruction of other India Today, January 31, 2020 parties to fulfill the agreement. The Indian Space Research Organisation’s China will continue to maintain close (Isro) Moon mission Chandrayaan-2, India’s communication with relevant parties, second lunar mission, has stimulated a new actively promote peace talks, foster a a new interest in technology among the political and diplomatic settlement of the 12 Volume 12, Number 3 February 15, 2020
Iranian nuclear issue, and make unremitting During the undated exercise, a Rocket efforts to safeguard the comprehensive Force brigade mobilized into the launch agreement, ease tensions in the Iranian bunker at an undisclosed location and nuclear issue and the Middle East, Geng completely sealed themselves off from the added. The UK, France and Germany on outside world, as the troops readied for Tuesday formally accused Iran of combat, China Central Television (CCTV) withdrawing from the 2015 agreement that reported on Wednesday. The bunker was limited its nuclear program, taking the first then struck by a mock hostile nuclear step toward reimposing UN sanctions. Iran attack as the troops inside, fully dressed announced on January 5 that it would no in protection suits, carried out contingency longer commit to any limits on the plans and operated missiles for upcoming restrictions contained in JCPOA, a deal to counterattacks, according to the report. freeze Iran’s nuclear program in return for a progressive lifting of international They also simulated a situation where sanctions, after the US assassinated Iranian missile fuel leaked after a hostile strike and general Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad in a a troubleshooting team was immediately drone attack, CNN reported on January 6. deployed to repair. Tactics including a fast missile condition check, rapid logistics, http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/ bunker defense and hasty launch were also 1176987.shtml practiced, CCTV reported. While China is one of a few countries in the world that China’s first LEO 5G broadband operate nuclear weapons, it has promised satellite moves into orbit no first use, a military expert who asked not to be named told the Global Times on Zhang Hongpei, Global Times, January 15, Thursday. It was crucial the force survive 2020 an initial hostile strike to launch a counterattack, the expert noted. Such China’s first low-Earth orbit (LEO) 5G exercises ensure that capability and broadband satellite was successfully contribute to China’s nuclear deterrence, delivered to its preselected orbit via the the expert said. Kuaizhou-1A launch vehicle on Thursday from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/ Northwest China’s Gansu Province. The 1177156.shtml satellite, developed by domestic commercial aerospace company Galaxy Space, is the first China reveals space plan for 2020 in China with data transmission capacity of 10 gigabits per second. It’s also the world’s China Daily, January 17, 2020 first LEO broadband satellite in the Q/V China will smash its record for space band, an extremely high-frequency band, launches in 2020. The country is going to according to the company. send more than 60 spacecraft into orbit via over 40 launches this year, according to a http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/ plan released Friday in Beijing. “This year 1177150.shtml will continue to see intensive launches,” said Shang Zhi, director of the Space Chinese Rocket Force exercise Department of the China Aerospace ensures nuclear counterattack Science and Technology Corporation capability (CASC), at a press conference, where a blue book setting out China’s space Liu Xuanzun, Global Times, January 16, 2020 achievements and future missions was The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) released.According to Shang, there are Rocket Force has conducted a nuclear attack three major missions, mainly focusing on survival exercise where troops in an the completion of the BeiDou-3 Navigation underground missile facility had to endure Satellite System, the lunar exploration and extreme conditions and make sure they the network of Gaofen observation could still launch nuclear counterattacks. satellites. Two geostationary orbit BeiDou 13 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
satellites will be sent into space in the first seconds and working efficiency above 70 half of 2020. The Chang’e-5 lunar probe, percent, reaching international advanced which is expected to bring moon samples level. Such a high-power HET with back to Earth, and China’s first Mars probe features of strong thrust, long working life are also planned to be launched this year. and high reliability will be able to provide highly efficient impetus for the positioning, In addition, three new types of carrier orbital maneuvering and motion control rockets, which are the Long March-5B, Long of large GEO (geostational orbit) satellites, March-7A and Long March-8, will make deep space probes and space shuttle their maiden flights in 2020.As a new vehicles. generation of carrier rocket, the Long March- 5B has the largest carrying capacity to low- http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/ Earth orbit. It will carry the core capsule and 1177263.shtml experiment capsules of China’s space station. The Long March 7A represents the China and Russia’s push to new generation of China’s medium-sized develop hypersonic weapons high-orbit rocket. The Long March-8 rocket will increase China’s lift capacity for raises fears of arms race with US launches to sun-synchronous orbits and Minnie Chan, South China Morning Post, meet the growing needs of commercial January 19, 2020 launches. The Long March-5 rockets will be launched three times in 2020, carrying a new China became the first country to generation of manned spacecraft, a Mars announce the deployment of the missiles, probe and a Chang’e-5 probe into space. The but Russia recently announced it had CASC will also send a number of satellites developed a much more advanced version for China’s civil space infrastructure system the Avangard. Defence analysts say the and plan a series of commercial launches this weapons are not a game changer for now year, according to the blue book. China but could give Moscow extra leverage in completed 34 space launches in 2019, negotiations with the US. Recent ranking first in the world. breakthroughs in the development of hypersonic weapons have heightened fears https://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202001/17/ about a new arms race between China, WS5e21c45aa310128217271cd2.html Russia and the US, with some defence observers calling for new international China makes major breakthrough in arms control agreements. The emergence space propulsion technology of hypersonic weapons has raised concerns about the “invincible” arms, Global Times, January 19, 2020 which cannot be intercepted by any China has made a major breakthrough in existing defence systems, being used to the development of the Hall-effect thruster enhance nuclear powers’ capabilities. (HET), an important space propulsion technology. Researchers from the China A hypersonic weapon is usually defined Aerospace Science and Technology as one that reaches speeds of at least Mach Corporation (CASC) have developed the 5, five times the speed of sound. The US country’s first HET with an input power of has resumed hypersonic missile 20 kilowatts that can produce a thrust of development under Donald Trump after one newton, marking a leap for China’s his predecessor Barack Obama suspended HETs from millinewton level to newton the programme but is yet to announce the level. The applications of HETs include development of its own weapons. Russia control of the orientation and position of and China currently enjoy an advantage orbiting satellites and use as a main in the development of hypersonic propulsion engine for medium-size robotic technology, based on the number of space vehicles. successful test flights they have conducted, while India and France are close behind, During a test, the thruster showed stable according to a recent report published by operation, with a specific impulse of 3068 the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. 14 Volume 12, Number 3 February 15, 2020
“Hypersonics are not likely to substantially The five, who live outside the United States change the relationships between China, and have not been apprehended, were Russia and the US. The hype around indicted by a grand jury in October, the hypersonics, however, will generate enough Justice Department said. The indictment interest to prompt productive discussions was unsealed on Wednesday and arrest and increased Track I and Track II warrants are pending. diplomatic efforts both bilaterally and trilaterally,” she said, referring to https://www.news18.com/news/world/pakistan- backchannel diplomacy through non- nuclear-smuggling-activity-caught-as-us- indicts-five-men-for-running-weapons-racket- governmental contacts. 2461761.html https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/ article/3046667/china-and-russias-push- Idea of war between two nuclear- develophypersonic-weapons-raises-fears armed countries can’t even be contemplated, says PM Imran Three seaborne launches planned for Long March 11 rocket this year The Daily Times, January 22, 2020 Zhao Lei, China Daily, January 20, 2020 Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Wednesday that one should not even think China plans to conduct three seaborne about a conflict between two nuclear launches using its Long March 11 solid- armed states owing to the devastation it propellant carrier rocket this year, Jin Xin, would create across the world. the rocket’s deputy project manager, said. He told a news conference at China “Whatever is happening in India is Aerospace Science and Technology Corp in disastrous for people in India, specially Beijing that the launches will take place in those living in Occupied Jammu and the East China Sea from self-propelled Kashmir,” he said while speaking to the platforms. “We intend to use these missions international media on the sidelines of to further improve our seaborne launch World Economic Forum in Davos on technologies and procedures,” he said. Wednesday. “Compared with the first seaborne flight, the coming missions will feature better ships and https://dailytimes.com.pk/544139/idea-of-war- between-two-nuclear-armed-countries-cant- streamlined tracking and support systems.” even-be-contemplated-says-pm-imran/ https://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202001/20/ WS5e2500d4a3101282172721f2.html Pakistan expresses concern over India’s missile defence system C. Pakistan The News International, January 23, 2020 Pakistan Nuclear Smuggling Pakistan said Thursday that India’s Activity Caught as US Indicts Five acquisition of the S-400 ballistic missile Men for Running Weapons Racket defence system can lead to an unnecessary arms race in the region. In her weekly News 18, January 17, 2020 press briefing, Aisha Farooqui, the Five men have been indicted in the United spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign States for allegedly running an international Affairs, said Islamabad had always network that purchased US products for expressed concern over the induction of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons program. “The the S-400 Air Defense system. Answering defendants smuggled US origin goods to a question about India’s missile defence entities that have been designated for years system, she said it would harm the as threats to US national security for their regional stability as it would lead to an ties to Pakistan’s weapons programs,” unnecessary arms race in the region. assistant attorney general John Demers said She said Pakistan has proposed a in a statement. discussion on a strategic restraint regime 15 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
for South Asia that includes the proposal to Indian Nuclear Threats Must Be avoid the induction of weapons that would Taken Seriously: AJK President: contribute towards destabilisation in the region. S-400 missile system to lead to Sumaira FH, Urdu Point, January 30, 2020 renewed arms race: Pakistan Last year, Azad Jammu Kashmir President Sardar Pakistan had shared concerns that the S-400 Masood Khan while describing as an missile defence system would lead to an arms important development the tabling of six race in the region. “The Indian purchase of resolutions by the Members of European S-400 missile system is a part of their efforts Parliament in support of the demand for to acquire a Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) holding plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir System through multiple sources,” the as per the UN resolutions Thursday said Foreign Office of Pakistan said in a that now the international community has statement. realized the legitimacy of the struggle of https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/603053- the Kashmiri people for their right to self- pakistan-expresses-concern-over-indias-missile- determination. defence-system He said in a message read out at the concluding session of the Kashmir Pakistan today conducted a conference organized in Karachi by successful training launch of Pakistan Institute of International Affairs surface to surface ballistic missile (PIIA), he said that draft resolutions tabled Ghaznavi, capable of delivering in the European Parliament (EP) critical multiple types of warheads upto a of India’s Citizenship (Amendment) Act range of 290 kilometers. have also strongly condemned the Indian Citizenship Law and the use of force ISPR, January 23, 2020 against the protesters who oppose the law, AJK Presidential secretariat said in Pakistan today conducted a successful statement released to the media here training launch of surface to surface ballistic Thursday evening. missile Ghaznavi, capable of delivering multiple types of warheads upto a range of https://www.urdupoint.com/en/kashmir/indian- 290 kilometers. The training launch was part nuclear-threats-must-be-taken-seriousl- of Field Training Exercise of Army Strategic 824571.html Forces Command aimed at rehearsing operational readiness procedures during D. USA day and night. U.S. allows time to wind down The training launch was witness by deals hit by fresh Iran sanctions Lieutenant General Nadeem Zaki Manj, Director General Strategic Plans Division, Reuters, January 16, 2020 Commander Army Strategic Forces Command, Chairman NESCOM, senior The U.S. Treasury Department said on officers from Strategic Plans Division, Army Thursday it will allow for a 90-day period Strategic Forces Command, Scientists and to wind down transactions in certain Engineers of the strategic organizations. sectors of Iran’s economy hit with fresh Director General Strategic Plans Division U.S. sanctions last week. The period, good appreciated the operational preparedness of through April 9, allows transactions in the Army Strategic Forces Command for construction, mining, manufacturing or displaying a very high standard of proficiency textiles sectors of Iran’s economy that in handling and operating the weapon could be targeted under last week’s action system. He also expressed full confidence in to be wound down without exposure to the robust Strategic Command and Control sanctions, the Treasury Department said System and the capability of Strategic Forces. in an update to its frequently asked questions, or FAQs, on Iran sanctions on https://www.ispr.gov.pk/press-release- its website. detail.php?id=5592 16 Volume 12, Number 3 February 15, 2020
Entering into new business that falls under securely store the used fuel in eight the sanctions imposed on Friday, however, NUHOMS EOS Horizontal Storage would not be considered winding down and Modules (HSM), Orano said. Being able to could still be sanctionable, the FAQ said. The transfer hotter fuel assemblies and fuel United States imposed more sanctions on cooled for less time from wet to dry storage Iran on Friday in retaliation for its missile benefits operating nuclear facilities by attack on U.S. forces in Iraq last week and simplifying the management of the pools vowed to tighten the economic screws if and continuously reducing the wet-stored Tehran continued “terrorist” acts or pursued inventory of high heat and short-cooled a nuclear bomb. The targets of the sanctions fuel assemblies. included Iran’s manufacturing, mining and textile sectors as well as senior Iranian https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/ officials who Washington said were involved High-heat-load-used-fuel-transfer-is-an- in the Jan. 8 attack on military bases housing industry-f U.S. troops. Trump, EU chief to meet in Davos https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-iran- as U.S tariffs loom over digital tax: sanctions/us-allows-time-to-wind-down-deals-hit- sources by-fresh-iran-sanctions-idUSKBN1ZF24J Andrea Shalal, Alexandra Alper, Reuters, Orano achieves industry first in January 18, 2020 used fuel transfer Donald Trump is expected to meet with World Nuclear News, January 16, 2020 EU leader Ursula von der Leyen in Davos, Switzerland, next week, three sources said Orano TN has completed the first transfer on Friday, as tensions mount between the and storage of used fuel canisters with a allies over tariff threats and the U.S. higher than usual heat load using its president faces an impeachment trial at Extended Optimised Storage (EOS) dry home. Just days after Trump scored big storage system. The use of EOS, which is victories by inking a partial trade deal with licensed by the US Nuclear Regulatory China and passing a revamp of the North Commission for heat loads of up to 50 kW American Free Trade Agreement, he will per canister, means used fuel can be travel to the World Economic Forum where transferred to secure dry storage after a he is expected to discuss deepening trade shorter period of time. On removal from a disputes with the European Commission nuclear reactor, used fuel is transferred to a president. pool where it is allowed to cool sufficiently to be moved into dry storage or, in some The White House and the European countries, for reprocessing. Typically used Commission did not immediately respond fuel will remain in a pool for at least five to requests for comment. Among the raft years before this can take place. Heat load of trade issues dividing the allies, is a measurement of the used fuel’s decay Washington’s most immediate concern is heat. Averaging a total heat load per EOS France’s plan to impose a 3% digital canister of 44.75 kilowatts, the EOS system services tax, which the U.S. government is the first dry storage system to load and believes would harm U.S. technology store used nuclear fuel with heat loads well giants like Alphabet Inc’s Google and above industry experience to date, which has Amazon.com Inc, with a host of other ranged between 14-34 kW per canister, countries poised to follow suit. Orano said. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-eu/ The transfer of 296 used nuclear fuel trump-eu-chief-to-meet-in-davos-as-u-s-tariffs- assemblies from the wet storage pool at a loom-over-digital-tax-sources- US reactor to the onsite dry storage idUSKBN1ZH01D Independent Spent Fuel Storage Facility (ISFSI) used eight EOS 37PTH canisters to 17 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
Large-box cask transfers resume at top three atomic powers. But China has WIPP so far refused to take part. “We think, given the fact that China’s nuclear World Nuclear News, January 20, 2020 stockpile is estimated to double over the next ten years, now is the time to have that The US Department of Energy’s (DOE) trilateral discussion,” Robert Wood, U.S. Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) has disarmament ambassador, told reporters received its first large-box cask of transuranic on the opening day of the U.N.-backed waste since the facility’s temporary closure Conference on Disarmament in Geneva. in 2014. Re-entry into service of the TRUPACT-III cask will accelerate the pace He said that Washington had discussed of clean-up at DOE sites while reducing the potential trilateral talks in a security worker safety risks. The TRUPACT-III - meeting with Russia last week and had Transuranic Package Transporter Model 3 - reached an “understanding” about cask allows DOE Office of Environmental pursuing them. “We cannot afford to Management (EM) sites to package and ship wait,” he added. Asked how to go about large-sized transuranic waste from the pressuring Beijing to join, Wood said that defence sector in a single box rather than in he hoped Russia, and others, would help. several smaller waste boxes. Large “Hopefully over time and through the transuranic waste includes glove boxes, influence of others besides the United used motors and large-scale analytical States, they (China) will come to the table. equipment which has been contaminated We think it’s imperative for global security with small amounts of plutonium and other that the Chinese do that.” man-made radioactive elements. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump- Mark Pearcy, chief operating officer and putin-china/u-s-urges-china-to-join-nuclear- deputy operations manager of WIPP arms-talks-with-russia-idUSKBN1ZK24B management and operations contractor, said the large boxes had been added back US committee hears plea for into the portfolio of waste packages which Green Nuclear Deal can safely be shipped to WIPP for disposal after the Implementation of new waste World Nuclear News, January 22, 2020 certification requirements and readiness Environmental advocate Michael performance. This had been achieved Shellenberger has called for the US through the teamwork of the Savanah River administration to support the nation’s Site waste generator, the National TRU nuclear energy industry in what he calls a Program, and WIPP, he said. Green Nuclear Deal. Speaking to the US https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/ House of Representatives Committee on Large-box-cask-transfers-resume-at-WIPP Science, Space, and Technology last week, Shellenberger said people need not be U.S. urges China to join nuclear passive victims of climate change and there is much that could be done to reduce the arms talks with Russia impacts of “climate-driven extremes”. Emma Farge, Reuters, January 21, 2020 Shellenberger was speaking as an expert The United States urged China on Tuesday witness at the 15 January hearing, An to join trilateral nuclear arms talks with Update on the Climate Crisis: From Moscow, calling Beijing’s secrecy around Science to Solutions. The president of growing stockpiles a “serious threat to research and policy organisation strategic stability”. U.S. President Donald Environmental Progress, he was one of a Trump said last year he had discussed a new panel of five expert witnesses called to accord on limiting nuclear arms with testify before the full committee meeting, Russian President Vladimir Putin and alongside Pamela McElwee, associate hoped to extend that to China in what professor of human ecology at Rutgers, would be a major deal between the globe’s The State University of New Jersey; 18 Volume 12, Number 3 February 15, 2020
Richard Murray, deputy director and vice Generating Station - will support their president for research at Woods Hole effort. Additional companies and investors Oceanographic Institution; Heidi Steltzer, have expressed interest in being part of this professor of environment and sustainability effort and, if brought on board, will be at Fort Lewis College, Colorado; and Taryn named later, GEH and TerraPower said Fransen, senior fellow of global climate in a joint statement. “To achieve nuclear programme at the World Resources energy’s full potential, business and Institute. In his testimony, Shellenberger said government must work together to invest “apocalyptic assertions” relating to climate in both testing new materials and change had contributed to rising levels of demonstrating advanced technologies,” anxiety, particularly amongst young people, said TerraPower CEO Chris Levesque. and worsening political polarisation. Such https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/ extreme assertions could be debunked by GEH-and-TerraPower-team-up-for-VTR- science, he said, and although climate development change may make some natural disasters more frequent and more extreme, humans Oak Ridge prepares for legacy need not be “passive victims” of waste processing environmental change. “Policymakers routinely take action on non-apocalyptic World Nuclear News, January 23, 2020 problems,” he said, adding that while the risk of crossing unknown “tipping points” A facility at the US Department of rises with higher temperatures, there is Energy’s (DOE) Oak Ridge National Laboratory site in Tennessee is being much that could be done to reduce the prepared to process an inventory of legacy impacts of climate-driven extremes. high-dose uranium-233 from which https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/US- materials will be extracted for medical committee-hears-plea-for-Green-Nuclear-Deal research. Protective shielding and remote mechanical arms are needed to handle the GEH and TerraPower team up for uranium-233 canisters. DOE Office of VTR development Environmental Management (EM) contractor Isotek Systems - a subsidiary of World Nuclear News, January 22, 2020 Atkins - is carrying out upgrades to existing hot cells at Oak Ridge Building 2026, GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) and where the canisters will be processed. The TerraPower are to collaborate on pursuing hot cells have radiological contamination a public private partnership to design and from previous DOE research missions, and construct the Versatile Test Reactor (VTR) crews wear protective suits and construct for the US Department of Energy (DOE). containment tents to prevent the spread Utility Energy Northwest will support the of radiological contamination once a hot joint GEH-TerraPower effort, with other cell is opened. parties said to be interested in joining. Old equipment is being removed to make Battelle Energy Alliance (BEA) - the way for new installations, including a cell managing and operating contractor for the portal to make material entry easier, DOE’s Idaho National Laboratory (INL) - cutting tools to open the uranium-233 last November issued an Expression of storage canisters, pumping systems for Interest from industry stakeholders chemicals, filtration systems to extract the interested in forming a partnership for a cost- thorium, and remote manipulators. Rooms sharing arrangement to develop the VTR. will be remodelled to store large tanks of GEH and TerraPower have now announced downblended material, and a two-story they recently submitted a joint response to mixing silo will be constructed outside the the Expression of Interest. Energy Northwest facility to provide cement to mix with the - a consortium of 27 public utility districts downblended material, EM said. and municipalities across Washington state and operator of the state’s only operating https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/ nuclear power plant, the Columbia Oak-Ridge-prepares-for-legacy-waste-processing 19 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
San Onofre dismantlement starts announced a plan to provide USD10 next month million over three years to advance particle accelerator technology for medical, World Nuclear News, January 24, 2020 security, energy, and industrial Dismantlement of the San Onofre Nuclear applications, with a focus on the Generating Station is to begin in February, development of novel “compact” Southern California Edison (SCE) has accelerator technologies for cancer announced. This follows the receipt in treatment and other uses. The awards are October of the final permit required for the aimed specifically at helping transform decommissioning and dismantlement of the sophisticated accelerator technology used plant which closed in 2013. SCE is required primarily for scientific research into an by the California State Lands Commission effective tool of medicine and industry, the to provide 30 days’ notice to residents before DOE said. The initiative includes a new the start of deconstruction. It duly mailed topic focused on the development of novel its Notice of Deconstruction to residents compact accelerators which range from within a five-mile radius of the plant on 22 the size of a tabletop up to several metres, January. The notification provides key and may help make valuable accelerator timeframes for initial dismantlement activity technologies less expensive and more and resources to learn more about overall widely available. decommissioning of the site. “Particle accelerators were developed “We’re going to be a good neighbour mainly for scientific research, but have throughout the decommissioning process, and come to be indispensable tools of medicine, that means providing timely, usable industry, national security, and many information to the community and to the others,” Under Secretary for Science Paul people who use the recreational resources Dabbar said. “This research helps to next door to us,” Doug Bauder, SCE vice ensure that both government and the president and chief nuclear officer for San private sector benefit from the very latest Onofre, said. The company will provide advances in accelerator technology.” quarterly updates “so folks are aware of the work that is happening on site”, he added. https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/ The dismantlement process will take eight US-DOE-funds-compact-particle-accelerator- years and involves the removal of buildings, developm containment domes and other above-grade structures associated with the two units in U.S. renews waivers on Iran compliance with US Nuclear Regulatory nuclear work, but sanctions top Commission requirements, as well as the Iran nuclear official partial removal of the offshore conduits that brought and discharged ocean cooling Humeyra Pamuk, John Irish, Reuters, water to the plant, and the removal of January 30, 2020 offshore buoys and anchors, SCE said. Initial The Trump administration on Thursday work will focus on preparatory activities and said it will allow Russian, Chinese and site characterisation. This will take place European companies to continue their within the plant’s boundaries and is work at Iranian nuclear sites, arguing that expected to have minimal impact on the their presence makes it harder for Tehran surrounding recreational areas. to develop nuclear weapons. But the https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/ United States also imposed sanctions on February-start-for-San-Onofre-dismantlement Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization (AEOI) and its chief, a move the Iranian entity’s US DOE funds compact particle spokesman described as a sign of accelerator development Washington’s “despair.” World Nuclear News, January 28, 2020 The Trump administration, which in 2018 pulled out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal The US Department of Energy (DOE) has and reimposed sanctions on Iran, will let 20 Volume 12, Number 3 February 15, 2020
the work go forward by issuing waivers to providing a boost to advocates of the Clean sanctions that bar non-U.S. firms from Energy Jobs Act, which could push the dealing with the AEOI. The waivers’ state out of the PJM power grid. PJM renewal for 60 days will allow Interconnection operates the power system nonproliferation work to continue at the in 13 states from Illinois to New Jersey. Arak heavy-water research reactor, the Analysts at Height Capital Markets in Bushehr nuclear power plant, the Tehran Washington said in a report on Thursday Research Reactor and other nuclear that they expect lawmakers will pass the cooperation initiatives. bill this spring.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-nuclear- PJM uses the capacity market to pay usa/u-s-renews-waivers-on-iran-nuclear-work- generators to be available for service to but-sanctions-top-iran-nuclear-official- ensure the grid has enough resources to idUSKBN1ZT1PW meet peak demand. That is different than the grid’s energy market, which pays Edging World Closer to Nuclear generators for the power they produce. War, Trump Deploys ‘Low Yield’— PJM’s capacity market has come under fire More ‘Usable’—Atomic Warhead on in several states after the U.S. Federal US Submarine Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which regulates PJM, said in December the Julia Conley, Common Dreams, January 30, capacity market must do a better job of 2020 treating all generation sources equally.
Anti-nuclear campaigners expressed alarm https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-illinois- Thursday as the Federation of American pjm-nuclearpower/illinois-governor-wants- Scientists revealed the U.S. has for the first clean-energy-legislation-could-push-state-out- time deployed a “low-yield” nuclear of-pjm-power-grid-idUSKBN1ZT259 warhead on a submarine that is currently patrolling the Atlantic Ocean. The USS GE Hitachi initiates US licensing Tennessee left a port in Georgia last month, of BWRX-300 and Hans Kristenson of FAS said Wednesday that the submarine is the first World Nuclear News, January 31, 2020 U.S. ship to patrol with the W76-2 on GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) has board—an occurrence which arms control officially started the regulatory licensing groups says will make nuclear war more process for its BWRX-300 reactor design. likely. On 30 December, the company submitted Tim Wright, treaty coordinator for the the first licensing topical report for the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear small modular reactor to the US Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), called the news “an Regulatory Commission (NRC). The alarming development that heightens the company expects such reports to serve as risk of nuclear war.” a foundation for the development of a Preliminary Safety Analysis Report that https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/01/ could potentially be submitted to the NRC 30/edging-world-closer-nuclear-war-trump- by a utility customer. deploys-low-yield-more-usable-atomic-warhead The BWRX-300 is a 300 MWe SMR derived Illinois governor wants clean energy from GEH’s 1520 MWe Economic legislation, could push state out of Simplified Boiling Water Reactor (ESBWR) design. According to GEH, the BWRX-300 PJM power grid leverages the design and licensing basis of Reuters, January 30, 2020 the ESBWR, which received design certification from the NRC in 2014. GEH Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker called on the says that, by leveraging the existing state legislature to pass clean energy ESBWR design certification, utilising legislation in his State of the State address, licensed and proven nuclear fuel designs, 21 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
incorporating proven components and UK’s Johnson, France’s Macron supply chains, and implementing reiterate commitment to Iran simplification innovations, the BWRX-300 nuclear deal can, become cost competitive with power generation from combined cycle gas plants Tehran Times, January 20, 2020 and renewable energy platforms. “The first British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and licensing topical report was submitted to the French President Emmanuel Macron NRC at the end of 2019 as part of an reiterated their commitment on Sunday to aggressive timeline that we set for the Iran nuclear deal and agreed a long- ourselves,” Jon Ball, executive vice president term framework was needed, Downing of nuclear products for GEH, said. “As the Street said on Sunday. “On Iran, the leaders global demand for carbon-free energy reiterated their commitment to the JCPOA increases, we are seeing significant interest (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) and in this groundbreaking SMR technology also acknowledged the need to define a long- and are excited about continuing to work term framework…,” a Downing Street toward US licensing,” he added. spokeswoman said in a statement after the https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/GE- two met on the sidelines of a Libya summit Hitachi-initiates-US-licensing-of-BWRX-300 in Berlin. “They agreed on the importance of de-escalation and of working with E. Europe international partners to find a diplomatic way through the current tensions.”
Germany confirms Trump made https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/444347/ trade threat to Europe over Iran UK-s-Johnson-France-s-Macron-reiterate- policy commitment-to-Iran-nuclear Patrick Wintour, The Gaurdian, January 16, Macron, meeting Netanyahu, says 2020 Iran must not acquire nuclear Germany’s defence minister confirmed a weapons Washington Post story that Donald Trump had threatened Europe with a 25% tariff on John Irish, Reuters, January 22, 2020 European cars unless it toed the line on its President Emmanuel Macron said France Iran policy. The US threatened to impose was determined Iran would never gain a 25% tariffs on cars to push Europeans to nuclear weapon but it wanted to avoid any initiate proceedings against Iran for violating military escalation in the Middle East, after the nuclear deal, the German defence he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin minister has confirmed. “This threat exists,” Netanyahu on Wednesday. Macron’s two- said the German defence minister, Annegret day trip to Israel and the Palestinian Kramp-Karrenbauer, at a press conference territories is timed to coincide with the 75- in London. year anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp. He is one of dozens She was asked about an article in the of world leaders due to attend Thursday’s Washington Post that claimed Trump had World Holocaust Forum at the Yad Vashem secretly warned France, Germany and the Holocaust memorial center in Jerusalem. UK that the US would impose a “25% tariffs on European cars” if they did not activate Macron started his visit with a morning the mechanism for the settlement of disputes meeting with Netanyahu at his official (MRD) of the Iranian international nuclear residence in Jerusalem, where the two agreement reached in Vienna in 2015. discussed Iran’s nuclear program and regional security issues from Libya to https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/16/ Turkey, according to Netanyahu’s office. iran-says-it-is-enriching-more-uranium-than- before-nuclear-deal https://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel- france-macron-church/macron-meeting- netanyahu-says-iran-must-not-acquire-nuclear- weapons-idUSKBN1ZL09J 22 Volume 12, Number 3 February 15, 2020
Denmark urges all JCPOA my friend German Minister of Foreign signatories to honor their Affairs @HeikoMaas this morning in obligations Berlin. Discussed pressing international issues and European foreign policy action: Tehran Times, January 24, 2020 Berlin #Libya conference, #JCPOA and Western Balkans. We will continue to Christina Markus Lassen, political director work hand in glove,” Borrell tweeted on at the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Monday. on Wednesday voiced her country’s concern over the activation of the dispute mechanism U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally in the nuclear deal by the European sides, quit the nuclear deal in May 2018 and urging all signatories to the Joint introduced the harshest ever sanctions in Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to history on Iran as part of his adhere to their commitments. In a meeting administration’s “maximum pressure” with senior advisor to the Iranian strategy against Iran. In response to this Parliament Speaker Hossein Amir move, on May 8, 2019, Iran announced Abdollahian in Tehran, the Danish diplomat that its “strategic patience” is over and said, “Denmark calls on all sides to return started to gradually reduce its to their obligations and adhere to their commitments to the JCPOA at bi-monthly undertakings.” intervals. At the time Iran announced if the European parties to the deal take She further said that utilizing diplomacy is concrete steps to shield Iran’s economy the only way out of the current critical from the U.S. sanctions it will reverse its situation to protect the region against the decision. existing threat of war. Lassen later highlighted Iran’s key role and standing in https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/444637/ the region, saying, “Continuation of talks EU-chief-German-FM-discuss-JCPOA and friendly relations with Iran is of great importance in Denmark’s foreign policy.” F. Russia Amir Abdollahian, for his part, said that the U.S. unilateral measures have led the world New sea tanker to enter service towards severe widespread insecurity. On with Russia’s Northern Fleet on Monday, Foreign Minister Mohammad January 21 Javad Zarif warned that Iran would consider quitting the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty TASS News Agency, January 16, 2020 (NPT) if the Europeans refer Iran’s nuclear The new sea tanker Academician Pashin case to the UN Security Council. “If they will join the Northern Fleet’s logistics and (Europeans) take any action, the issue of rear support forces in late January, the quitting the NPT will be raised based on the Fleet’s press office reported on Thursday. letter of the President dating May 2018,” “On January 21, a solemn ceremony of Zarif said. hoisting the flag of the Navy’s auxiliary https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/444512/ fleet will take place aboard the new sea Denmark-urges-all-JCPOA-signatories-to-honor- tanker Academician Pashin at the their-obligations Northern Fleet’s main base of Severomorsk. This day will become the EU chief, German FM discuss date of officially accepting the vessel for JCPOA service in the Northern Fleet,” the press office said in a statement. Tehran Times, January 27, 2020 In 2019, the new sea tanker successfully Josep Borrell, the European Union foreign underwent a full program of trials in the policy chief, and German Foreign Minister Barents Sea. The heavy nuclear-powered Heiko Maas met in Berlin on Monday to missile cruiser Pyotr Veliky and the frigate discuss the 2015 nuclear deal, officially Admiral Gorshkov provided assistance known as the JCPOA. “Good meeting with during the tanker’s trials, the statement 23 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
says. The Project 23130 medium-sized sea- Iran nuclear deal as “a dangerous turn.” going supply tanker Academician Pashin He recalled that the Joint Comprehensive was built at the Nevsky Shipyard on order Plan of Action agreed on in 2015 was “an from Russia’s Defense Ministry. The tanker integral part of international law approved is equipped with a diesel single-shaft by the UN Security Council in a resolution, propulsion unit and a bow thruster and is which is binding.” an Arc4 ice-class vessel. The crew and passenger rooms and the service premises “However, the Americans decided to are located in the aft-end living apply their own rules. They withdrew superstructure. from the JCPOA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action]. They not only stopped https://tass.com/defense/1109475 honoring their commitments, but also prohibit other countries to trade with Iran. Russia’s Nuclear-Powered On the other hand, they demand that Iran Icebreaker Escorts Up 54% in 2019 comply with its obligations under the document, which President Trump The Moscow Times, January 17, 2020 described as the worst deal ever,” Lavrov told reporters at a news conference on The number of ships escorted by Russian Friday. icebreakers along the Northern Sea Route increased by 54% between 2018 and 2019. https://tass.com/politics/1109951 The increase in ship escorting is caused by an increase in LNG production on the Yamal US and Russia discuss possibility Peninsula, Rosatomflot, the company of moving beyond bilateral format managing Russia’s fleet of nuclear-powered icebreakers, said. on arms control TASS News Agency, January 17, 2020 The 510 vessels that were escorted through the Arctic ice had a total gross tonnage of Russia and the United States have 30.29 million tons, Rosatomflot says. That is discussed the possibility of moving beyond 54% more than it was in 2018 when 331 a bilateral format on arms control, the US vessels with a total tonnage of 12,7 million Department of State said in a statement tons were carried out through the area. “It released on Thursday. is connected with the full project capacity At the talks, Russia was represented by reached by the LNG production plant in Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov, Sabetta port,” General Director at Atomflot and the US was represented by Assistant Mustafa Kashka said. Meanwhile, the total Secretary for International Security and volume of goods shipped on the route in Nonproliferation Christopher Ford, who 2019 is still unknown. In mid-November “has been delegated the authorities and 2019, Rosatom said that goods volumes had functions of the Under Secretary of State reached 26 million tons and that by the end for Arms Control and International of the year it was expected to reach 30 Security.” million tons. The delegations discussed “their respective https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2020/01/17/ national strategic policies as a means to russias-nuclear-powered-icebreaker-escorts-up-54- reduce misunderstandings and in-2019-a68942 misperceptions on key security issues,” the statement said. “The U.S. and Russian Lavrov slams E3’s statement on Iran delegations discussed nuclear stockpiles nuclear deal as ‘dangerous turn’ and strategy, crisis and arms race stability, and the role and potential future of arms TASS News Agency, January 17, 2020 control, including the importance of Acting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey moving beyond a solely bilateral format,” Lavrov has described the E3’s plans to trigger the statement noted. the dispute resolution mechanism on the https://tass.com/world/1109787 24 Volume 12, Number 3 February 15, 2020
Rosatom transfers Tianwan unit 3 to NATO initiates dangerous games Chinese customer in space — Lavrov World Nuclear News, January 20, 2020 TASS News Agency, January 21, 2020 Russia and China today signed the final NATO’s plans to declare space and acceptance protocol for the nuclear island cyberspace its operational domains of unit 3 of the Tianwan nuclear power undermine the global system of strategic plant, which transfers ownership to the stability, Russia’s Acting Foreign Minister Chinese customer for permanent operation. Sergey Lavrov said at a meeting of the The protocol was signed by Alexey Bannik, Russian International Affairs Council on vice president of ASE Group, Rosatom’s Tuesday. “We can see moves aimed at engineering division, and Zhang Yi, deputy exacerbating tensions in the area of general director of Jiangsu Nuclear Power strategic stability and nuclear weapons,” Corporation. The signing ceremony took he pointed out. “In addition, NATO is place during Rosatom Director General initiating a rather dangerous game, Alexey Likhachov’s working visit to the declaring space and cyberspace its Tianwan plant, where he met with the head operational domains,” he added. of the China Atomic Energy Authority, Zhang Kejian. According to Lavrov, some in the West “are still guided not even by yesterday’s Likhachov noted that Tianwan units 3 and logic but by the logic of the day before 4 had been put into commercial operation yesterday in a bid to reclaim their former “in record time”. The plant is “a vivid global dominance, taking increasingly example of the highest skills of Russian and aggressive actions.” “I would like to point Chinese nuclear scientists, the best to the situation in the field of global confirmation of the synergy of the personal strategic stability, which is under attack and professional contribution of each right now,” the Russian top diplomat went employee”, he said. Likhachov and Kejian on to say. “The Americans have destroyed also visited the site allocated for the two of the three landmark treaties — the construction of VVER-1200 units 7 and 8. Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and the INF They said they hoped first concrete of unit 7 Treaty, while the future of New START, would be poured in December, five months which is the last tool in the strategic ahead of schedule. stability area, remains unclear,” Lavrov https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Rosatom- noted. transfers-Tianwan-unit-3-to-Chinese-custom https://tass.com/politics/1111359 KHNP awards new uranium enrichment contract to Russia’s Shipbuilders to build five more Tenex Project 23130 logistic support tankers for Russian Navy TASS News Agency, January 20, 2020 TASS News Agency, January 21, 2020 Tenex, a trading arm of the Russian nuclear corporation Rosatom, won the tender staged The Russian Navy will receive five more by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd. Project 23130 logistic support tankers (KHNP) on a new uranium enrichment similar to the vessel Academician Pashin contract, the Russian company says. that entered service with Russia’s Northern Fleet on January 21, Chief of the The new contract with the term by 2030 is Auxiliary Fleet Service in the Defense valued at $500 mln. Ministry’s Transport Support Department Sergei Yepifanov said on Tuesday. “As for The portfolio of Tenex contracts with KHNP the prospects of these vessels, the Russian has increased to $2 bln as a result of the new defense minister made a decision in 2019 contract award, the company said. on building five more tankers of this Project,” he said at the ceremony of https://tass.com/economy/1110755 25 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
hoisting the flag aboard the tanker service told TASS on Monday. “Laying of Academician Pashin in the northwestern the third [serial] icebreaker of Series 22220 Murmansk Region. is planned in the second quarter of 2020,” the spokesperson said. The Russian Navy will receive five more Project 23130 logistic support tankers similar Two serial icebreakers of Project 22220 — to the vessel Academician Pashin that Sibir and Ural — are currently under entered service with Russia’s Northern Fleet construction at the Baltic Shipyard. The on January 21, Chief of the Auxiliary Fleet lead icebreaker Arktika of this project Service in the Defense Ministry’s Transport successfully completed the first stage of sea Support Department Sergei Yepifanov said trials. on Tuesday. “As for the prospects of these vessels, the Russian defense minister made https://tass.com/defense/1111017 a decision in 2019 on building five more tankers of this Project,” he said at the Russia completes testing of latest ceremony of hoisting the flag aboard the fast reactor fuel tanker Academician Pashin in the northwestern Murmansk Region. World Nuclear News, January 22, 2020 Siberian Chemical Combine (SCC) has https://tass.com/defense/1111321 completed acceptance tests of its ETVS-22, ETVS-23 and ETVS-24 experimental fuel New sea tanker enters service with assemblies with mixed uranium- Russia’s Northern Fleet plutonium (nitride) nuclear fuel for fast TASS News Agency, January 21, 2020 neutron reactors. Based in Seversk, SCC is a subsidiary of TVEL, the nuclear fuel The new sea tanker Academician Pashin manufacturing subsidiary of Russian state with improved technical characteristics has nuclear corporation Rosatom. The work entered service with the Northern Fleet’s is part of Rosatom’s ‘Proryv’, or logistics and rear support forces, the Fleet’s Breakthrough, project to enable a closed press office reported on Tuesday. The nuclear fuel cycle. This project comprises solemn ceremony of hoisting the flag took a fuel production/refabrication module for place aboard the new sea tanker in production of dense uranium plutonium Severomorsk with the participation of Fleet (nitride) fuel for fast reactors; a nuclear Commander Vice-Admiral Alexander power plant with a BREST reactor; and a Moiseyev. used fuel retreatment module.
“Today, a solemn ceremony of hoisting the The acceptance committee was chaired by flag of the Russian Navy’s auxiliary fleet Alexey Glushenkov, chief expert of the AA took place aboard the medium sea tanker Bochvar Research Institute of Inorganic Academician Pashin at the Northern Fleet’s Materials, and included representatives main naval base of Severomorsk. Now the from SCC, TVEL, OKBM Afrikantov, tanker has been officially accepted for Nikiet and Zarubezhatomenergostroy, as service with the Northern Fleet,” the press well as from the Breakthrough project. office said in a statement. They checked the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the fuel, https://tass.com/defense/1111171 namely: the quality of welded joints and Third Project 22220 serial assembly structures; the absence of surface radioactive and mechanical icebreaker to be laid by July 2020 — contamination; and compliance with the Baltic Shipyard working design documentation. TASS News Agency, January 21, 2020 https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/ The third serial icebreaker of Project 22220 Russia-completes-testing-of-latest-fast-reactor- is planned to be laid at the Baltic Shipyard fu in April — June 2020, the company’s press 26 Volume 12, Number 3 February 15, 2020
Russia expects commission on (nitride) fuel for fast reactors; a nuclear Iranian nuclear deal to prevent power plant with a lead cooled BREST OD- crisis 300 fast reactor; and a used fuel retreatment module. TASS News Agency, January 24, 2020 The acceptance committee was chaired by Russia hopes that the next meeting of the Alexey Glushenkov, chief expert of the AA commission on the implementation of the Bochvar Research Institute of Inorganic Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action Materials (VNIINM), and included (JCPOA) on the Iranian nuclear deal representatives from SCC, Tvel, OKBM scheduled to be held in February will help Afrikantov, the NN Dollezhal Research & prevent the crisis around the agreement Development Institute of Power from escalating, the Russian Foreign Engineering (Nikiet) and Ministry said in a statement on Friday. “As Zarubezhatomenergostroy, as well as for the next meeting of the JCPOA Joint from Proryv. Zarubezhatomenergostroy, Commission scheduled for February, we founded in 1973, with 24 subsidiaries in hope that it will help prevent the crisis from various regions of Russia, is a specialised escalating further and consolidate the organisation that provides technical signatories around the common task of acceptance of nuclear fuel and assesses the salvaging the nuclear deal. We urge the E3 compliance of equipment, devices and and the EU’s JCPOA coordinators to focus materials for nuclear power plants, precisely on that,” the ministry said. including those abroad. The Committee checked the qualitative and quantitative The Russian Foreign Ministry drew attention characteristics of the fuel, including the to a statement made by EU Foreign Policy quality of welded joints and assembly Chief Josep Borrell, which was published on structures; the absence of surface January 24. In it, he summed up the interim radioactive and mechanical results of working contacts and informal contamination; and compliance with the consultations with the JCPOA signatories working design documentation. Rosatom held after the UK, Germany and France said the experimental fuel was notified him on January 14 that they were manufactured using technology “as close triggering the Dispute Resolution as possible” to the industrial design, which Mechanism envisaged by the JCPOA. will be used for the fabrication and re- https://tass.com/world/1112841 fabrication module of the pilot demonstration energy complex under the Russia proceeds with tests of new Proryv project. Four fuel rods equipped with “bevelled tablets” were installed in fast reactor fuel each fuel assembly. Nuclear Engineering, January 25, 2020 https://www.neimagazine.com/news/ Russia’s Siberian Chemical Combine (SCC) newsrussia-proceeds-with-tests-of-new-fast- in Seversk said on 22 January that it has reactor-fuel-7653733 completed acceptance tests of its ETVS-22, ETVS-23 and ETVS-24 experimental fuel Russia-North Korea Trade Up assemblies with mixed uranium-plutonium Despite Sanctions, Reports Say (nitride) nuclear fuel for fast neutron reactors. SCC is a subsidiary of nuclear fuel Moscow Times, January 25, 2020 company Tvel, part of state nuclear Russia and North Korea ramped up trade corporation Rosatom. The fuel is being in 2019 despite international sanctions, the developed within the framework of the South Korean news network Proryv (Breakthrough), project to Arirang reported, citing data from the demonstrate a closed nuclear fuel cycle. This Geneva-based International Trade Center. project, based at SCC, comprises a fuel Pyongyang has been under UN sanctions production/refabrication module for since 2006 over its missile and nuclear production of dense uranium plutonium 27 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
programs, which the Security Council has First serial batch of MOX fuel unanimously strengthened over the years. loaded into BN-800 Despite that, North Korea imported more World Nuclear News, January 28, 2020 than $42 million in goods from Russia in January-November 2019, Arirang reported Unit 4 of the Beloyarsk nuclear power Monday. That’s 20% higher than the $32 plant in Russia’s Sverdlovsk district has million in goods North Korea imported from been restarted after being loaded with the Russia in 2018, it said. Pyongyang’s first serial batch of mixed-oxide (MOX) imports consisted mostly of petroleum fuel. By 2021, the BN-800 fast neutron products from Russia, followed by animal reactor should be operating with a full oil, food and medical products, according core of MOX fuel assemblies. Beloyarsk 4 to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency. was initially fuelled with a hybrid core containing both uranium and MOX fuels. https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2020/01/24/ The uranium fuel assemblies were russia-north-korea-trade-up-a69040 produced by Elemash, fuel manufacturer TVEL’s major fabrication facility in Russian floating nuclear plant Elekrostal, near Moscow, while the supplies 10GWh of electricity to experimental MOX fuel assemblies had Chukotka been fabricated at the Research Institute of Atomic Reactors in Dimitrovgrad, in the Nuclear Engineering, January 27, 2020 Ulyanovsk region.
Russia’s floating NPP (FNPP), Akademik Workers have now loaded 18 MOX fuel Lomonosov, now moored at Pevek in the assemblies - manufactured by the Mining Arctic northeast, has supplied 10GWh of and Chemical Combine (MCC) in electricity to the Chukotka network since it Zheleznogorsk, in the Krasnoyarsk region was connected to the local grid on 19 - into the reactor’s core. The production December, nuclear utility Rosenergoatom line - located in a mine 200 metres reported on 24 January. Currently, the FNPP underground - was built as part of Russia’s provides 20% of the needs of the Chaun- ‘Proryv’, or Breakthrough, project to Bilibino energy centre. In future it will fully enable a closed nuclear fuel cycle. The cover the growing electricity needs of ultimate aim is to eliminate production of Chukotka, becoming a reliable source for the radioactive waste from nuclear power city of Pevek and the more extensive the generation. The facility completed tests on region. putting together the first nuclear fuel assemblies for the BN-800 reactor in Vitaly Trutnev, Director of the August 2015. Serial batch production of Rosenergoatom Directorate for the MOX fuel started at MCC in late 2018. The Construction and Operation of Floating basic technology for manufacturing the Nuclear Thermal Power Plants, said: “In the MOX fuel pellets was developed by TVEL future, the FNPP will provide electricity to subsidiary AA Bochvar Research Institute the development of enterprises for the of Inorganic Materials. The fuel pellets are extraction of gold, copper and other mineral manufactured from a mixture of oxides of resources in the territory of Chukotka.” “In depleted uranium accumulated at TVEL addition, the FNPP will become one of the facilities and oxides of plutonium extracted supporting elements of the infrastructure of during the reprocessing of used nuclear the Northern Sea Route. The key objective fuel. of 2020 is the commissioning of the facility,” he added. https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/ First-serial-batch-of-MOX-fuel-loaded-into- https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsrussian- BN-800 floating-nuclear-plant-supplies-10gwh-of- electricity-to-chukotka-7741808 28 Volume 12, Number 3 February 15, 2020
Fortum, Tractebel to assist in presentation by Roscosmos First Deputy Estonian SMR deployment Director General Yuri Urlichich, displayed at the 44th Korolev Academic Space World Nuclear News, January 28, 2020 Conference. “The launch of a nuclear- Estonia’s Fermi Energia has signed powered spacecraft, and flight tests Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with (2030),” the presentation reads. After Finnish power company Fortum and Belgian 2030, the nuclear-propelled space vehicle engineering firm Tractebel to cooperate on must enter serial production and studying the deployment of small modular commercial use, it says. reactors (SMRs) in the Baltic country. Fermi Before the end of 2030, a testing and Energia was founded by Estonian energy experimenting facility must be built, and and nuclear energy professionals to develop the future nuclear engine must be perfected deployment of SMRs in Estonia. Under the on the ground, including conducting MoUs with Fortum and Tractebel, resource tests, the presentation revealed. cooperation will focus on developing a licensing model suitable for SMRs and a https://tass.com/science/1113827 preliminary siting study for a light water SMR. Through the agreements, the Kazatomprom to sell stake in companies have agreed to share with each enrichment JV other the results of the studies. World Nuclear News, January 31, 2020 “For us, the greatest value of this collaboration is to start mutual learning Kazatomprom announced today it intends through hands-on work with current to sell its 50% interest (minus one share) nuclear power producers,” said Fermi in Uranium Enrichment Centre JSC (UEC) Energia board member and co-founder to its partner in the joint venture, TVEL, Kalev Kallemets. “The introduction of for RUB6.253 billion (about USD100 nuclear energy requires a number of related million). TVEL is the nuclear fuel elements to be thoroughly analysed and manufacturer subsidiary of Russian state further developed so that this form of energy nuclear corporation Rosatom. The Kazakh production is competitive with other uranium producer said the decision was alternatives. Already in the early stages of based on its “value-driven strategy”, as working together to find the best solutions, well as its review of current uranium we can be sure that there will be greater enrichment market conditions. UEC is a mutual understanding at a later stage.” joint Kazakhstan-Russian enterprise Kallemets noted the desynchronisation of established in 2006 as part of the the Baltic States - Estonia, Latvia and implementation of the Comprehensive Lithuania - from Russia’s electricity grid and Programme of Kazakhstan-Russia the end of electricity imports from there Cooperation in the Peaceful Use of Atomic which is scheduled to be completed by the Energy. It owns 25% (plus one share) of end of 2025 the Ural Electrochemical Integrated Plant JSC in Novouralsk, in the Sverdlovsk region https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/ of Russia. UEC was the first company with Fortum-Tractebel-to-assist-in-Estonian-SMR- foreign-ownership to have an interest in a deploym Russian uranium enrichment facility.
Roscosmos says first Russian Kazatomprom said its interest in UEC was nuclear space tug set for launch in based on “an independent fair market valuation carried out by a major global 2030 advisory firm”. It plans to retain one share TASS News Agency, January 28, 2020 in UEC, which will preserve its rights to access uranium enrichment services under A space tug, equipped with a megawatt the conditions previously agreed upon class nuclear engine is scheduled to be with TVEL. Following negotiations with launched in 2030, according to a TVEL and approval by Kazatomprom’s 29 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
board of directors, the transaction was E3 think they’re living in 19th approved by Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly century: Zarif Service yesterday, and it is now subject to approval by TVEL’s board of directors. Tehran Times, January 17, 2020
https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/ Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif Kazatomprom-sells-stake-in-enrichment-JV has said that the European Union trio, known as E3, still think they’re living in West Asia the 19th century when they did whatever they liked. “E3 think they’re living in the G. Iran 19th Century, when they dictated to countries, lied, & got away with it,” Zarif Iran’s Rouhani threatens European tweeted on Wednesday. Zarif again urged troops amid nuclear pressure the Europeans to fulfil their commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal, officially Arab News, January 15, 2020 known as the JCPOA, rather than Iran’s president issued a warning on submitting to the U.S. bullying. “Forget Wednesday that European forces in the about compensating for US: fulfill your own Middle East could be at risk if their nations obligations. EVEN JUST ONE,” he said. joined the US pressure campaign against his country and challenged Tehran over The chief diplomat added, “IRAN is NOT breaking the limits of a 2015 nuclear deal. the one emptying the accord of its “Today, the American soldier is in danger, substance—the E3 is.” Foreign ministers tomorrow the European soldier could be in of France, Germany and the United danger,” president Hassan Rouhani said at Kingdom issued a joint statement on a Cabinet meeting without elaborating. Tuesday announcing they have formally triggered the dispute mechanism in the Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister nuclear deal. Mohammad Javad Zarif acknowledged on Wednesday during a summit in New Delhi https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/444253/E3- think-they-re-living-in-19th-century-Zarif that Iranians “were lied to” for days following the accidental shoot down of a Ukrainian jetliner that killed 176 people. Iran’s top leader praises attack on US bases in Iraq https://www.arabnews.com/node/1613676/middle-east Arab News, January 17, 2020 Iran’s nuclear enrichment at higher Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei level than before 2015 deal: Rouhani said in a Friday prayers sermon that Iran’s missile strikes on US targets in Iraq showed Arab News, January 16, 2020 it had divine support in delivering a “slap Iran is now enriching more uranium than on the face” to a world power. Making the Tehran did before it agreed to a nuclear deal main weekly sermon in Tehran for the first with world powers in 2015, Iranian time since 2012, with Iran and its clerical President Hassan Rouhani said on Thursday rulers under pressure at home and abroad, in a televised speech. “We are enriching Khamenei also said that US sanctions more uranium before the deal was reached imposed in a row over its nuclear program ... Pressure has increased on Iran but we would not make Iran yield. continue to progress,” Rouhani said. Iran Thousands had gathered inside a large has gradually scaled back its commitments prayer hall in central Tehran and packed under the nuclear deal in retaliation to the area and streets outside the building, Washington’s withdrawal from the pact in chanting “Death to America.” The sermon 2018 and its reimposition of sanctions that was delivered after Iran’s rulers faced days have crippled the country’s economy. of often violent protests after the military https://www.arabnews.com/node/1614011/middle-east admitted to mistakenly shooting down an airliner in the tense hours after the missile 30 Volume 12, Number 3 February 15, 2020
strikes, which were in turn launched in Iran may review cooperation with retaliation for the US killing on Jan. 3 of a IAEA if EU pressure mounts: TV top Iranian commander, close to Khamenei. Parisa Hafezi, Reuters, January 19, 2020 https://www.arabnews.com/node/1614481/middle- Iran will review its cooperation with the east United Nations’ nuclear watchdog should it face “unjust” measures, Iranian Zarif says Iran will never negotiate parliament speaker Ali Larijani said, after a new deal with U.S. EU powers last week triggered a dispute Tehran Times, January 18, 2020 mechanism under Tehran’s 2015 nuclear deal. The move by France, Britain and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif Germany amounts to formally accusing said on Friday that Iran will never negotiate Iran of violating the terms of the deal and a new nuclear deal with the United States. could lead eventually to reimposing U.N. “We will never negotiate a new deal,” Zarif sanctions that were lifted under the pact. said in a meeting with All India Association “We state openly that if the European of Industries (AIAI) in Mumbai. The 2015 powers, for any reason, adopt an unfair nuclear deal, officially called the Joint approach in using the dispute mechanism, Comprehensive Plan of Action, is endorsed we will seriously reconsider our by the UN Security Council Resolution 2231. cooperation with the International Atomic Under the accord Iran agreed to put limits Energy Agency,” state TV quoted Larijani on its nuclear activities in exchange for the as saying. termination of economic and financial sanctions. However, U.S. President Donald https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-nuclear- Trump ditched the deal in May 2018 and iaea/iran-may-review-cooperation-with-iaea-if-eu- slapped the harshest ever sanctions in pressure-mounts-tv-idUSKBN1ZI09N history against Iran in line with his administration’s “maximum pressure” Iran says it is preparing for strategy against Iran. satellite launch
“Resolution of the United Nations’ Security Arab News, January 19, 2020 Council on Iran’s nuclear program is 159 Iran said Sunday that two newly pages which may be the longest resolution constructed satellites have passed pre- of the United Nations. However, India can launch tests and will be transported to the play a role if the United States returns to nation’s space center for eventual launch, the JCPOA,” Zarif said when asked about without elaborating. Telecommunications the possibility of India’s mediation to reduce Minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi Iran-U.S. tension. Former U.S. Secretary of tweeted about the development, calling it State John Kerry told CBS News in an an “important research step.” Iran has not interview published on January 12 that the said when it will launch the satellites, but JCPOA is the “strongest” and “most often coordinates its launches with transparent” agreement on the planet. national holidays. It will celebrate the 41st “Britain, China, Russia are all still trying to anniversary of the Islamic Revolution next keep the agreement in place because they month. recognize it’s the strongest, most transparent, most accountable nuclear Iran’s largely state-run media say the 90- agreement on the planet,” he said. In a high- kilogram (200-pound) Zafar satellites each profile speech on Friday, Leader of the have four high-resolution color cameras Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and will monitor and transmit data on ruled out the possibility of talks with the U.S., natural resources as well as agricultural saying dialogue with the enemy is mixed and environmental developments.Iran with chicanery and deceit. says its satellite program, like its nuclear activities, is aimed at scientific research and https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/444297/Zarif- other civilian applications. The US and says-Iran-will-never-negotiate-a-new-deal-with-U-S 31 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
other Western countries have long been JCPOA, issued a joint statement on suspicious of the program because the same January 14, announcing they have technology can be used to develop long- formally triggered the dispute mechanism range missiles. Iran tried and failed to which could bring the issue before the UN launch two satellites into orbit in January Security Council. “Steps in reducing the and February last year. [JCPOA] commitments have already been taken. However, Iran will quit the NPT if https://www.arabnews.com/node/1615201/middle- the Europeans continue their behavior or east send Iran’s case to the Security Council,” Zarif stated. Zarif went on to say that the Iran says it will quit global nuclear Foreign Ministry is legally pursuing the treaty if case goes to U.N. triggering of dispute mechanism by Europeans. “The Islamic Republic of Iran Babak Dehghanpisheh, Reuters, January 20, officially started the dispute mechanism in 2020 May 2018 after the United States’ Iran said on Monday it could quit the global withdrawal from the JCPOA. nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if European countries refer it to the U.N. Three letters were sent to Mrs. Mogherini Security Council over a nuclear agreement, [then European Union foreign policy chief] a move that would overturn diplomacy in on May 10, 2018, August 26, 2018 and its confrontation with the West. November 2018 in which it was announced officially that Iran has started The 1968 NPT has been the foundation of the dispute mechanism.” He added, “In global nuclear arms control since the Cold the letter which was sent in November War, including a 2015 deal Iran signed with 2018, we said that Iran has started the world powers that offered it access to global dispute mechanism and therefore, we trade in return for accepting curbs to its have no choice but to reduce commitments atomic program. The fate of the 2015 pact to the JCPOA.” “After the aforementioned has been in doubt since U.S. President letter, the Islamic Republic of Iran gave the Donald Trump pulled the United States out European Union seven months and then of it and reimposed sanctions. Iran has started to reduce the JCPOA responded by scaling back its commitments, commitments in May 2019,” the foreign although it says it wants the pact to survive. minister explained. Zarif noted that Iran will reverse its decision once the https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-nuclear/ Europeans return to their commitments. iran-says-it-will-quit-global-nuclear-treaty-if- case-goes-to-u-n-idUSKBN1ZJ0ML https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/444356/ Zarif-says-quitting-NPT-to-be-raised-if- Zarif says quitting NPT to be raised Europeans-refer-Iran if Europeans refer Iran to UN Security Council Iran has not ruled out talks to end nuclear dispute Tehran Times, January 20, 2020 Arab News, January 20, 2020 Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif warned on Monday that Iran will raise the Iran said on Monday that it had not closed issue of quitting the nuclear Non- the “door to negotiations” in efforts to Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if the Europeans resolve a dispute over its nuclear refer Iran’s nuclear case to the UN Security agreement with world powers that has Council. “If they (Europeans) take any escalated steadily since the United States action, the issue of quitting the NPT will be withdrew from the deal in 2018. Foreign raised based on the letter of the President Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said dating May 2018,” Zarif told ICANA. any further move by Tehran to scale back France, Germany and the United Kingdom, its commitments to the deal would depend the three European states signatory to the on actions by other parties, after European 32 Volume 12, Number 3 February 15, 2020
states triggered a mechanism that could lead disarmament ambassador Robert Wood to the reimposition of UN sanctions. Iran has dismissed the reward as “ridiculous”, gradually stepped back from its obligations telling reporters in Geneva it showed the to the 2015 deal, under which Tehran “terrorist underpinnings” of Iran’s secured sanctions relief in return for limiting establishment. its nuclear work, after Washington quit the agreement and then imposed stringent U.S. Tensions have escalated since Trump in sanctions. 2018 pulled the United States out of a multilateral 2015 agreement meant to https://www.arabnews.com/node/1615581/middle- contain Iran’s nuclear programme, saying east it was flawed, then reimposed heavy U.S. sanctions on Tehran. The standoff erupted Iran threatens to quit global nuclear into tit-for-tat military strikes earlier this month. “On behalf of the people of treaty and build a bomb Kerman province, we will pay a $3 million Arab News, January 20, 2020 reward in cash to whoever kills Trump,” lawmaker Ahmad Hamzeh told the 290- Iran threatened on Monday to withdraw seat parliament, ISNA reported. from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), paving the way for construction of a https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-iran-usa- nuclear bomb. The threat is Iran’s latest trump/iran-mp-offers-reward-for-killing-trump- gambit to save the Joint Comprehensive Plan u-s-calls-it-ridiculous-idUKKBN1ZK0ZI of Action (JCPOA), the 2015 deal to curb Tehran’s nuclear program in return for an By triggering dispute mechanism, easing of sanctions. US President Donald Europe proves its incapability: Trump withdrew from the JCPOA in May Salehi 2018, and reimposed sanctions. In response, Iran began enriching uranium in breach of Tehran Times, January 22, 2020 the agreement, in an attempt to put pressure Ali Akbar Salehi, director of the Atomic on European states to save the deal. Energy Organization of Iran, has said that the Europeans’ action in triggering the That tactic backfired last week when Britain, dispute mechanism in the 2015 nuclear France and Germany declared Iran to be in deal proves their “incapability” and violation of the JCPOA, and triggered a “indiscretion”. France, Germany and the dispute mechanism under which the issue United Kingdom, three parties to the will be referred to the UN Security Council, nuclear deal, issued a joint statement on with full UN sanctions reimposed within 60 January 14, announcing they have days. “If the Europeans continue their formally triggered the dispute mechanism improper behavior or send Iran’s file to the that may lead to the snapback of UN Security Council, we will withdraw from the sanctions against Iran. NPT,” Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said on Monday. “Statement of Germany, France, and Britain on triggering the dispute mechanism proves https://www.arabnews.com/node/1615751/middle-east their lack of wisdom and incapability in the face of the United States’ demands,” Iran MP offers reward for killing Salehi told IRNA in an interview Trump, U.S. calls it ‘ridiculous’ published on Wednesday. U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally quit the Parisa Hafezi, Reuters, January 21, 2020 nuclear deal in May 2018 and introduced An Iranian lawmaker offered a $3 million the harshest ever sanctions in history on Iran reward to anyone who killed U.S. President as part of his administration’s “maximum Donald Trump and said Iran could avoid pressure” strategy against Iran. threats if it had nuclear arms, ISNA news https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/444456/By- agency reported on Tuesday amid Tehran’s triggering-dispute-mechanism-Europe-proves- latest standoff with Washington. U.S. its-incapability 33 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
Iran tells Europe not to follow U.S. “The president, in the letter, had by undermining nuclear pact announced that if the U.S. or any other signatories of the pact try to send Iran’s Parisa Hafezi, Babak Dehghanpisheh, case to the United Nations Security Reuters, January 22, 2020 Council, Iran will embark on making Iran’s president told European powers on tougher decisions, including withdrawal Wednesday not to copy the United States from the NPT,” Vaezi went on to say. On by undermining Tehran’s strained nuclear Monday, Foreign Minister Mohammad pact with world powers, and said Tehran Javad Zarif warned that Iran may quit the would not seek nuclear weapons whether NPT if the Europeans refer Iran’s nuclear or not the deal survived. case to the UN Security Council. “If they (Europeans) take any action, the issue of Britain, France and Germany launched a quitting the NPT will be raised based on dispute mechanism in the 2015 nuclear deal the letter of the President dating May this month, accusing Iran of violating the deal 2018,” Zarif said. that has become increasingly frayed since Washington pulled out in 2018 and then https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/444457/No- talks-over-NPT-withdrawal-in-cabinet-Iran reimposed sanctions on Tehran. The dispute mechanism could ultimately lead to the case being referred to the U.N. Security Council Iranian diplomat says maximum to restore U.N. sanctions. Iranian officials have pressure will spread unilateralism threatened a range of steps if this should Tehran Times, January 24, 2020 happen, including quitting the 2015 deal or even withdrawing from the 1968 Non- Bahram Qassemi, Iran’s ambassador to Proliferation Treaty (NPT), basis for global France, said on Thursday that nuclear arms control since the Cold War. intensification of the United States’ maximum pressure against Iran will just https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-nuclear/ spread unilateralism. “Those who help the iran-tells-europe-not-to-follow-u-s-by-undermin- United States intensify maximum pressure ing-nuclear-pact-idUSKBN1ZL1TR against Iran are moving on the path of spreading unilateralism and destabilizing No talks over NPT withdrawal in the region,” IRNA quoted him as saying cabinet: Iran in a tweet.
Tehran Times, January 22, 2020 He said in another tweet, “Europe which Mahmoud Vaezi, President Hassan claimed of supporting the JCPOA [the Rouhani’s chief of staff, said on Wednesday 2015 nuclear deal] never fulfilled its that there has not been any debate in the economic commitments.” He described the cabinet about leaving the nuclear Non- INSTEX - the Instrument in support of Proliferation Treaty (NPT). “In the Trade Exchanges – as an “empty box” and government, we did not have any talks over “leverage of propaganda”. “Now, they are approval of Iran’s withdrawal from the NPT. talking about an action which will lead to Naturally, the issue is among the collapse of the JCPOA. This is the same government’s authorities,” Vaezi told result which the United States wants,” he reporters after the cabinet meeting. He said. He was pointing to Europe’s further said, “President Rouhani, in a letter triggering the dispute mechanism. to the 4+1 countries (Russian, China, https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/444503/ Britain, France plus Germany) in April, Iranian-diplomat-says-maximum-pressure-will- announce that Iran is interested in remaining spread-unilateralism in the JCPOA (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) and is prepared to fulfill its obligations under the deal provided that other sides adhere to their commitment under the pact too.” 34 Volume 12, Number 3 February 15, 2020
Trump administration officials to Fars news goes offline ‘due to U.S. brief senators on Iran next week sanctions’ Reuters, January 24, 2020 Tehran Times, January 25, 2020 Top officials from the U.S. State Department The website of the Fars news agency has will conduct a classified briefing next week gone offline worldwide due to U.S. on Iran policy for members of the Senate sanctions, the agency announced on Foreign Relations Committee, the committee Friday night. In a post on its Twitter said on Friday, amid a push for legislation account, Fars said access to its .com to restrict President Donald Trump’s ability domain had been blocked upon the U.S. to wage war on Iran. Treasury’s order. Internet users trying to access farsnews.com also found only a Trump’s special representative for Iran, blank screen, along with a message stating Brian Hook, will lead the Tuesday briefing. “farsnews.com’s server IP address could Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who leaves not be found.” The news agency said it on Wednesday for an international trip to had received an email from its server Ukraine and other countries, is not company, which “explicitly said that the participating. Senate leaders had said they blockage is due to an order by the expected to vote as soon as this week on an Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control Iran war powers resolution, but there had (OFAC) and its inclusion in the list of been no word on when that vote might take Specially Designated Nationals (SDN).” place. However, Fars can still be accessed through https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-iran- its .ir domain. congress/trump-administration-officials-to-brief- senators-on-iran-next-week-idUSKBN1ZN253 Previously, Google, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter targeted Iranian EU’s Borrell extends timeline for accounts, including those belonging to dispute mechanism on Iran deal broadcasters. In December 2019, Google blocked access to Press TV and Hispan Tehran Times, January 24, 2020 TV’s official YouTube accounts without any prior notice. Ever since Donald Trump The EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell become the president of the United States said on Friday he had extended the time in 2017, Washington has ramped up anti- available to discuss ways to save the 2015 Iran measures. Trump adopted a nuclear deal with Iran under a dispute “maximum pressure” policy against Iran mechanism triggered by France, Germany later on, after withdrawing from the and Britain. “There is agreement that more historic 2015 Iran nuclear deal in May time is needed due to the complexity of the 2018. issues involved. The timeline is therefore extended,” Borrell said in a statement. https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/444549/ Fars-news-goes-offline-due-to-U-S-sanctions On Jan. 14 Borrell was notified by Paris, London and Berlin that they had triggered the dispute mechanism, in theory starting a ‘NPT withdrawal plan’ now on 15-day process to resolve issues with Iran. MPs’ agenda However, in practice it is not clear when the Tehran Times, January 28, 2020 15-day period should start because Iran has not formally recognised the consultation Presiding Board of the Iranian Parliament, process, officials have said. Borrell said the on Tuesday, received a proposed plan on joint commission that regulates the Iran Iran’s withdrawal from the Non- nuclear deal will meet in February but did Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty not give a date. (NPT). On the same day, the Parliament received a plan on ‘banning production, https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/444505/EU-s- maintenance and use of nuclear weapon’, Borrell-extends-timeline-for-dispute-mechanism- as well. In addition, the MPs received a on-Iran-deal 35 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
plan on ‘inflecting punishment on those in production and extraction. “We have countries cooperating with the US on reduced domestic consumption and the imposing anti-Iranian sanctions’. energy intensity of our economy by many percentage points. We are converting cars After Britain, France, and Germany, to be more efficient, as well as other collectively known as the E3, formally gadgets, to be more efficient than any in triggered a dispute settlement mechanism the world. And we manufacture them featured in the JCPOA, a step that could lead too,” he added. to the restoration of UN sanctions against the Islamic Republic, Iran warned that https://www.arabnews.com/node/1618046/ Tehran would leave the Non-Proliferation saudi-arabia Treaty (NPT) if EU took Iran’s nuclear case to UN Security Council. “The European’s Saudi Arabia’s envoy to UK: We statement is in no way legal. If the need to do a better job of showing Europeans take another step, Iran will who we are consider leaving the NPT according to a letter by the Iranian president in May 2019,” Arab News, January 25, 2020 Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif Saudi Arabia needs “to do a better job” of had said. According to the EU’s foreign policy “showing the world who we really are,” chief, the European Union will discuss ways its ambassador to Britain said. “In Saudi to preserve the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA) and we do not always represent ourselves very the possibility of triggering a dispute well because we are a reticent people and mechanism featured in it. our culture does not push us to talking https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/444651/NPT- about ourselves,” Prince Khalid bin withdrawal-plan-now-on-MPs-agenda Bandar bin Sultan told the Daily Telegraph. He made his comments in light H. Saudi Arabia of recent allegations that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was Saudi Arabia a ‘pioneer’ in energy involved in hacking the phone of Amazon transformation, minister tells Davos CEO Jeff Bezos. Frank Kane, Arab News, January 22, 2020 “It is very easy for people to throw these unsubstantiated allegations against Saudi Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Arabia because they know that it is very Salman mounted a strong defense of the difficult for Riyadh to defend itself when Kingdom’s record on climate change and it does not have proper access to the clean energy production at a special event details,” the ambassador said. “We need during the annual meeting of the World to see the evidence before we make any Economic Forum in Davos. On a panel titled, response, because the evidence made “The Future of Fossil Fuels,” with other public so far is circumstantial at best.” energy industry leaders, the prince told Prince Khalid, who was appointed last delegates that Saudi Arabia was a “pioneer” year, encouraged people to visit his in many areas of clean energy production country before forming an opinion of it. and usage, and that it had taken big steps toward diversifying its energy mix. https://www.arabnews.com/node/1616771/ business-economy “My job is to promote Saudi Arabia, of course, but on this issue I’m proud to do so, I. Iraq because we are doing it all,” he said, before outlining “clean energy” policies in detail. Iraqi FM: U.S. pullout from Iran “We have developed the idea of the circular nuclear deal destabilizes region carbon economy, and we are pioneers of carbon sequestration at Aramco, as well as Tehran Times, January 18, 2020 measures on upstream and downstream Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammad Ali Al efficiency. We have the lowest carbon cost Hakim, in a news conference with his 36 Volume 12, Number 3 February 15, 2020
Jordanian counterpart Ayman Al Safadi in retaliate against the United States over the Baghdad, has said that Washington’s killing of a top Iranian general, likely using unilateral withdrawal from the Joint ballistic missiles. Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) has been the cause of recent tensions in the But in the days prior to the Iranian strikes, region. U.S. President Donald Trump quit the Pentagon had expected Tehran more the nuclear deal in May 2018 and introduced likely to target U.S. positions in countries the harshest ever sanctions in history on Iran other than Iraq, since Tehran counts as part of his administration’s “maximum influential allies in Baghdad. The United pressure” campaign against Tehran. Under States had moved Patriot batteries last year the JCPOA, Iran promised to put limits on to Saudi Arabia, for example. Thanks to its nuclear activities in exchange for the U.S. intelligence, the Pentagon gained termination of economic and financial hours of warning time that allowed it to sanctions. move troops to bunkers that were strong enough to prevent loss of life or limb when “We must take steps in line with preventing the Iranian missiles struck, U.S. officials alien forces’ presence in the region,” he say. The bunkers were not designed to added, Azad University News Agency prevent the traumatic brain injuries from (ANA) reported on Saturday. Al Hakim the massive blasts. The injuries so far have further said that any escalation of tensions been categorized as “mild.” in the region will pave the way for the terrorist groups to reequip and reemerge. Al https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast- Safadi, for his part, said, “I have a message crisis-iran-usa-iraq/u-s-seeks-iraqi-nod-to-bring- of Jordanian King Abdulla II for Baghdad. in-air-defenses-after-iran-attack- The message concentrates on Iraq’s idUSKBN1ZT2DI independency and de-escalation of tensions.” J. Turkey https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/444292/Iraqi- Turkey, Japan scrap partnership in FM-U-S-pullout-from-Iran-nuclear-deal-destabi- Sinop nuclear plant in Turkey’s lizes-region north U.S. seeks Iraqi nod to bring in air Hurriyat Daily News, January 20, 2020 defenses after Iran attack Turkey is reassessing its major partner for Reuters, January 30, 2020 the country’s second nuclear plant in the Black Sea province of Sinop, Energy The United States is trying to secure Minister Fatih Dönmez said on Jan. 19. In permission from Iraq to take Patriot missile an interview with state-run Anadolu defenses into the country to better defend Agency, Dönmez said that the time U.S. forces after Iran’s Jan. 8 missile attack, schedule and pricing of the nuclear power which wounded 50 American troops, plant in Sinop fell short of the ministry’s Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on expectations after the results of feasibility Thursday. The United States did not have studies, carried out by Japanese Mitsubishi Patriot air defenses deployed to al-Asad air Heavy Industries, Ltd., came out. “We base in Iraq, where at least 11 of Iran’s agreed with the Japanese side to not ballistic missiles struck, killing no one but continue our cooperation regarding this triggering massive blasts that caused matter,” Dönmez said. traumatic brain injury among U.S. forces. “We need the permission of the Iraqis,” Esper The minister added that Turkey can hold told a news conference. He said securing talks with other suppliers for the their permission was one factor slowing the construction of the nuclear plant. The repositioning of the air defenses. He said the project was agreed on by the Japanese and U.S. military was still deciding on more Turkish governments in 2013. A tactical issues, such as where best to place consortium led by Mitsubishi Heavy the defenses. Tehran had been expected to Industries had been conducting a 37 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
feasibility study until March for the He said the plant is in close proximity to construction of a 4,500-megawatt plant in Igdir and has many flaws in its design. Sinop. “The plant has been constructed with primitive technology and it lacks adequate https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-japan- security measures,” said Eksik. Metsamor, scrap-partnership-in-sinop-nuclear-plant-in- first launched in 1976, is just 16 kilometers turkeys-north-151212 (10 miles) from Turkey’s eastern border with Armenia, and produces about 40% Welded reactor cover completed for of the country’s electricity. Turkey’s first nuclear plant: Akkuyu NPP https://www.yenisafak.com/en/news/armenian- nuclear-plant-poses-threat-to-turkey-3510952 Daily Sabah, January 23, 2020 The welding of the reactor cover on the first K. Israel unit of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant Report: Israel, Russia agree in (NPP) has been completed, the reactor’s principle on Issachar pardon, manufacturer Atomenergomash announced on Wednesday. Atommash, the finalizing details Volgodonsk branch of AEM-technology, Michael Bachner, The Times of Israel, which operates alongside Russian state January 20, 2020 atomic energy corporation Rosatom’s machine-building division of Iran’s foreign minister threatens to quit the Atomenergomash, has completed the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), a key welding of the reactor cover for Turkey’s international agreement to curb nuclear first nuclear plant, according to the arms, if the matter of Tehran’s ongoing statement. violations of the atomic deal is sent to the United Nations Security Council, Iranian The welding of the circumferential joint at media reports. “If the Europeans continue temperatures ranging between 179 and 200 their improper behavior or send Iran’s file degrees Celsius was carried out over the to the Security Council, we will withdraw course of 17 days, Akkuyu NPP’s reactor from the NPT,” Mohammad Javad Zarif equipment and turbine island manufacturer is quoted as saying by the IRNA news confirmed. Later, the reactor’s welded joint agency, according to Reuters. will undergo heat treatment at 600 degrees Celsius for three days to relieve residual Russian President Vladimir Putin submits welding stresses and to ensure optimal a package of constitutional amendments resilience, according to the company. to parliament less than a week after announcing a surprise plan to reform the https://www.dailysabah.com/energy/2020/01/23/ political system. The bill on the welded-reactor-cover-completed-for-turkeys-first- amendments, available on the website of nuclear-plant-akkuyu-npp the lower house State Duma, proposes changes including the transfer of some ‘Armenian nuclear plant poses power away from the presidency. The threat to Turkey’ reform has indicated Putin is working to carve out a new governing position for Yeni Safak, January 31, 2020 himself after his current six-year term ends A nuclear power plant in neighboring in 2024, although it remains unclear what Armenia poses a threat to Turkey, said a specific path he will take to stay in charge. Turkish opposition party on Friday. “The Under the current law, Putin must step Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant jeopardizes down when his current term ends. the lives of people in this region,” Habib https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-january- Eksik, a Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) 20-2020/ lawmaker from the eastern Igdir province, told journalists in parliament. 38 Volume 12, Number 3 February 15, 2020
Energy minister: Israel stopped North Korea signals tougher ‘very serious’ cyber attack on power stance against US plant Kang Seung-woo, Korea Times, January 20, Eytan Halon, Jerusalem Post, January 29, 2020 2020 The unexpected replacement of North Israel detected and prevented a “very Korea’s top diplomat indicates that serious cyberattack” on one of the country’s Pyongyang is picking up where it left off power plants, Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz more than two years ago, or a new anti- said on Wednesday. U.S. hardline policy, according to diplomatic observers, Monday. The Addressing the Cybertech Global Tel Aviv replacement is also unlikely to help 2020 conference, Steinitz said the attempted improve inter-Korean ties, experts said. attack was detected “a few months ago,” According to media reports, the North has and represented one of only a few serious appointed Ri Son-gwon, chairman of the cyberattacks on Israeli energy facilities to Committee for the Peaceful Reunification date. of the Country, as its foreign minister, sacking Ri Yong-ho, a career diplomat, https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Energy- apparently over the stalled nuclear talks minister-Israel-prevented-cyber-attack-on-power- with the U.S., despite three meetings plant-615802 between their leaders. The new foreign minister had been the North’s key official East Asia for relations with South Korea.
L. North Korea The regime has yet to confirm the North Korea’s Kim taps tough- appointment; while the South Korean talking military veteran as foreign unification ministry said it was also trying to confirm the reports. minister http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2020/ Hyonhee Shin, Reuters, January 20, 2020 01/103_282217.html North Korea’s new foreign minister is a former defense commander with little North Korea says may seek ‘new diplomatic experience, spotlighting leader path’ of weapons build-up Kim Jong Un’s reliance on party and military loyalists at a sensitive time amid stalled U.S. Space Daily, January 21, 2020 talks, analysts in Seoul said on Monday. Last Pyongyang on Tuesday warned that it week, North Korea told countries with could seek a “new path” and accelerate embassies in Pyongyang that Ri Son Gwon, its weapons programme, after Washington a senior military officer and official of the imposed fresh sanctions on North Korean ruling Workers’ Party, had been appointed companies amid stalled nuclear talks. foreign minister, a diplomatic source in North Korean representative Ju Yong Chol Seoul told Reuters. told the Conference on Disarmament in He replaces Ri Yong Ho, a career diplomat Geneva that his country’s efforts to with years of experience negotiating with improve relations with Washington had Washington, but who often took a backseat been met with hostility. “Although the US to other officials during the last two years is talking about the resumption of of diplomacy. dialogue, it has no intention at all from the beginning to drop its hostile policy https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea- towards the DPRK (Democratic Republic politics/north-koreas-kim-taps-tough-talking- of Korea),” he said. military-veteran-as-foreign-minister- idUSKBN1ZJ0RE “The DPRK will steadily develop strategic weapons essential and prerequisite for 39 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
national security until the US abandons its Son-gyong would attend next month’s hostile policy and lasting and durable event. The announcement comes a month peace... is in place on the Korean peninsula,” after Pyongyang declared it was he said. He said the scope of the build up abandoning moratoriums on nuclear and would depend on the “future attitude” of intercontinental ballistic missile tests. The the US. Pyongyang has previously fired self-imposed ban on tests had been the missiles capable of reaching the entire US centerpiece of two years of nuclear mainland, and has carried out six nuclear diplomacy between the US and North tests, the last of them 16 times more powerful Korea, including three meetings between than the Hiroshima blast, according to the the two countries’ leaders Donald Trump highest estimates. and Kim Jong-un.
http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/ Also expected to attend the Munich talks North_Korea_says_may_seek_new_path_of_weapons_build- this year are US Secretary of State Mike up_999.html Pompeo, Defense Secretary Mark Esper and the leader of the House of North Korea abandons nuclear Representatives Nancy Pelosi. The Iranian freeze pledge, blames ‘brutal’ U.S. foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif sanctions is likewise expected to attend. Stephanie Nebehay, Reuters, January 21, http://www.koreaherald.com/ 2020 view.php?ud=20200123000664&ACE_SEARCH=1
North Korea said on Tuesday it was no North Korea to make Munich longer bound by commitments to halt Security Conference debut in 2020 nuclear and missile testing, blaming the United States’ failure to meet a year-end Korea Herald, January 27, 2020 deadline for nuclear talks and “brutal and inhumane” U.S. sanctions. North Korean North Korea will send a delegation to the leader Kim Jong Un set an end-December Munich Security Conference for the first deadline for denuclearization talks with the time in the 56-year history of the top United States and White House national diplomatic gathering, organizers said security adviser Robert O’Brien said at the Thursday. An MSC spokesperson time the United States had opened channels confirmed that North Korean vice foreign of communication. O’Brien said then he minister Kim Son-gyong would attend hoped Kim would follow through on next month’s event. The announcement denuclearization commitments he made at comes a month after Pyongyang declared summits with U.S. President Donald it was abandoning moratoriums on Trump. nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea- nuclear-usa/north-korea-abandons-nuclear-freeze- The self-imposed ban on tests had been the pledge-blames-brutal-u-s-sanctions- centerpiece of two years of nuclear idUSKBN1ZK1FX diplomacy between the US and North Korea, including three meetings between North Korea to make Munich the two countries’ leaders Donald Trump Security Conference debut in 2020 and Kim Jong-un. Also expected to attend the Munich talks this year are US Secretary Korea Herald, January 23, 2020 of State Mike Pompeo, Defense Secretary Mark Esper and the leader of the House North Korea will send a delegation to the of Representatives Nancy Pelosi. The Munich Security Conference for the first Iranian foreign minister Mohammad time in the 56-year history of the top Javad Zarif is likewise expected to attend. diplomatic gathering, organizers said Thursday. An MSC spokesperson confirmed http://www.koreaherald.com/ that North Korean vice foreign minister Kim view.php?ud=20200127000104&ACE_SEARCH=1 40 Volume 12, Number 3 February 15, 2020
North Korea urges citizens to ‘break “From the Defense Department through barriers’ as nuclear perspective ... if something like that could standoff continues be negotiated with the North Koreans we would see that as being a beneficial thing,” Josh Smith, Reuters, January 27, 2020 Rood told a committee hearing, noting that it is up to the State Department to While a North Korean deadline for the decide on the sequencing of the steps. “The United States to soften its stand on armistice was not intended to survive denuclearization talks passed uneventfully decade after decade after decade, and so over the New Year, state media and if something like that could be negotiated propaganda efforts have been focusing on with the North Koreans, I think that’d be the prospect of a long confrontation with in our interest,” he said. the United States. Optimism that two years of contacts between leader Kim Jong Un and http://www.koreaherald.com/ U.S. President Donald Trump would usher view.php?ud=20200129000054&ACE_SEARCH=1 in a new age, and related hopes for economic improvement after decades of deprivation, Satellite imagery suggests security appear to have faded. patrols at NK nuclear test site Instead, the government has been hard at Yonhap, Korea Herald, January 30, 2020 work in recent weeks using state media, propaganda posters, and performances to North Korea’s decommissioned nuclear warn the public of a bumpy road ahead test site in Punggye-ri shows signs of under U.S. and international pressure. The routine security patrols, a US monitor said propaganda effort has included calls for Wednesday. In commercial satellite North Koreans to “break through barriers” imagery from Jan. 17, footpaths and and strengthen the country. vehicle tracks were visible in the snow around the portal areas and at the main https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea- administrative support area, 38 North said propaganda-analysis/north-korea-urges-citizens- on its website. The imagery also showed to-break-through-barriers-as-nuclear-standoff- snow-cleared roads leading from the continues-idUSKBN1ZQ0A9 security barracks area to the command center, it said. US defense official expresses support for peace declaration with “There are no indications of renewed N. Korea excavation, construction or other activity that would suggest the North is trying to Yonhap, Korea Herald, January 29, 2020 reopen the complex,” 38 North added. “Instead, track activity is more likely A senior US defense official on Tuesday related to security patrols of the area.” voiced support for a peace declaration between the United States and North Korea, http://www.koreaherald.com/ saying such an agreement would be view.php?ud=20200130000078&ACE_SEARCH=1 beneficial to Washington if it can be negotiated. John Rood, under secretary of North Korea’s Kim offers defense for policy, was commenting on the condolences to China’s Xi about possibility the administration of US President virus outbreak: KCNA Donald Trump could offer a peace declaration as part of a denuclearization Reuters, January 31, 2020 deal with the North. In particular, he was asked by Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) of the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent a House Armed Services Committee if the US letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping could first agree to a peace declaration offering condolences about the before negotiating the details of North coronavirus outbreak in China, North Korea’s denuclearization. Korean state news agency KCNA reported on Saturday. Kim “expressed the 41 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
conviction that the party, government and S. Korea, US agree to closely people of China would surely emerge coordinate on inter-Korean victorious in the campaign to combat the projects: nuclear envoy disease” under Xi’s guidance, KCNA said. China is the closest ally that isolated North Yonhap, Korea herald, January 17, 2020 Korea has. The country has canceled most South Korea and the United States agreed flights to China, imposed mandatory Thursday to coordinate closely on possible quarantine on all arrivals from China, and inter-Korean projects amid stalled nuclear heavily restricted border crossings following talks between Washington and the outbreak. Pyongyang, Seoul’s chief nuclear envoy https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-health- said Thursday. Lee Do-hoon, special northkorea/north-koreas-kim-offers-condolences-to- representative for Korean Peninsula peace chinas-xi-about-virus-outbreak-kcna- and security affairs, made the remark to idUSKBN1ZV3LL reporters after holding talks with his US counterpart, Deputy Secretary of State M. South Korea Stephen Biegun, in Washington. US envoy surprised that NKorea The pair met after President Moon Jae-in expressed a desire earlier this week to didn’t give ‘Christmas gift’ implement inter-Korean projects as a way Hyung-jin Kim, AP News, January 16, 2020 to facilitate denuclearization negotiations between the North and the U.S. Most of The U.S. ambassador to South Korea said the projects, including efforts to reconnect Thursday he was surprised and pleased that railways and roads between the Koreas, North Korea did not give the U.S. an have stalled due to United Nations unwelcome “Christmas gift” because of sanctions on Pyongyang. stalled nuclear disarmament talks, and that President Donald Trump is still confident it http://www.koreaherald.com/ will denuclearize. North Korea had warned view.php?ud=20200117000041&ACE_SEARCH=1 that its “Christmas gift” to the U.S. would depend on what action Washington took in Inter-Korean cooperation will the talks, leading to concerns that it might occur within framework of conduct a major weapons test. denuclearization: official
It hasn’t conducted any such test, although Yonhap, Korea Herald, January 18, 2020 the U.S. didn’t meet a year-end deadline set South Korea’s push for inter-Korean by leader Kim Jong Un to make concessions. cooperation will be done in a way that can facilitate the denuclearization negotiations “You can say that I personally was between the United States and North surprised. But I’m glad also ... there was no Korea, a senior presidential official said Christmas gift,” Ambassador Harry Harris Saturday. The official made the remark told reporters in Seoul. “Washington was one day after the office of President Moon ready for any eventuality, and we were all Jae-in openly reproached US Ambassador glad that there was no ICBM test or nuclear Harry Harris for his remarks on Moon’s test.”He said both Trump and South Korean plans to resume inter-Korean cooperation, President Moon Jae-in “are keeping the door calling them “very inappropriate.” Amid open to negotiations and hoping Kim Jong concerns about the allies’ friction over a Un will walk through that door.” “So the possible mismatch in the progress of inter- ball is in his court,” he said. Korean cooperation and denuclearization, https://apnews.com/ the presidential official said the cooperation 10de37c16afd94bb66db6b09a297c0d7 will “not be pushed in a way that undermines the bargaining power of either side.”
http://www.koreaherald.com/ view.php?ud=20200118000027&ACE_SEARCH=1 42 Volume 12, Number 3 February 15, 2020
S. Korea to jack up spending on carry out its plans for the transfer of energy R&D in 2020 wartime operational control, saying South Korea should secure the capabilities it Yonhap, Korea Herald, January 20, 2020 needs to play the leading role in its own defense. Moon also called on the military South Korea said Monday it will spend more to follow through on its defense reform on research and development in the energy plans, and to secure the ability to respond segment this year as the country targets to nontraditional threats. The president clean and sustainable economic growth. also emphasized the need to apply new South Korea will spend 916.3 billion won technologies to defense, saying advances ($789 million), a 19-percent rise from last in defense technology would also benefit year, on such projects, according to the the economy. Regarding the application Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. of new technologies to defense, the Most of the money will be allocated to ministry has compiled a list of technologies projects related to South Korea’s green and capabilities it would concentrate on energy drive. developing. They include artificial Last year, Seoul unveiled its initiative to intelligence, robotics and virtual reality. create a hydrogen economy, seeking to The ministry also said it would push to utilize the resource as a major source of reform defense industry regulations to energy for power generation, vehicles and enable new technologies to be applied other daily uses while reducing reliance on more quickly. fossil fuels and nuclear power. The ministry http://www.koreaherald.com/ said it will spend 43.1 billion won on view.php?ud=20200121000753&ACE_SEARCH=1 developing technologies to further promote hydrogen-related policies. US to continue ‘patient’ diplomacy http://www.koreaherald.com/ with N. Korea: official view.php?ud=20200120000379&ACE_SEARCH=1 Yonhap, Korea Herald, January 23, 2020 Moon stresses military reform, The United States will continue “patient” innovation diplomacy with North Korea to make clear that the regime needs to return to Choi He-suk, Korea Herald, January 21, 2020 denuclearization talks, a senior State Department official said. The official spoke The military will focus on strengthening its ability to respond to nuclear weapons and to reporters on condition of anonymity to other weapons of mass destruction in 2020, discuss last week’s meetings involving the and on applying cutting-edge technologies top diplomats of South Korea, the US and to its defense systems, the Ministry of Japan. His remark suggests Washington is National Defense said. The plans were not willing to offer concessions to get revealed in an annual briefing session for Pyongyang back to the negotiation table. President Moon Jae-in at the Gyeryongdae “On North Korea — slow, patient, steady complex — an Army, Navy and Air Force diplomacy,” the official said when asked headquarters near Daejeon. At the briefing, about plans for future engagement with Moon stressed the importance of defense, the North. “We’re going to stick with this pointing to the increased defense budget plan. It’s working. We’ll coordinate with under his administration. “Our ultimate goal allies and partners in the region to of peace and prosperity on the Korean continue to make sure that that pressure Peninsula is possible with the backing of a is steady and insist that UN Security strong defense,” Moon said. Council resolutions are enforced. That will During Moon’s term, the country’s defense continue to make clear to the North that budget has increased at an annual average they need to come out and negotiate and of 7.6 percent. It exceeded the 50 trillion won talk.” ($42.9 billion) mark for the first time this http://www.koreaherald.com/ year. Moon also called on the military to view.php?ud=20200123000153&ACE_SEARCH=1 43 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
Furlough threat hangs over US S. Korean envoy departs for military bases in S. Korea Europe for talks on Bloomberg, January 23, 2020 denuclearization, peace efforts The US is warning it will send furlough Yonhap, Korea Herald, January 29, 2020 notices within weeks to almost 9,000 South South Korea’s chief nuclear envoy, Lee Do- Korean workers at US bases if the two hoon, embarked on a trip to Europe on countries don’t reach agreement on Wednesday for talks with senior officials President Donald Trump’s demand for Seoul there over ongoing efforts for to increase dramatically what it pays for denuclearization and a lasting peace on American troops. Trump’s push for South the Korean Peninsula, Seoul officials said. Korea to contribute much more has put the Lee’s trip to Belgium and Germany came alliance under strain at a time when North as Seoul has been striving to secure global Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s regime has said support for its push to bolster inter-Korean it would no longer be bound by its previous cooperation projects, such as individual promise to halt testing of nuclear weapons tours to the communist state, and move and long-range ballistic missiles. forward stalled nuclear negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang. The two sides remained deadlocked, though US officials have indicated they’ve backed During his stay in Brussels on Wednesday off Trump’s initial demand that President and Thursday, Lee will visit the EU Moon Jae-in’s administration pay about $5 headquarters to meet members of the EU billion a year for US forces stationed there, Political and Security Committee and hold more than five times the $900 million in a talks with Helga Schmid, the secretary stopgap one-year agreement that expired on general of the European External Action Dec. 31. Service. From Thursday through Saturday, he will be in Berlin for talks with Niels https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020- Annen, minister of state at Germany’s 01-22/furlough-threat-hangs-over-u-s-military- Federal Foreign Office, and other officials. bases-in-south-korea To incentivize Pyongyang to return to the denuclearization track, Seoul has been Moon says no progress in nuclear trying to enhance inter-Korean talks with North Korea in 2019 cooperation through such projects as ‘regrettable’ linking roads and railways across the border and turning the Demilitarized Zone Korea Times, January 24, 2020 into an international peace zone. President Moon Jae-in said Friday lack of progress in denuclearization talks between http://www.koreaherald.com/ North Korea and the United States was the view.php?ud=20200129000694&ACE_SEARCH=1 most regrettable thing for him last year, along with a slower-than-expected N. Japan improvement in the living conditions of Costs for managing Japan’s nuclear South Koreans. He especially mentioned the no-deal Hanoi summit between U.S. plants to total 13 trillion yen President Donald Trump and the North’s Kyodo News, January 15, 2020 leader Kim Jong-un during a phone interview with an SBS radio program. “If The total costs to implement government- there had been some headway in the North mandated safety measures, maintain Korea-U.S. dialogue, (we) could have facilities and decommission commercially advanced peace on the Korean Peninsula operated nuclear power plants in Japan and South-North cooperation,” he said. will reach around 13.46 trillion yen ($123 billion), a Kyodo News tally showed http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2020/ Wednesday. The amount, which could 01/113_282435.html balloon further and eventually lead to 44 Volume 12, Number 3 February 15, 2020
higher electricity fees, was calculated based The Hiroshima High Court decision on financial documents from 11 power overturned a ruling by a branch of companies that own 57 nuclear reactors at Yamaguchi District Court last year, saying 19 plants, as well as interviews with the Shikoku Electric had given insufficient utilities. explanation why the plant would remain safe, and not pose a danger to residents in https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2020/01/ the event of volcanic eruptions or 8722fafaff9b-costs-for-managing-japans-nuclear- earthquakes. plants-to-total-13-trillion-yen.html https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan- Residents win appeal to halt Ikata nuclear/japans-shikoku-electric-says-to-delay- reactor over safety fears nuclear-reactor-restart-after-court-order- idUSKBN1ZG0LH The Asahi Shimbun, January 17, 2020 The high court here Jan. 17 ordered a halt Japan nuclear plant host town to operations of the No. 3 reactor at the Ikata mayor received money from nuclear power plant in Ehime Prefecture due construction firm to fears it is located near an active fault. The Mainichi Japan, January 23, 2020 temporary injunction issued by the Hiroshima High Court does not allow for The mayor of a southwestern Japan town operations of the reactor to resume unless hosting a nuclear power plant has the Supreme Court hands down a ruling admitted to receiving 1 million yen ($9,100) reversing it. The No. 3 reactor at the plant, in cash from a construction company in which is located in Ikata in the prefecture 2018, in apparent violation of the political and operated by Shikoku Electric Power Co., funds law. Shintaro Wakiyama, the mayor is currently offline for regular inspections. of Genkai in Saga Prefecture, told Kyodo News he recently returned the money Three residents living on an island in the Seto received days after he was elected in July Inland Sea within a roughly 50-kilometer 2018 from a then executive of Shiohama radius of the plant had filed a request for a Industry Corp., which is known to have temporary injunction, but the Iwakuni had close ties with a man at the heart of a branch of the Yamaguchi District Court gift scandal involving Kansai Electric rejected it in March 2019. The plaintiffs then Power Co. The mayor told a press appealed the decision to the Hiroshima High conference Thursday afternoon that he Court. will consider whether to resign after http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13043094 consulting with his support group. https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20200123/ Japan’s Shikoku Electric says to p2g/00m/0na/057000c delay nuclear reactor restart after court order Kansai Electric begins extracting Reuters, January 17, 2020 MOX fuel from nuclear plant Japanese utility Shikoku Electric Power Co Ippei Yaoita, The Asahi Shimbun, January said on Friday it had been ordered by a 27, 2020 Hiroshima court to suspend operations of Kansai Electric Power Co. started its only operable nuclear reactor, the No.3 removing spent mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel unit at its Ikata plant in western Japan. The from the No. 3 reactor at its Takahama reactor had been shut for regular nuclear power plant here on Jan. 27, but maintenance work since late December and a disposal method has yet to be was likely to restart within a couple of determined. It is the first time Kansai months, but must now remain idled pending Electric has removed spent MOX fuel from an appeal. any of its reactors. Shikoku Electric Power Co. began the first such MOX fuel-removal 45 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
operation at the No. 3 reactor of its Ikata August and four months from October, nuclear power plant in Ehime Prefecture respectively — will be the second time for earlier this month. The Takahama plant’s reactors to be shut down in Japan because No. 3 reactor has been undergoing a regular such off-site facilities were not ready. The safety inspection since Jan. 6. Eighty-one of No. 3 reactor at the plant will be shut down the reactor’s 157 fuel assemblies will be from August 2 to Dec. 22, and No. 4 will removed, including 8 MOX assemblies. be offline from Oct. 7 to Feb. 10, 2021.
The process is expected to be completed by https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/01/29/ Jan. 29. The MOX fuel will be kept in a pool national/kepco-halt-reactors-counterterrorism- at the nuclear plant along with uranium fuel facility-construction-deadline/#.XjqpJ1QzbIU rods. The reactor currently has 28 MOX fuel assemblies. The 8 units being removed were O. Misc introduced in December 2010. The remaining 20 units will continue to be used U.N. sanctions experts warn - stay for commercial operations of pluthermal away from North Korea power generation that started in January cryptocurrency conference 2011. The Takahama plant’s No. 3 and No. Michelle Nichols, Reuters, January 15, 4 reactors, the Ikata plant’s No. 3 reactor 2020 and the Genkai nuclear power plant’s No. 3 reactor in Saga Prefecture, operated by United Nations sanctions experts are Kyushu Electric Power Co., currently use warning people not to attend a MOX fuel for pluthermal power generation. cryptocurrency conference in North Korea Kansai Electric also plans to use its Oi in February, flagging it as a likely nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture for sanctions violation, according to a the project. However, the utilities and the confidential report due to be submitted to central government, which is pushing the U.N. Security Council later this month. pluthermal power generation, have not The warning comes after the independent specified sites or methods for the disposal of U.N. experts told the council in August spent MOX fuel. that North Korea generated an estimated $2 billion for its weapons of mass http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/ destruction programs using “widespread AJ202001270035.html and increasingly sophisticated” cyberattacks to steal from banks and Kepco to halt two nuclear reactors cryptocurrency exchanges. after missing counterterrorism deadline North Korea has been under U.N. sanctions since 2006 over its nuclear and Japan Times, January 29, 2020 ballistic missile programs. The 15-member Kansai Electric Power Co. said Wednesday Security Council has unanimously it would suspend operations at two nuclear strengthened those measures over the reactors after missing a deadline set by the years, prompting Pyongyang to look for industry regulator to build counterterrorism alternative ways to make money. facilities. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea- sanctions-un-exclusive/exclusive-u-n-sanc- Under stricter rules implemented after the tions-experts-warn-stay-away-from-north-korea- 2011 Fukushima disaster, utilities are now cryptocurrency-conference-idUSKBN1ZE0I5 required to build emergency off-site control rooms to serve as backup bases that can keep nuclear reactors cooled and prevent US sends nuke-detecting plane to meltdowns in the event of a terrorist attack. air base in Japan Yonhap, Korea Herald, January 17, 2020 The suspension of reactors Nos. 3 and 4 at Kansai Electric’s Takahama plant in Fukui The United States has deployed a WC- Prefecture — for about five months from 135W radiation detection plane to one of 46 Volume 12, Number 3 February 15, 2020
its air bases in Japan, an aviation tracker said annual ritual that reminds us of both the Thursday, a move seen as aimed at beefing enduring value of our civil society up surveillance of North Korea. The WC- organizations and the kinds of issues they 135W Constant Phoenix arrived at Kadena fearlessly take on. Air Base in Japan’s Okinawa, Aircraft Spots said in a Twitter post, without elaborating http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/ on the exact time of the arrival. Nicknamed 2020/01/137_282198.html the “nuke sniffer,” the WC-135W played a key role in detecting radioactive leaks after Love without borders, or nuclear the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in the Soviet threats? Union in 1986. It is unclear whether the Ahn Sung, Korea Herald, January 20, 2020 purpose of the deployment was for a simple stopover or for an operation. An RC-135S A chaebol heiress accidentally crashes in Cobra Ball surveillance aircraft is also North Korea while paragliding. She is known to have been deployed at Kadena Air rescued by a North Korean military officer Base. who ends up protecting her and risking his life to send her back home to Seoul. http://www.koreaherald.com/ Despite the differences in accent, lifestyle, view.php?ud=20200117000223&ACE_SEARCH=1 culture, upbringing and ideology, they fall in love. This is the premise of “Crash Why nuclear doomsday threat is not Landing on You,” the latest hit drama waning from tvN. With a top-notch cast led by actress Son Ye-jin and actor Hyun Bin, the Tom Plate Korea Times, January 20, 2020 rom-com, which premiered Dec. 14, is the Without becoming too defensive about talk of the town for its vivid depiction of America at this rocky passage in its political the reclusive nation that has been shrouded history (well, it is difficult to defend), I behind a veil for decades. Life north of nonetheless will offer something of a the border has been a source of inspiration defense, since almost no one else wants to for many creative minds in the South. try, but maybe someone ought to. So we start http://www.koreaherald.com/ with this: Whether the current American view.php?ud=20200120000655&ACE_SEARCH=1 president’s actions and policies are indefensible or not is not the point. At worst, President Donald Trump is in office for The NPT – nuclear development another term but then ¯ he’s out. Does any for the few other superpower offer such a term-limited Gonzalo Collado De Giovannini, United peace of mind? Even so, America is not one World, January 22, 2020 person any more than China is one person or even one party. The NPT (Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty) is one of the most famous and To be sure, even if the best comes to pass ¯ a “successful” treaties. It emerged from one-term Trump presidency ¯ a lot of bad negotiations between the Soviet Union could happen in the year ahead. That’s why and the United States in 1967. It was many Americans are not letting up. Our civil adopted in 1968 within the framework of society sector is anything but brain dead ¯ the United Nations. It was supported by and is supported politically as well as 95 countries, with 21 abstaining and 4 financially by many Americans who are well votes against. In this way, the NPT came aware of our flaws and the limitations of into force in 1970, seeking a commitment our government no matter what political from the signatory countries not to party or which politician is at the top. The contribute to the expansion of nuclear average educated American respects more weapons in the rest of the world. than one secular or political god. I worship several myself, and this week one of them The main articles of the NPT can be will step into the spotlight for a famous summarized as follows 47 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
1-Prohibiting nuclear states from transferring partnership with the nation. The vote on nuclear weapons, devices, technology or Friday doesn’t deal with its proposal control of them to non-nuclear countries, as directly. The two projects together well as prohibiting the encouragement and represent the bulk of Canada’s long-term assistance in accessing them. plan to store nuclear waste. Canada has 2.9 million bundles of highly radioactive 2- Each non-nuclear state,in turn, commits used nuclear fuel, according to 2015 data, itself not to receive, control or help in and around 100,000 cubic meters of low developing or manufacturing nuclear and intermediate nuclear waste, according weapons. to 2016 figures, the most recent available.
3- Commitment of all parties to facilitate https://news.bloombergenvironment.com/ access and exchange of peaceful nuclear environment-and-energy/canada-nuclear-waste- development technology to non-nuclear storage-plan-near-lake-huron-faces-vote countries. Iran’s revenge might be to go 4- Insistence on the inalienable right of all to develop energy for peaceful purposes nuclear nuclear. Dr. Dania Koleilat Khatib, Arab News, January 29, 2020 5- Commitment by nuclear states to start negotiations for the reduction of their By posting the words, “No thanks” on nuclear arsenals. Twitter, US President Donald Trump replied to Iranian Foreign Minister https://uwidata.com/7318-the-npt-nuclear- Mohammed Javad Zarif’s latest overture. development-for-the-few/ In an interview with German newspaper Der Spiegel last week, Zarif said that Iran Canada Nuclear Waste Storage Plan was ready to resume talks with the US if Near Lake Huron Faces Vote the latter lifted its sanctions on Tehran. He added that it was the US that had left the Bloomberg Environment, January 31, 2020 negotiating table, not Iran. However, U.S. lawmakers from the Great Lakes region Zarif’s approach is a bit strange. This was are weighing in on the fate of two major also the previous proposal of Iran, and the Canadian nuclear waste facilities, which US rejected it. Was it expecting a change could hinge on a vote in a First Nation in the position of the US or was it just a community in western Ontario on Friday. distraction? The 4,500-member Saugeen Ojibway Nation, based on Lake Huron’s Bruce https://www.arabnews.com/node/1620031 Peninsula, is voting on whether to support construction of Ontario Power Generation P. Op-Ed Inc.’s C$2.4 billion ($1.8 billion) deep India geological repository for low- and intermediate-level nuclear waste near the Inside India’s Large and Deadly shore of Lake Huron. But several U.S. Nuclear Weapons Program members of Congress oppose it, claiming it could endanger drinking water for millions. Michael Peck, National Interest Blog, January 17, 2020 Ontario Power Generation pledged not to move ahead if the First Nation community India is surrounded by countries it has votes against the repository. The Nuclear fought wars with, especially Pakistan and Waste Management Organization, which China. To protect itself, New Delhi has a could build a much larger C$23 billion robust nuclear program- even though it is repository for more radioactive spent very dangerous. India has 130 to 140 nuclear fuel in the same region, won’t nuclear warheads—and more are coming, proceed in the area if it doesn’t have a according to a new report. 48 Volume 12, Number 3 February 15, 2020
“India is estimated to have produced Space Research Organisation (ISRO), enough military plutonium for 150 to 200 announced herself in Bengaluru. She is the nuclear warheads, but has likely produced prototype for a half-humanoid that will only 130 to 140,” according to Hans eventually fly to space on an unmanned Kristensen and Matt Korda of the Nuclear mission later this year, aiming to lay the Information Project at the Federation of ground for ISRO’s manned mission American Scientists. “Nonetheless, additional Gaganyaan in 2022. ISRO plans to send a plutonium will be required to produce human into space for the first time by 2022. warheads for missiles now under It is racing against time to develop a crew development, and India is reportedly building module and rocket systems that will several new plutonium production facilities.” ensure the safe travel and return of the Indian astronaut. Other countries that https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/inside-indias- have successfully launched humans into large-and-deadly-nuclear-weapons-program-115256 space did so after having used animals for conducting tests of their rockets and crew India Stands Up New Su-30MKI recovery systems, while ISRO will use the Squadron humanoid to test the efficacy of its GSLV Mk III rocket to transport a human to Franz-Stefan Gady, The Diplomat, January space and back. The humanoid is under 20, 2020 development at a robotics laboratory at the The Indian Air Force (IAF) stood up its first Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre. permanent Su-30MKI squadron, 222 Squadron also known as the ‘Tigersharks’, The Vyommitra humanoid, which will test in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu in southern the ground for the human spaceflight, will Indian on January 20, according to local be a very basic version of a TARS-type, media reports. The commissioning artificial-intelligence-and-robotics system. ceremony of the new IAF unit was attended The activities that Vyommitra will be able by India’s new Chief of Defense Staff, to perform, once fully developed for the General Bipin Rawat, and IAF chief, Air unmanned flight, will include procedures Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria. to use equipment on board the spacecraft’s crew module such as safety mechanisms The squadron will initially consist of four to and switches, as well as receiving and six Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighters and is slated acting on commands sent from ground to reach its full complement of 18 aircraft stations. Attaining launch and orbital by early 2021. Eight of the squadron’s 18 Su- postures, responding to the environment, 30MKIs are set to be armed with the air- generating warnings, replacing carbon launched BrahMos-A supersonic cruise dioxide canisters, operating switches, missile. The BrahMos-A is expected to be monitoring of the crew module, receiving cleared for operational service with the IAF voice commands, responding via speech later this year. Following a successful test (bilingual) are the functions listed for the launch of the missile in December 2019, the humanoid. IAF announced that the integration of the BrahMos-A on the SU-30MKI had been https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/ completed. vyommitra-space-job-half-humanoid-isro- 6234069/ https://thediplomat.com/2020/01/india-stands-up- new-su-30mki-squadron/ China Explained: What is Vyommitra’s US should repent over its foiled space job? plot against Huawei Johnson T A, The Indian Express, January Global Times, January 29, 2020 25, 2020 The British government announced on On Wednesday, Vyommitra, a “half- Tuesday that Chinese tech giant Huawei humanoid” being developed by the Indian would be allowed to take a role in UK 5G 49 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
networks, but with restrictions. The Chinese and use of outer space for peaceful firm will be excluded from “security critical” purposes.” core areas, including nuclear sites and military bases. In addition, it will only be http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/ allowed to account for 35 percent of network 1177832.shtml equipment and base stations in the UK. Pakistan Generally, it is a major setback for attempts by the US to prevent the use of Huawei Pakistan Has a Truly Deadly and technology among its allies. The UK is the Scary Nuclear Weapons Program most prominent ally of the US in Europe. Kyle Mizokami, National Interest Online, Washington has done its utmost to persuade January 18, 2020 the UK not to use Huawei equipment in the construction of its 5G networks. The US has Pakistan and India have a dangerous warned that it could damage the special rivalry that could one day lead to nuclear relationship between the two nations, that war. Islamabad has its own formidable it may no longer share intelligence with the nuclear arsenal and has threatened to use UK and that it may even affect trade talks it. between the two countries. However, the UK ultimately decided to adopt Huawei Sandwiched between Iran, China, India technology, while comforting the US by and Afghanistan, Pakistan lives in a saying it will “adopt the technology with complicated neighborhood with a variety restrictions.” of security issues. One of the nine known states known to have nuclear weapons, http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1177923.shtml Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal and doctrine are continually evolving to match perceived US Space Force can’t be taken threats. A nuclear power for decades, lightly Pakistan is now attempting to construct a nuclear triad of its own, making its nuclear Yang Chengjun, Global Times, January 25, arsenal resilient and capable of 2020 devastating retaliatory strikes. The creation of the US Space Force as the https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/pakistan- sixth branch of the US armed forces has has-truly-deadly-and-scary-nuclear-weapons- caused concerns around the world. US program-115226 President Donald Trump signed into law in late 2019 the National Defense India’s Evolving Nuclear Posture: Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020, which approved $40 million for Space Force Implications for Pakistan operations and maintenance. It is estimated Iqra Shahnaz, Modern Diplomacy, January that about $13 billion would be spent in the 27, 2020 first five years since 2020 to establish the Space Force. It’s been twenty one years to the emergence of India, as an explicit nuclear However, to weaponize space is a violation weapon state (NWS), yet India needs to of UN resolutions.The UN General express the details about the core elements Assembly set up the Committee on the of its nuclear posture or nuclear doctrine Peaceful Uses of Outer Space in 1959 to like the policy of NFU, policy of minimum govern the exploration and use of space for credible nuclear deterrence, massive the benefit of all humanity. In addition, retaliation and assured survivability of its according to the Outer Space Treaty, which retaliatory forces. India has ambitious was approved in the General Assembly and plans for the acquisition of robust triad of entered into force on October 10, 1967, the nuclear forces, which includes the land- States Parties to the treaty, including the US, based ballistic missiles, fighter bomber recognized “the common interest of all aircrafts, and submarine launched ballistic mankind in the progress of the exploration missiles (SLBMs). India is rapidly building 50 Volume 12, Number 3 February 15, 2020
up its nuclear and strategic capabilities, Su-22 Fitters of the Libyan Air Force which is a part of its grand strategy of during the Gulf of Sidra incident in 1981. attaining the status of regional and global During the Cold War, Nimitz-class carriers power. However, India is also strengthening conducted numerous exercises with its nuclear force by the introduction of new regional allies, such as NATO and Japan, generation of short-range ballistic missiles designed to counter the Soviet Union in which are nuclear capable in nature along wartime. The Nimitz-class carriers are a with building up its naval nuclear force. monumental achievement—an enormous, These advancements are a threat to the highly complex and yet highly successful nuclear threshold of Pakistan and will ship design. The ships will carry on the generate the probability of accidental Nimitz name through the 2050s, with the nuclear escalation between the major states entire class serving a whopping eighty of South Asian region, India and Pakistan. consecutive years. That sort of Consequently, these advancements will performance—and longevity—is only have severe repercussions for the region. possible with a highly professional, competent Navy and shipbuilding team. https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2020/01/27/indias- evolving-nuclear-posture-implications-for- https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/how- pakistan/ america-planned-use-its-nimitz-class-aircraft- carriers-against-russia-114476 USA Why and How Russia Is Jamming How America Planned to Use Its American Fighter Jets Near Iran Nimitz-Class Aircraft Carriers Against Russia David Axe, National Interest Blog, January 17, 2020 Kyle Mizokami, National Interest Blog, January 16, 2020 All powers like to use proxy conflicts to test out new weapons and Russia is no America’s nuclear-powered supercarriers different. Moscow is seeing how well its are still formidable to this day. Although they jamming equipment fares against never fought the Soviet Union, Washington’s America’s planes. Russian forces have navy has continued to provide the mainstay been jamming GPS systems in the Middle of U.S. power projection. East. The electronic-warfare campaign could affect U.S. forces gathering in the The most successful U.S. Navy carriers of region in advance of potential strikes on the postwar era all belong to a class named Iran. “Since last spring, pilots flying in honor of World War II’s most successful through the Middle East, specifically admiral, Chester W. Nimitz. The class’s lead around Syria, have noted that their GPS ship, commissioned in 1975, bears the fleet systems have displayed the wrong admiral’s name. The Nimitz-class aircraft location or stopped working entirely,” The carriers were, at the time, the largest Times of Israel reported in late June 2019. warships ever constructed. Although superseded by the new Ford class, the ten The signal that has been disrupting satellite Nimitz carriers will continue to form the navigation for planes flying through Israeli bulk of the Navy’s carrier force for the next airspace in recent weeks originates inside twenty to thirty years. Many project a half a Russian air base inside Syria, according a century or more. to data collected by a U.S.-based researcher. This interference to the Global The Nimitz-class carriers have participated Positioning System reception does not in nearly every crisis and conflict the United appear to be specifically directed at Israel, States has been involved in over the past but rather the Jewish state is likely forty-two years. Nimitz was involved in the collateral damage in an effort by Moscow failed attempt to rescue U.S. embassy both to protect its troops from drone personnel from Tehran in 1980, and a year attacks and to assert its dominance in the later, two F-14s from Nimitz shot down two field of electronic warfare, Todd 51 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
Humphreys, a professor at the University of the table and are far from resolved. From Texas, told The Times of Israel. the US and Europe’s perspective, Iran must give up its plans to develop nuclear https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/why-and- weapons and also its interference through how-russia-jamming-american-fighter-jets-near- proxy wars in Iraq, Yemen, Syria etc. Iran iran-115021 on its part is determined to drive the USA out of the region. The United States Must Contain North Korea As far as the nuclear issue is concerned, Iran, it may be recalled, had it agreed to Harry J. Kazianis, National Interest Blog, put a cap on its nuclear ambitions by January 19, 2020 signing the Iran Nuclear deal, officially With war too catastrophic to consider, and described as Joint Comprehensive Plan of the status quo untenable, containment and Action (JCPOA) in 2015 with US, Russia, diplomacy is the only solution to the Korean China, France, UK, Germany and EU. Crisis. When we consider the possibility of President Donald Trump’s decision to a military operation against North Korea, it walk out of the deal (May 2018) and re- is helpful to take a step back and consider impose severe and crippling sanctions on from Pyongyang’s perspective how it might Iran did not meet the approval of the other respond. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un countries which are party to the deal, and may not wish to counter such a strike by they remained interested in salvaging the using the full range of his military options, deal somehow. In the wake of the recent fearing such an attack could unleash his crisis triggered by the USA, The Atomic worst fear: regime change. Energy Organisation of Iran was reported to have declared that from now on, “Iran’s For example, Kim could order an attack on nuclear program no longer faces any South Korea’s vast civilian nuclear operating restrictions,” but also added that infrastructure, unleashing deadly plumes of “If the sanctions are lifted and Iran radioactive fallout. Seoul operates twenty- benefits from its interests, the Islamic four nuclear power plants that could all Republic of Iran is ready to return to its come under various forms of North Korean obligations”. The announcement came attack, though they are relatively far from after Tehran’s alleged gradual escalation of the North. With many of these facilities its nuclear programme in recent months. lumped together, Pyongyang could fire a salvo of missiles at these plants, creating an https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/iran- immediate humanitarian crisis. us-conflict-worst-is-over-but-core-issues- remain-unresolved-275946 https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/united- states-must-contain-north-korea-114551 Want to stop climate change? Embrace the nuclear option Iran-US conflict: Worst is over, but core issues remain unresolved Bret Kugelmass, USA Today, January 22, 2020 Achal Malhotra, Wion, January 22, 2020 As a technology entrepreneur, when I am The assassination of Iran’s General Qasem approached by startup founders for Soleimani by the US and Iran’s retaliation fundraising advice, I ask: “What would by missile attacks on the US bases in Iraq the world look like if you got everything early January brought the US and Iran on you’re asking for?” It’s a test to see the brink of war. The subsequent decisions whether they are setting out to solve the of the two countries to show restraint and right problem or whether they are step back has helped de-escalation, and choosing their preferred course of action thereby, defused the situation for the time and justifying retrospectively. Climate being. The core issues which form the cause change researchers fail this test. Every of the US-Iran conflict, however, remain on single time. 52 Volume 12, Number 3 February 15, 2020
A giant disconnect exists between the unrefueled. As a consequence of science branch and policy branch of the abandoning the high-speed mission and climate change community, obscured by embracing stealth, maximum speed fell to a strong tribal bond that unites us against Mach 1.25. “deniers.” But if climate advocates get what we say we want, our own hypocrisy would https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/how- soon be made painfully apparent. The americas-b-1-bomber-basically-flying-missile- accepted policy rhetoric is that if we get to carrier-116351 net-zero global emissions, we would “solve” climate change — when, in fact, this belies Why the Navy’s Decision to Build scientific reality. the First Supercarrier Was Such as Big Deal https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/01/ 22/climate-change-solution-nuclear-energy-our- Kyle Mizokami, National Interest Blog, best-hope-column/2821183001/ January 23, 2020 Once the large, nuclear-powered How America’s B-1 Bomber Is USS Enterprise showed that such carriers Basically a Flying Missile Carrier were possible, Washington ordered more. Kyle Mizokami National Interest Blog, Before long, the Navy would come to January 23, 2020 always rely on supercarriers. The first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier ever built The B-1 might not long be a part of the carries one of the most famous names in nuclear triad, but it still packs a punch. flattop history: Enterprise. Designed as the Together with the B-52, the B-1 is an nucleus of a nuclear-powered task force important strategic bomber. Like many that could travel indefinitely without fuel warplanes since the end of the Cold War, replenishment, the USS Enterprise set the the B-1B bomber’s role in American standard for all U.S. aircraft carriers to the airpower has changed to embrace new present day. missions. Unlike other planes, the B-1’s mission changed even before the first Enterprise was deactivated on December aircraft took off. What started as a high- 1, 2012. For the last five years it has been altitude, high-speed nuclear-penetration gradually prepared for disposal, stripped bomber has evolved into today’s all-purpose of military equipment and its reactors nonnuclear attack aircraft, a jack-of-all- powered down. down. The ship will be trades with a huge carrying capacity for formally decommissioned on February 3, bombs and air-to-ground missiles. 2017, in a private ceremony at the Newport News Shipyard in Virginia. The intervening years, which had Enterprise proved the viability of nuclear introduced new Soviet weapons including power for aircraft carriers, but in hindsight the MiG-25 Foxbat supersonic interceptor that was the most forgettable of its and the S-300 surface-to-air missile system achievements. it circled the globe three (known as the SA-10 “Grumble” to NATO), times, conducted twenty-five overseas made it clear that a high speed dash into cruises and completed an astonishing four Soviet airspace was no longer viable. In hundred thousand aircraft landings in its order to remain relevant, the B-1A would lifetime. It flew combat missions from have to be redesigned into a stealthy, low- Vietnam to Afghanistan, and over its altitude penetrator. The B-1A morphed into lifetime tens of thousands—if not hundreds the B-1B, which included, among other of thousands—of sailors served as part of things, an 85 percent reduction in radar its crew. cross-section, an increase in defensive avionics and a one-third increase in https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/why- maximum takeoff weight, to 477,000 navys-decision-build-first-supercarrier-was- pounds. The bomber could travel 7,455 miles such-big-deal-116381 53 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
Europe Europe’s Goals To Activate Snapback Mechanism: Buy Time Europe Gives More Time to Nuclear Or Take Case To Security Council? Diplomacy Tehran Times, January 31, 2020 Financial Tribune, January 24, 2020 Britain, Germany and France recently European powers will not move to reimpose issued a statement in Brussels on trigger international sanctions on Iran, which will mechanism what is known as the “snap- in effect kill the 2015 nuclear deal, as long back” mechanism. In the snap-back as Tehran restrains expansion of its nuclear mechanism, legally, the dispute resolution work, European diplomats said. In a sessions will be requested, and after that, statement on Friday, EU foreign policy chief, the UN sanctions will eventually be Josep Borrell, confirmed that the parties to returned by referring to UN Security the deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Council, if the Europeans are not Plan of Action, have extended the process convinced. Under this mechanism, the to provide more time to find a diplomatic UNSC take a vote on continue lifting Iran’s solution. “I have … undertaken extensive sanctions, and if U.S., French or British bilateral and collective consultations. All veto the resolution and does not ratify it JCPOA participants reconfirmed their within thirty days, then all sanctions will determination to preserve the agreement be automatically returned against Iran. which is in the interest of all,” the top EU Accordingly, no country, including Russia diplomat said, EEAS reported. and China, will have a veto, not be able to “Notwithstanding differences on modalities, help Iran in this case. there is agreement that more time is needed due to the complexity of the issues involved. It was on this basis that Russia had stated The timeline is therefore extended.” that this process should not be initiated and that an agreement had to be reached France, Britain and Germany last week with the Iranian Foreign Ministers in the triggered a dispute-settlement mechanism in Brigham Commission. So Russia opposes the nuclear accord that could lead the Snapback launch, calls for joint European Union and the United Nations to commission on conflict resolution with reimpose sanctions on Iran within 60 days. Iran. If no agreement is reached between The 2015 deal, which sought to constrain the parties of nuclear deal, the six Iran’s nuclear capabilities in return for resolutions under Chapter VII of the sanctions relief, had suspended such United Nations Charter, including sanctions. European leaders have officially Resolution 1929, will be returned against called for Iran to reverse the cuts in its Iran. If sanctions are returned, Iran must commitment to the nuclear deal it has made immediately suspend uranium enrichment, in recent months. But European diplomats and ships headed for Iran can be inspected, do not expect Iran to reverse course and which will make the current economic privately say they are prepared to tolerate situation even more difficult in Iran. those steps and keep discussions going with https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/444685/ Iran for the foreseeable future. They are Europe-s-Goals-To-Activate-Snapback-Mecha- preparing to extend discussions well beyond nism-Buy-Time-Or-Take the 60-day period, the Wall Street Journal reported. Russia https://financialtribune.com/articles/national/ 101867/europe-gives-more-time-to-nuclear- Is Russia’s Submarine Force Dying? diplomacy David Axe, National Interest Blog, January 20, 2020 The Russian navy’s submarine force, arguably the fleet’s most important component, is about to shrink. Potentially a lot. 54 Volume 12, Number 3 February 15, 2020
There are 62 submarines of all classes in Sailing These Russian Nuclear commission with the Russian navy. Fifty-five Submarines Was Basically A are front-line vessels and the rest are test and Suicide Mission research vessels. There are 10 nuclear- powered ballistic-missile submarines, nine Sebastien Roblin, National Interest Blog, nuclear cruise-missile submarines, 14 January 22, 2020 nuclear attack submarines and 22 The November-class submarined conventional attack submarines. expanded Soviet influence, but at a cost. “There are surely already question marks The United States launched the first over a number of vessels,” Ballantyne added, nuclear-powered submarine, the USS especially the seven Delta-class ballistic- Nautilus, in 1954, revolutionizing missile boats, or boomers. Just three of undersea warfare. The Nautilus’s reactor Russia’s boomers — the first three of 10 allowed it operate underwater for months planned Borei-class vessels — are younger at a time, compared to the hours or days than 30 years old. afforded conventional submarines. The following year, the Soviet Union began https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/russias- building its own nuclear submarine, the submarine-force-dying-115406 Project 627—known as the November class by NATO. The result was a boat with How Russia’s Kilo-Class a few advantages compared to its Submarines Are a Huge Threat to American competition, but that also American Aircraft Carriers exhibited a disturbing tendency to catastrophic accidents that would prove Kyle Mizokami, National Interest Blog, characteristic of the burgeoning Soviet January 21, 2020 submarine fleet during the Cold War. Kilo-class subs are powerful and cheaper K-3 rapidly demonstrated the than nuclear-powered vessels to produce. extraordinary endurance of nuclear Moscow has them train for a wide variety submarines, embarking upon two-month of missions in case Russia ever fought long cruises while submerged. In 1962, it NATO. Unlike the United States Navy, became the first Soviet vessel to travel to which went all-in on nuclear power, Russia the North Pole, while a sister ship, K-133, maintains fleets of both diesel and nuclear- was the first submarine to traverse the powered submarines. A land power Drake Strait submerged in a twenty-one- encompassing much of Eurasia, Russian submarines are based much closer to “the thousand-mile cruise that lasted fifty-two action” than American submarines are. days. While Russia maintains nuclear submarines https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/sailing- for distant ocean patrols, its fleet of diesel these-russian-nuclear-submarines-was-basically- submarines is more than adequate for suicide-mission-115661 conflicts in Europe, the Middle East and the Russian near abroad. How We Know Russia Is Probably The ships are powered by two diesel (Not) Secretly Testing Nuclear generators and an electric drive, giving them Weapons Underground enough power to make ten knots at the surface and seventeen knots underwater. David Axe, National Interest Blog, January They are not fast submarines. They have a 22, 2020 range of six thousand to 7,500 nautical miles, Despite some accusations, the evidence meaning that from the Russian Northern looks like Moscow is probably not doing Fleet headquarters they can patrol for one secret nuclear tests. If Moscow was, it thousand nautical miles and then go on to Cuba. would be in violation of a treaty. A senior U.S. intelligence official on May 29, 2019 https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/how-russias- accused Russia of secretly conducting kilo-class-submarines-are-huge-threat-american- nuclear tests in violation of an aircraft-carriers-115531 55 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
international treaty and the country’s own encountering what I would call three moratorium on such tests. But there’s no concentric circles of pressure. These forces hard evidence of these alleged tests, one are influencing and reinforcing each other, arms-control group pointed out. maximizing the level of pressure that the regime is under. If these three forces of “The United States believes that Russia pressure persist, the theocratic probably is not adhering to its nuclear testing establishment will find it extremely difficult moratorium in a manner consistent with the to survive. ‘zero-yield’ standard” outlined in the 1996 Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty,” Lt. Gen. The first circle of pressure the regime is Robert Ashley, Jr., director of the Defense facing is domestic. The Iranian people’s Intelligence Agency, said at an event at the dissatisfaction with their rulers has Hudson Institute in Washington, D.C. reached an unprecedented level. The https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/how-we- discontent toward the regime is both know-russia-probably-not-secretly-testing- political and economic. Many Iranians are nuclear-weapons-underground-116121 extremely frustrated with the lies and widespread corruption at the top, and These 5 Submarines Could Destroy how the nation’s wealth is being squandered to satisfy the ruling mullahs’ The World In 30 Minutes revolutionary and geopolitical ambitions. National Interest Blog, January 29, 2020 There exists no rule of law to hold the gilded circle of the regime’s leaders In some cases—as in the case of the Ohio- accountable. class submarine during the height of the Cold War—even a single vessel could reduce https://www.arabnews.com/node/1614091 as many as 288 city-sized targets into radioactive ash in less than 30 minutes. How close is Iran to producing a While they have thankfully never been used nuclear bomb? during a shooting war, nuclear-powered Francois Murphy, Arshad Mohammed, submarines carrying nuclear-tipped missiles Reuters, January 17, 2020 are the most deadly weapons mankind has ever devised. In some cases—as in the case The central achievement of the Iran of the Ohio-class submarine during the nuclear deal - keeping Tehran at arm’s height of the Cold War—even a single vessel length from nuclear weapons - is eroding. could reduce as many as 288 city-sized The 2015 accord’s many restrictions on targets into radioactive ash in less than 30 Iran’s atomic activities were built around minutes. Indeed, these vessel and their one objective: to extend the “breakout payloads could end human civilization in time” Tehran would need to produce less time than it takes to order a pizza if a enough fissile material for one atomic third world war were to break out. bomb - if it decided to do so - to at least a year from around 2-3 months. https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/these-5-subma- rines-could-destroy-world-30-minutes-117891 Iran maintains that it has never sought nuclear weapons and never would. It has West Asia long said it has enriched for civilian purposes including future nuclear energy Iran and research projects. Tehran began breaching the deal’s curbs last year in a Iranian regime under pressure from step-by-step response to President Donald three sides Trump’s withdrawal of the United States Dr. Majid Rafizadeh, Arab News, January from the deal in May 2018 and the 16, 2020 reimposition of U.S. sanctions that have throttled Iran’s vital oil exports. Those The Islamic Republic is, for the first time since breaches have shortened the breakout time its establishment, simultaneously slightly, though Iran is far from sprinting 56 Volume 12, Number 3 February 15, 2020
ahead as fast as it could, reports by the U.N. Iran’s one strike may have nuclear watchdog policing the deal show. changed Mideast forever But the breaches have been enough to prompt the European signatories to the deal Martin Love, Tehran Times, January 24, 2020 to trigger its dispute resolution mechanism, The JCPOA certainly seems to be comatose raising the prospect of the global, United and dying. Don’t blame Iran. Blame the Nations sanctions that were lifted under the U.S. first and then the E-3: Germany, deal being reinstated. France and the U.K. Can it be stated more https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-nuclear- plainly? No. One should have no problem explainer/explainer-how-close-is-iran-to-produc- with Iran’s reactions to shoddy treatment ing-a-nuclear-bomb-idUSKBN1ZG22P except that this is exactly what Sheldon Adelson, the casino magnate billionaire ‘Europe must take a separate path who has literally bought Trump and his gangsters and much of the Republican from U.S.’ Party, has wanted, along with Netanyahu Tehran Times, January 19, 2020 and the rest of the Zionists: that the JCPOA die and even that Iran might withdraw Mohsen Pakayeen, Iran’s former from the NPT and at least superficially, if ambassador to Azerbaijan, has said that not, in fact, seem to be pursuing nuclear Europe must take a separate path from the weapons. United States. “Europe must make efforts not to destroy the Iranian people’s trust,” (On the other hand, it’s not nuclear he told ISNA in an interview published on weapons that probably invokes the ire of Sunday. He also said, “In recent days, the the bloody Western “establishment” (led Europeans have taken unacceptable moves. by the U.S.) so much as it is the fact that They have threatened to trigger the dispute Iran has mastered the technology of mechanism and take Iran’s case to the [UN] nuclear energy and how to obtain its fuel Security Council. This behavior shows that from raw uranium.) But why did they, the Europe seeks to follow the United States’ Trump gang and supporters, want this – policies.” Foreign Minister Mohammad the demise of the JCPOA? This is the Javad Zarif said on January 13 that France, haunting question because the desire never Germany, and the UK have bowed to “the made sense. How much easier it is, U.S. diktat” for 20 months. though, to attack independent Iran if, falsely or not, propaganda can be blasted It is 20 months that the Trump that claims the Islamic Republic is, finally, administration has quit the nuclear deal and aiming to build a nuclear weapon given introduced sanctions against Iran while the sanctions it has sustained in the past Europeans standing idle by. “For 20 months, year and a half plus and the slow demise the E3-following UK appeasement policy- of the JCPOA and lately Soleimani’s has bowed to US diktat,” he tweeted. Zarif criminal assassination? said this policy “hasn’t gotten it anywhere- and it never will.” The chief diplomat added https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/444481/Iran- that the three European countries can save s-one-strike-may-have-changed-Mideast-forever the 2015 nuclear deal “but not by appeasing the bully & pressuring the complying party.” Turkey France, Germany and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement on Tuesday The Rift Between Turkey and announcing they have formally triggered the America Has Paved the Way for dispute mechanism. Russia’s Rebound https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/444342/ Dimitri Alexander Simes, National Interest Europe-must-take-a-separate-path-from-U-S Blog, January 20, 2020 While the United States and Iran edged to the brink of war in Iraq, Russian president 57 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
Vladimir Putin met with Turkish president Turkey’s cross-border operation into Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul on northeast Syria in October 2019 is the latest January 8 to launch the long-awaited example of how these bitter rivalries play TurkStream gas pipeline and announce a out. Qatar was one of the few actors, new Libya ceasefire deal. This latest meeting alongside Hamas and Pakistan, that between Putin and Erdogan comes amidst supported the internationally condemned rising tensions between Ankara and campaign. Similarly, when Saudi Arabia, Washington, two longtime NATO allies. The Bahrain, Egypt and the UAE severed United States has angrily protested Turkey’s diplomatic ties with Qatar, enacting a decision to purchase the S-400 air defense land, sea, and air blockade in June 2017, system from Russia and its military Turkey offered a lifeline, sending cargo operation in northeastern Syria. For its part, planes with food and other goods. While the Erdogan administration has threatened both Turkey and Qatar are ostensibly U.S. to close two major American military bases allies and host key American bases, they in Turkey if Congress adopts a much- are now working in tandem to promote a anticipated sanctions package targeting destabilizing Islamist agenda across the Ankara. Middle East.
What does the growing rift between the https://nationalinterest.org/blog/middle-east- United States and Turkey mean for Russia? watch/turkish-qatari-axis-challenges- Can Moscow and Ankara transform their washington-116251 burgeoning cooperation into a fully-fledged- partnership or will their disagreements over Ties binding Turkey and Russia Syria and Libya prove to be too much? more diverse than ever The National Interest spoke to Turkish and Russian experts to get their perspectives on Ivan Starodubtsev, Daily Sabah, January these questions. 28, 2020 On Jan. 8, Russian President Vladimir https://nationalinterest.org/feature/rift-between- Putin made a working visit to Istanbul. turkey-and-america-has-paved-way-russias- rebound-114916 Formally, the center of the visit was the participation of the Russian and Turkish The Turkish-Qatari Axis Challenges presidents at the opening ceremony of the Turkish Stream pipeline. But in practice, Washington Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdoðan Aykan Erdemir Varsha Koduvayur, National launched Russian-Turkish relations, not Interest Blog, January 22, 2020 only in the energy sector but in general. The two leaders have opened a new page Sectarian violence has spread across the in bilateral cooperation that will have an Middle East, with Sunni and Shiite impact on the state of affairs in the region. populations engulfed by the blood-letting. In order to better understand the But to make matters worse, the Sunni world significance of the Istanbul meeting, let us has recently cleaved into two competing briefly turn to the milestones of Russian- axes pitting a new Turkish-Qatari alliance Turkish dialogue in the 21st century. against a bloc led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Across the Assuming a conditional division into region, from Iraq to Libya, these opposing decades, let us note that the main result of Sunni factions are now contesting each the first decade of the 21st century in other’s influence, adding another layer of Russian-Turkish relations was the complexity to an already volatile region. As scrapping of patterns and stereotypes. these axes now seek to project their power Erdoðan visited Moscow for the first time and influence while diminishing that of their immediately after the victory of the Justice rivals, the stability of the region could and Development Party (AK Party) in the become collateral damage in this battle for general parliamentary elections in Turkey primacy. on Dec. 23-24, 2002. President Putin also 58 Volume 12, Number 3 February 15, 2020
visited Ankara on Dec. 5-6, 2004. This was Trumpian approach of governance by the first official visit by a leader of Russia chaos, it is difficult to assess his record in (as the successor of the USSR) in more than terms of coherent policy. Instead of well- three decades. founded strategy, what we have is a series of isolated acts, some successful, others https://www.dailysabah.com/op-ed/2020/01/28/ not, often largely a matter of impulse. ties-binding-turkey-and-russia-more-diverse-than- ever https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/ iran/.premium-trump-s-chaotic-cowardly- Israel failure-to-protect-israel-against-iran-1.8413029
Netanyahu calls for sanctions East Asia against International Criminal Court North Korea Amos Harel, Haaretz, January 16, 2020 Taking ‘new path’ The bottom line of the Israel Defense Forces’ Korea Times, January 20, 2020 intelligence assessment for 2020 isn’t North Korea reportedly names hard-liner significantly different than it was the as top diplomat. North Korea is likely to previous two years. The likelihood of anyone shift further away from dialogue and intentionally starting a war against Israel return to brinkmanship in the face of the remains low (in recent years, Military U.S.’s firm policy of maintaining pressure Intelligence has freed itself of the taboo and sanctions against Pyongyang. Media created by the 1973 Yom Kippur War and reports about the North’s appointment of is willing to say that explicitly). But MI sees a hard-liner as its top diplomat are raising a medium to high probability of an concerns that it may withdraw from unplanned slide into war due to escalating stalled talks with both Seoul and reciprocal strikes. Washington. Second, its ability to make predictions is The Ministry of Unification said it was particularly limited regarding how the trying to confirm press reports that the people will act in neighboring countries and North recently named Ri Son-gwon, their economic plight. This was illustrated, chairman of the Committee for the for example, by recent fluctuations in the Peaceful Reunification of the Country, as protests in Iran, and by the fact that earlier foreign minister. The North reportedly predictions of an economic collapse in Syria notified foreign envoys based in its capital proved false, as, to some extent, did similar of the appointment. Ri’s appointment, if predictions about Iran. confirmed, could signal a tougher stance on the North’s denuclearization https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/iran/ negotiations with the U.S., and inter- .premium-israeli-army-sees-chance-to-escalate- Korean dialogue. There was the possibility attacks-against-iran-and-its-allies-1.8402081 that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un might have held the current diplomatic Trump Is Failing to Protect Israel team responsible for failing to extract Against Iran concessions, including sanctions relief, from the U.S. Chuck Freilich, Haaretz, January 21, 2020 http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/ The beginning of the final and critical year 2020/01/137_282218.html of President Donald Trump’s first term, during which we will find out whether he is reelected to a second, is a fitting time to Test in March on N. Korea assess his achievements in the Middle East Tong Kim, Korea Times, January 29, 2020 to date. North Korea is staying the hardline As is appropriate, however, to the general course: refusing calls for talks without U.S. 59 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
acceptance of its demands and waging an factional scuffles. As a result, the Joseon all-out self-reliance campaign for a “head- era was hopelessly going down both on” fight against sanctions, while developing internally and externally and finally lost nuclear weapons. This head-on policy was her sovereignty.Experts argue that 21st opted for by Kim Jong-un during an century South Korea is now facing a expanded Central Committee meeting of the similar situation. The main difference is Workers’ Party of Korea held at the end of that now China is rising instead of Japan, December. and South Korea has to deal with a nuclear-armed North Korea. The United Kim has appointed Ri Son-gwon, a States, too, has entered the picture as an hardliner with no diplomatic experience, as ally to South Korea and Japan. Once again, his new foreign minister, replacing Ri Yong- South Korea has to choose from those ho, a veteran diplomat. This shift does not countries. If our political leaders choose a signal a change in Pyongyang’s policy; it wrong nation for help or as an ally as they reflects Kim’s determination toward a self- did in the late 19th century, our country reliant economy and a strong strategic will go down inexorably once again. deterrent. In the North, a foreign minister rarely makes critical policy decisions. Kim We are witnessing the omen already. As does. soon as South Korea’s relationship with Japan began to deteriorate, which also http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2020/ might have affected the South Korea-US 01/137_282586.html alliance, Chinese and Russian military aircrafts flew over our territory presumably South Korea to test our reactions. North Korea is once again threatening us with nuclear Joseon era of 19th century vs. 21st weapons. China, too, has been pressing century Korea South Korea not to allow the US army to Kim Seong-kon, Korea Herald, January 21, deploy THAAD, while imposing sanctions 2020 on business and tourism. Now the US is demanding a significantly increased Many analysts and historians point out that budget for the deployment of its troops in the current political situation of South Korea South Korea. To make matters worse, resembles that of the Joseon era in the late South Korea’s relationship with Japan is 19th century. To say the least, it would be the worst it has been in decades.In order embarrassing and disheartening if 21st not to repeat the same mistakes we century Korea still could not overcome the foolishly made in the late 19th century, we traumatic situation it experienced in the late should overcome tribalism and 19th century. Nevertheless, we may be able ultranationalism, know the outside world to obtain some insights and hindsight from and have allies that will come and rescue the comparison. us in times of crisis. In that sense, we should value the Korea-US Defense Treaty In the late 19th century, Joseon, which that would surely protect South Korea changed its name to Korea later, was from our hostile neighboring countries’ helplessly lost in a vortex of international aggressions. We should know that the US politics among the three menacing empires, government signed the Defense Treaty China, Japan and Russia. In response to with only three parties: South Korea, ruthless foreign aggressions, the rulers of Japan, and NATO. Without this treaty, Joseon simply shut the door to the outside South Korea will be extremely vulnerable world and, therefore, were ignorant of to threats from the outside. radical changes taking place in the international community at the time. Instead http://www.koreaherald.com/ of actively dealing with the external crisis view.php?ud=20200120000862&ACE_SEARCH=1 that seriously threatened the kingdom, the rulers of Joseon were engaged in internal 60 Volume 12, Number 3 February 15, 2020
Test in March on N. Korea will decide what they are going to do with their joint annual military exercises. Tong Kim, Korea Times, January 29, 2020 http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2020/ North Korea is staying the hardline course: 01/113_282569.html refusing calls for talks without U.S. acceptance of its demands and waging an Japan all-out self-reliance campaign for a “head- on” fight against sanctions, while developing Japan planning to release over a nuclear weapons. This head-on policy was million tonnes of radioactive opted for by Kim Jong-un during an expanded Central Committee meeting of the water into sea from Fukushima Workers’ Party of Korea held at the end of power plant December. Kim has appointed Ri Son-gwon, Harry Cockburn, January 31, 2020 a hardliner with no diplomatic experience, as his new foreign minister, replacing Ri Massive amounts of radioactive water Yong-ho, a veteran diplomat. This shift does being stored at Japan’s Fukushima power not signal a change in Pyongyang’s policy; plant could be released into the sea under it reflects Kim’s determination toward a self- plans provisionally accepted by the reliant economy and a strong strategic country’s government. Tokyo Electric has deterrent. In the North, a foreign minister collected nearly 1.2 million tonnes of rarely makes critical policy decisions. Kim contaminated water from cooling pipes does. The KCNA reported, “He also made used to keep fuel cores from melting since public the foreign policy stand of the DPRK the plant was devastated by the government.” But no details were provided. earthquake and tsunami which hit eastern It is likely that Ri reiterated the policy line Japan in 2011. The water, containing 62 that Kim outlined before: a self-reliant radioactive elements, is stored in huge economy based on a strong strategic tanks on the site of the now disabled deterrent. power plant, but Tokyo Electric has said it will run out of room to store the water Pyongyang’s envoy also echoed Kim Jong- by 2022. un’s statement that “North Korea was no longer bound by commitments to halt The water has been treated and Tokyo nuclear and missile testing,” because of the Electric said it is able to remove all U.S. sanctions and military drills in violation radioactive particles from the water to of the agreement at Singapore in the levels not harmful to humans, except summer of 2018. In Washington, Trump is tritium, an isotope of hydrogen which is too busy watching his impeachment trial by more difficult to separate from water. A the Senate. But, his national security team ¯ panel of experts working for Japan’s including State, Defense, and NSC ¯ are economy and industry ministry concluded consistently calling on the North to return that letting the water run into the sea was to talks, while showing no indication of the best option after looking at other making concession on sanctions. Kim’s self- proposals. The only other viable option reliance campaign may not succeed in considered was to let the water evaporate. enabling continued development of his nuclear arsenal and assuring economic https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/ japan-nuclear-waste-fukushima-power-station- development. Yet, Kim is determined not to tsunami-water-sea-olympics-a9312246.html beg for sanctions relief in exchange for his nuclear weapons. This position may be part of his overall strategy. He said he is prepared for a protracted strategic game. And it is not unimaginable that the timing for that test will be around March less than two month from now, when the U.S. and South Korea 61 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
Q. Think Tanks commands in Japan and the broader Pacific region, and a U.N.-sponsored Memo to Mr. Trump: This nuclear command, would provide support and treaty with Russia will make you a reinforcements as well as protection for winner! threatened regional interests such as the nation of Japan and the U.S. island of John Krzyzaniak, Bulletin of Atomic Scientist, Guam. January 22, 2020 The current plan, being assiduously You have the historic opportunity to make prepared by American and South Korean the greatest deal with Russia, and all it personnel together at the Combined Forces requires is a big beautiful signature. You Command headquarters, would replace want a cap on nuclear weapons, and the the American military officer who runs the New START treaty is just that. But the treaty overall alliance in times of war — currently will expire in 2021 unless you act to save it. General “Abe” Abrams of the U.S. Army Here are five reasons why you should extend — with a South Korean four-star officer the New START treaty in 2020. instead. Such a move would mess with 1. It will help you get reelected. Polls show these painstakingly-created structures to no apparent benefit and much evident risk, that at least 66 percent of Trump voters in at a moment when the alliance is every single state support treaty extension. vulnerable not only to North Korean 2. It will save the United States billions of attack but to domestic political trends dollars. If the treaty expires, the United within both South Korea and the United States will have to spend more money States. It is a bad idea. If it ain’t broke, as gathering information about Russia’s the saying goes, don’t fix it. nuclear weapons. https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from- https://thebulletin.org/2020/01/memo-to-mr- chaos/2020/01/23/dont-gut-the-us-south-korea- trump-nuclear-treaty-russia/ alliance/
Don’t gut the US-South Korea Bosnia and Herzegovina alliance Veterinary Labs Equipped to Diagnose Animal Diseases Using Michael E. O’Hanlon, Brookings, January 23, Nuclear-Derived Techniques 2020 Elodie Broussard, International Atomic For over a dozen years, the United States Energy Agency, January 23, 2020 and South Korea have been planning to transform their military command structure Bosnia and Herzegovina veterinary known as Combined Forces Command — a authorities are better equipped to protect remarkably integrated and effective system livestock from several animal diseases constructed during decades of alliance spreading in Southeastern Europe, thanks cooperation. It is the most tightly woven to the support of the IAEA in partnership system of integrated command and control with the Food and Agriculture the United States possesses anywhere in the Organization of the United Nations world. Throughout the armed forces of the (FAO). This is an important step for food two nations, South Koreans would security in the country and for the export command Americans, and vice versa, at all of animal products and food to the sorts of levels of tactical operations. In the European Union market, local officials unthinkable event of war against North have said. “Early detection of Korea, ultimately more than one million transboundary animal diseases such as South Korean soldiers as well as several Blue Tongue disease (BT), lumpy skin hundred thousand Americans would fight disease (LSD) and Brucellosis is key to together in defense of South Korea and the prevent their spread and impact on the broader region. Separate American economy,” said Ivancho Naletoski, Animal 62 Volume 12, Number 3 February 15, 2020
Health Officer at the Joint FAO/IAEA physics community can be an influential Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and advocate for this goal. With support from Agriculture. the American Physical Society (APS), physicists from a collection of universities Brucellosis has been present on the Balkan have recently begun a project to recruit peninsula over centuries as an endemic and organize physicists to take on this disease of livestock, while BT and LSD have challenge. The Physicists Coalition for emerged recently. They continuously Nuclear Threat Reduction plans, through threaten the lives of farmers, producers, grassroots efforts, to establish a network exporters and their families. Brucellosis is of citizen-scientists committed to nuclear transmitted among animals through direct threat reduction. The participation of and indirect contact, while BT and LSD are women, minority, and next-generation transmitted by blood-sucking insects such as physicists—all currently underrepresented mosquitoes, ticks and fleas. All can have a in nuclear policy debates, but whose voices significant effect on animal health and must be part of such a new effort—will be production, as well as on the economic a key ingredient. output and international trade of a country. https://thebulletin.org/2020/01/physicists- https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/bosnia- mobilize-to-reduce-the-nuclear-threat-again/ and-herzegovina-veterinary-labs-equipped-to- diagnose-animal-diseases-using-nuclear-derived- New START: The Future of U.S.- techniques Russia Nuclear Arms Control Physicists mobilize to reduce the Brian L. Sittlow, CFR, January 28, 2020 nuclear threat. Again. February 5, 2020, marks one year left on Stewart Prager, Steve Fetter, Alexander the U.S.-Russia New Strategic Arms Glaser, Zia Mian and Frank von Hippel, Reduction Treaty, known as New START. Washington and Moscow face three Bulletin of Atomic Scientist, January 24, 2020 choices: to develop a new treaty, extend We live in an increasingly dangerous nuclear the terms of the existing treaty for five world, a time at least as perilous as the worst more years, or go treaty-less on strategic years of the Cold War. The Bulletin of Atomic nuclear arms. In the current foreign policy Scientists’ Doomsday Clock offers a clear environment, achieving a new strategic representation of existential risk. In 1953, arms treaty with Russia in the next twelve when first the United States and then the months is very unlikely. To avert the Soviet Union began testing thermonuclear abandonment of New START, an weapons, the Bulletin Science and Security extension appears to be the easy choice. Board set the clock at two minutes to midnight. Over the intervening six decades A five-year extension would provide the the nuclear threat fell and rose, and fell United States and Russia with breathing again, but few would dispute that in recent space for future negotiations, project a years the alarm has been sounding for those sense of stability in a volatile world, and who would hear it. Today, the Science and support U.S. plans to modernize its land- Security Board set the Doomsday Clock at , air-, and sea-based nuclear systems, often 100 seconds to midnight—closer than it has referred to as the nuclear triad. Most ever been to catastrophe—warning that importantly, it would maintain the current “any belief that the threat of nuclear war nuclear deterrence posture, a core national has been vanquished is a mirage.” security priority. https://www.cfr.org/in-brief/new-start-future- There is an urgent need to bring together us-russia-nuclear-arms-control expert voices and informed, mobilized public pressure that once proved so important as a source of demands and options to reduce nuclear threats. The 63 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
The low-yield nuclear warhead: A Why U.S.-Iran Conflict Suits dangerous weapon based on bad Russia strategic thinking Dmitry Shlapentokh, Institute of Modern Andrew Facini, Bulletin of Atomic Scientist, Russia, January 29, 2020 January 28, 2020 The recent history of Russia’s relationship In the unintuitive world of nuclear weapons with Iran is instructive when it comes to strategy, it’s often difficult to identify which understanding Moscow’s approach to the decisions can serve to decrease the risk of a current tensions with the United States. devastating nuclear conflict and which The collapse of the Soviet Union left Russia might instead increase it. Such complexity isolated and powerless, despite its cache stems from the very foundation of the field: of nuclear weapons. Ideological Nuclear weapons are widely seen as bombs paradigms perished as well—many of built never to be used. Historically, them with a centuries-long legacy. One of granular—even seemingly mundane— them, Slavophilism, was well- decisions about force structure, research incorporated into the late Soviet era’s efforts, or communicated strategy have geopolitical construction that included confounded planners, sometimes causing Eastern Europe, mostly populated by the opposite of the intended effect. Such is Slavic people, who were considered, the risk carried by one strategy change that according to 19th-century Slavophilic has earned top billing under the Trump thinkers, Russia’s geopolitical friends. administration: the deployment of a new Following the dissolution of the USSR, “low-yield” nuclear weapon on US many of these Slavic nations turned submarines. against Russia. Westernism, another 19th- century paradigm, did not fit well into a Low-yield, high risk. The Trump post-Soviet Russia either. While Moscow administration first announced its plans for did its best to demonstrate friendliness, the a new low-yield nuclear warhead in its West rejected Russia as an equal partner. February 2018 Nuclear Posture Review, a Eventually, a new geopolitical paradigm— public report meant to communicate and Eurasianism—found the spotlight. Its clarify various American nuclear weapons origins go back to Russian émigrés who policies. The Nuclear Posture Review had fled the Soviet regime after the Civil presented the lower-strength warhead as War (1917-1920). Eurasianists claimed necessary for the “preservation of credible that Russia belongs neither to the Slavic deterrence against regional aggression.” In World, nor to the West; that it is a other words, the United States was seeking civilization in its own right, evolving from a new, intermediate option for an imagined the “symbiosis” between Slavic (mostly scenario in which Russia, after starting a Orthodox) and Turkic (mostly Muslim) conventional war in Europe, might be ethnic groups. Eurasianism was barely tempted to use smaller nuclear weapons first known in the Soviet period (prominent in order to win the conflict. In such a historian and ethnographer Lev Gumilev, scenario, US thinking goes, the threat of US known as the “last Eurasianist,” retaliation with full-strength bombs would developed his version of the doctrine not be believable and would not be enough largely independent of the émigré to deter Russia from pursuing such a course community). Only after the collapse of the in the first place. The way to deter a limited Soviet Union did the Eurasianism nuclear strike by Russia was for the United paradigm gain popularity, which was, in States to have a readily available option for a way, a response to the post-Soviet retaliating with a limited, proportional strike Russia’s geopolitical needs. of its own. Indeed, while Eurasianists discarded the https://thebulletin.org/2020/01/the-low-yield- notion that Russia is an Asian country, nuclear-warhead-a-dangerous-weapon-based-on- they stressed that Russia’s allies are not in bad-strategic-thinking/ 64 Volume 12, Number 3 February 15, 2020
Europe, but mostly in Asia. And it was Iran, unlikely to be deployed in big numbers, as an international pariah at the time, a country a 2019 fatal testing accident of the largely ignored by the early 19th-century Burevestnik shows. If U.S.-Russian arms Eurasianists, that emerged as a useful control remains in place, such systems partner. In 1994, Moscow engaged in definitely will not be deployed in big building the Bushehr nuclear plant, Iran’s numbers, because they would displace first commercial nuclear reactor, and started proven and highly reliable intercontinental selling Iran sophisticated weapons. Tehran ballistic missiles in the Russian force welcomed Russia’s interest in close structure. cooperation. Alexander Dugin, one of Russia’s influential intellectuals, saw the https://carnegieendowment.org/2020/01/29/ Moscow-Tehran axis as a “Eurasian” russia-is-updating-their-nuclear-weapons-what- counterbalance to what he perceived as a does-that-mean-for-rest-of-us-pub-80895 “hostile” America. The US has a backup plan to kill https://imrussia.org/en/analysis/3070-why-u-s- the Iran nuclear deal. It could iran-conflict-suits-russia spark a crisis at the UN. Russia Is Updating Their Nuclear Julia Masterson, Samuel M. Hickey, Weapons: What Does That Mean for Bulletin of Atomic Scientist, January 30, the Rest of Us? 2020 Early in January, the European members Rose Gottemoeller, Carnegie, January 29, of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran made a 2020 risky move by triggering the deal’s dispute In the big strategic game, the Russians and resolution mechanism. Though it was a Americans have the same reason for desperate attempt to save the agreement, modernizing their nuclear forces: they want it could, if not managed carefully, result to maintain parity. If the two sides have the in the reimposition of United Nations same number of nuclear warheads Security Council sanctions on Iran— deployed, then they will not be tempted to effectively collapsing any remnants of the shoot at each other. They also have a reason deal. to avoid an arms race that would entail constantly seeking more nuclear weapons The potential reimposition of sweeping to try to achieve superiority—however multilateral sanctions—a near-automatic temporary. As expensive as nuclear consequence of Security Council referral— weapons and their delivery vehicles are, looms over the current political crisis. Of parity has kept the costs down by holding course, the Europeans may have no the arms race in check. In the past few years, appetite to let things get that far. But President Vladimir Putin does seem to be irrespective of its current status in the after nuclear weapons for another reason— nuclear deal, the United States may be able to show that Russia is still a great power to to outmaneuver the Europeans and trigger be reckoned with. He has been trumpeting multilateral sanctions on Iran unilaterally. new and exotic systems that are unique, like https://thebulletin.org/2020/01/us-backup-plan- the nuclear weapon delivery system known to-kill-iran-nuclear-deal-spark-crisis-at-un/ as the Burevestnik nuclear-propelled cruise missile.
These exotic systems have more of a political function than a strategic or security one. Their role is to signal Russia’s continuing scientific and military prowess at a time when the country does not otherwise have much on offer. Devilishly expensive and sometimes dangerous to operate, they are 65 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
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