1 Nuclear, MissileNuclear, Missile & Space Digest & Space Digest

Volume 11, Number 05 A Fortnightly Newsletter from the Indian Pugwash Society March 15, 2019

Convener (Interim) Contents A. India & ó Joint Press Release on Joint Consultative Commission between India and Bangladesh Editor ó Nuclear Power in India ó Dr Rajiv Nayan India-Argentina Joint Statement during State Visit of President of Argentina to India (February 17-19, 2019) ó List of MOUs/Agreements signed during State Visit of President of Argentina to India ó Translation of Prime Minister's Press Statement during the visit of President of Argentina ó Final Operational Clearance of LCA Tejas MK I for Indian Air Force ó India, Argentina further cooperation in nuclear energy ó India to Test Fire Nuclear-Capable 'Nirbhay' Cruise Missile in April ó Rafael Unveils Stand-off "Rocks" Missile ó DAE Media Meet held at Anushakti Bhavan Executive Council ó India reluctant nuclear weapon state, committed to no first use policy: Manmohan Singh Prof Amitav Mallik ó Musharraf warns Pak consequences of nuke war with India Prof Rajesh Rajagopalan ó The top seven nuclear power plants in India ó India's Strategic Preparedness in Times of Escalating Cross-border Tensions Shri M V Rappai ó India Test-Fires Surface-To-Air Missiles Capable Of Engaging Multiple Targets Prof Varun Sahni ó Twin Success for Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile ó Nuclear power can avert catastrophic climate change ó India nuclear weapons: Does India have nuclear weapons? Latest World War 3 threat, ó Pak warns India of 'surprise', calls nuclear authority meeting: report ó The Nuclear Game Theory of the India-Pakistan Crisis ó Joint Communique of the 16th Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Russian Federation, the Republic of India and the People's Republic of China ó While the world watched US-North Korean negotiations, two nuclear powers squared off ó Inside a nuclear bunker in Berlin ó Can nuclear-armed Pakistan and India step back from the brink?

B. China ó Submarine arms race seen heating up in Indo-Pacific amid 'great threat' from China, ó China rejects German appeal to join endangered cold war-era nuclear treaty ó China rebuffs Germany's call for U.S. missile deal with Russia ó China hopes US, Russia will return to INF Treaty: official

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ó Docter Chen talks about graphene research ó China, Iran vow to boost relationship ó US military plans new war-fighting concept in response to threat from China, Russia ó The Handshake that Changed the World ó China, Russia, India to strengthen cooperation after foreign ministers' meeting, ó Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang's Regular Press Conference on February 26, 2019 ó Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang's Regular Press Conference on February 27, 2019 ó China's been very helpful for both the US and North Korea: Trump No deal reached in Hano ó In-depth insights into glass corrosion ó Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang's Regular Press Conference on February 28, 2019

C. Pakistan ó Saudi Arabia Is Investing $20 Billion in Pakistan. Here's What It's Getting in Return ó Here's a look at how the militaries of India and Pakistan stack up ó Musharraf says half of Imran's cabinet are 'his people' ó Imran calls top decision making body on nuclear issues ó Get ready for our surprise': Pakistan warns India it will respond to airstrikes ó Pakistan nuclear weapons: Does Pakistan have nuclear weapons? Imran Khan to consult chiefs ó PM to Modi: 'Let better sense prevail' ó What is National Command Authority: Imran Khan convenes meeting of Pakistan's apex nuclear body after Balakot air strikes ó Diplomacy the only path to resolve Indo-Pak conflict

D. USA & Europe ó US nuclear industry seeks presidential support ó US will not open door to Saudi Arabia building nuclear weapons, deputy energy secretary says ó Whistleblowers Raise Grave Concerns with Trump Administration's Efforts to Transfer ó Sensitive Nuclear Technology to Saudi Arabia Prepared for Chairman Elijah E. Cummings Interim Staff Report, Committee on Oversight and Reform ó A Plausible Scenario for Saudi Arabia's Nuclear Energy Plan; Goodbye US AP1000, Hello China Hualong One via Pakistan ó House Opens Inquiry into Proposed U.S. Nuclear Venture in Saudi Arabia ó The Marine Corps Wants to Be Able to Sink Enemy Warships (With An F-35 Assist), ó Zarif decries 'US hypocrisy' over planned nuclear sale to Saudis ó Trump's Idea of a Middle East Nuclear Deal ó A Big Reason America Needs the F-35: Russia Would Crush the A-10 Warthog ó The Pentagon wants to boldly go where no nuclear reactor has gone before

E. Trump -kim Summit ó House Dems reveal new info on a shady White House plan to sell nuclear tech to Saudi Arabia Michael Flynn, Trump's disgraced former national security adviser, was behind it. ó Threatening U.S., Putin Promises Russians Both Missiles and Butter ó North Korea's Kim shuffles nuclear talks team after defections, spying allegations ó SMR-160 attracts Ukrainian and US attention ó Four US companies chosen for Mo-99 production funding ó Czech PM outlines nuclear expansion with state control over construction ó What to Expect at the Second North Korea Summit.Trump, Kim, and the Dangers of Bromance Diplomacy ó North Korea's Kim: I don't want my children to bear burden of nuclear arms - report, ó At the Trump-Kim summit in Hanoi, expect a bad small deal ó Trump's cronies are in secret talks to sell nuclear tech to Saudi. The risks are clear 3 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

ó After Putin's warning, Russian TV lists nuclear targets in U.S. ó (US-NK summit) Political parties express hope for success of Trump-Kim summit ó Regulator concludes Finnish EPR can operate safely ó Korean, Czech companies strengthen cooperation ó 4 Ways North Korea Fell Short of Its Nuclear Promises After the First Trump-Kim Summit, ó Trump-Kim summit 2.0: What you need to know ó Summit collapse clouds future of U.S.-North Korea nuclear diplomacy ó The art of no deal: how Trump and Kim misread each other, ó Trump Made Decision Not to Sign Joint Statement With N Korea's Kim - Pompeo ó 'Sometimes you just have to walk': Trump and Kim fail to reach nuke deal at second summit ó Trump says Kim promised not to test nuclear weapons, missiles ó Russian choir draws criticism over performance describing nuclear attack on U.S.

F. Russia ó Russian nuclear-capable bombers fly over Sea of Japan: Ifax ó Why Russia is standing aloof on the Korean Peninsula, ó Are Trump and Putin Opening Pandora's Box? ó Zambia Keen on Expanding Nuclear Energy Cooperation With Russia - Foreign Min. ó Moscow ready to cut time for nuclear strike on U.S. if necessary -Putin ó Putin's warning on missiles in Europe pushes U.S. and Russia closer to new arms race ó Russia to Replace Damaged S-400 Missile Shipment to China ó Russia Confirms Development of Tsirkon Hypersonic Cruise Missile ó Advanced coastal defense missile systems to protect Russia's Caspian Flotilla base, Military & Defense ó Winning the Nuclear Game Against Putin's Russia ó After Putin's warning, Russian TV lists nuclear targets in U.S. ó Russia's Latest Diesel-Electric Attack Sub to Commence Sea Trials in 2019

G. West Asia ó Pence says time has come for EU to withdraw from Iran nuclear deal ó Merkel warns US pullout from Syria risks boosting Iran, Russia ó Iran's Zarif says there is 'great risk' of war with Israel ó Netanyahu Calls Out Gantz For Iran Nuclear Deal Support In Campaign Video ó Abu Dhabi arms fair opens amid Yemen war criticism ó Iran urges Europe to do more on nuclear deal following U.S. call for withdrawal ó Iran exporting radiopharmaceuticals to 15 countries ó Michael Flynn Pushed to Share Nuclear Power Technology With Saudi Arabia, Report Says ó Ex-Fm Official: Put Secret Iran Nuke Archives On Internet ó Iran's Rouhani says U.S. sanctions are 'terrorist act' ó Iran still holding up its end of nuclear deal, IAEA report shows ó Iran starts Gulf war games, to test submarine-launched missiles ó Iran launches cruise missile from submarine during drill ó Bid by 'enemies' to sabotage missiles foiled: Iran Guards ó Iran envoy hails EU's 'first step' to save nuclear deal ó Ground license to be granted to Sinop NPP ó Over 50 Turkish experts to work at Akkuyu Nuclear JSC ó Israel Burying 'Nuclear Waste With Radioactive Content' in Golan - UN Report ó US dismisses surprise resignation of Iran's Zarif ó India used Israeli arms for strike inside Pakistan - report ó British parliament warned Yemen is testbed for Iranian weapons ó Turkey wants to see world free of nuclear weapons: FM 4 Volume 11, Number 05 March 15, 2019

ó Iran's Foreign Minister Zarif, architect of nuclear deal, resigns ó Zarif resignation saga hampers nuclear deal ó Update to space laws long overdue ó Greek party leader to discuss situation in Mediterranean, Syria and Iran in Moscow ó Meridor: Preventing Iran Nuke Is Not The Only Strategy

H. East Asia Korea ó ROK-EU Foreign Ministerial Meeting Held on Occasion of Munich Security Conference 2019 ó Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Korea Feb 16 2019 ó Outcome of ROK-Russia Foreign Ministerial Meeting Held on Occasion of Munich Security Conference 2019 ó Glimpse into Yongbyon nuclear complex ó Spain investigates incident in North Korean Embassy, AP

I. Japan ó TEPCO training workers to shift spent nuclear fuel from March ó Japan, Russia foreign ministers meet over postwar peace treaty ó Nuclear plants should be kept, ex-premier says, ó Host town of crippled nuke plant to lift evacuation order ó Japan and Tepco again ordered to pay damages to Fukushima nuclear disaster evacuees ó Fierce opposition to recycling radioactive soil from Fukushima ó Chu wavering on nuclear power: Su ó Japan hopes US-N. Korea summit will lead to return of abductees

J. South, South East and Central Asia ó Bangladesh's energy conundrum

K. Op-eds, Reports and Editorial ó China's Missile Program and U.S. Withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty ó Nuclear power should be part of energy mix in fighting climate change ó EDITORIAL: Probe shows challenges posed by melted fuel at Fukushima plant ó Trump aides ignored legal warnings in pushing reactor plan: Democratic report ó Trump's Idea of a Middle East Nuclear Deal ó Stop Letting Your Cartoon Fears Of Nuclear Bombs Kill The Planet ó Editorial: Doubts linger over Japan-US alignment on North Korea ó US and Europe on chessboard over Iran ó Pak jihad's nuclear umbrella ó End to nuke deal may start 'era worse than Cold War': Expert ó Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, China, and Russia: a new strategic and economic bloc ó Global arms control architecture 'collapsing': UN, ó What the Trump-Kim Summit Means for India, ó Paul Flynn was a champion in the fight against nuclear power ó Europe fears new Cold War amid suspension of nuclear treaty ó After the Trump-Kim Failure ó Here's why US-North Korea talks will continue to fail ó Revisiting Chernobyl: 'It is a huge cemetery of dreams' ó Focus on North Korea's nuclear arsenal obscures threat posed by chemical and biological weapons 5 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

India liability law and international conventions limits foreign technology Joint Press Release on Joint provision. Consultative Commission between http://www.world-nuclear.org/information- India and Bangladesh Ministry of library/country-profiles/countries-g-n/ External Affairs, February 08, 2019 india.aspx During the meeting, the Ministers discussed the gamut of bilateral issues of mutual India-Argentina Joint Statement interest. They welcomed the fact that the during State Visit of President of relationship was now broadening to include Argentina to India (February 17- new and high technology areas for 19, 2019) Ministry of External Affairs partnership, such as space, nuclear energy, February 18, 2019 IT and electronics. The Ministers tasked their accompanying officials to develop a forward Recalling the Agreement on Cooperation looking roadmap for bilateral cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy to make the partnership irreversible. In signed in 2010, both sides noted with particular, they desired that partnership- satisfaction the progress in the ongoing building efforts should be enhanced in a cooperation on the Fission Molly Project, manner commensurate with the molybdenum plant being built in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Mumbai by the Argentine company Bangladesh’s Liberation. INVAP, with a target completion in 2020. Further, the sides also desired to enhance https://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral- and explore cooperative ventures in the documents.htm?dtl/31015/Joint_Press_Release_ areas of nuclear power; other societal uses on_Joint_Consultative_Commission_between_India_and_Bangladesh of nuclear energy in the health, agriculture sectors & for industrial applications; and World Nuclear Nuclear Power in India Training and Capacity Building. They also Organisation, February 2019 noted that the MoU signed on the = India has a largely indigenous nuclear occasion, between the Department of power programme. Atomic Energy, India and National Atomic Energy Commission, Argentina for = The Indian government is committed to cooperation within the framework of growing its nuclear power capacity as Global Center for Nuclear Energy part of its massive infrastructure Partnership would bolster institutional development programme. linkages in civil nuclear R&D and capacity = The government has set ambitious building. targets to grow nuclear capacity. At the start of 2018 six reactors were under Both sides expressed satisfaction with the construction in India, with a combined support extended to their respective capacity of 4.4 GWe. candidatures in various multilateral organizations. In this context, India = Because India is outside the Nuclear Non- expressed gratitude for Argentina’s Proliferation Treaty due to its weapons support to India’s accession to the various programme, it was for 34 years largely non-proliferation regimes, including the excluded from trade in nuclear plant and Missile Technology Control Regime, materials, which hampered its development Wassenaar Arrangement and Australia of civil nuclear energy until 2009. Group, and the active role played by = Due to earlier trade bans and lack of Argentina for India’s membership of the indigenous uranium, India has uniquely Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). been developing a nuclear fuel cycle to https://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral- exploit its reserves of thorium. documents.htm?dtl/31063/IndiaArgentina = Since 2010, a fundamental _Joint_Statement_during_State_Visit_of_President_of_ incompatibility between India’s civil Argentina_to_India_February_1719_2019 6 Volume 11, Number 05 March 15, 2019

List of MOUs/Agreements signed Final Operational Clearance of during State Visit of President of LCA Tejas MK I for Indian Air Argentina to India Ministry of External Force PIB, February 20, 2019 Affairs, February 18, 2019 20th February 2019 is a significant day in Civil nuclear the journey of Light Combat Aircraft Tejas MK I for Indian Air Force (IAF), when the MOU between Global Centre for Nuclear formal declaration of Final Operational Energy Partnership (GCNEP), India, and Clearance (FOC) of the aircraft was made CNEA, the Secretariat of Energy, Argentina by Secretary Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr G Satheesh Reddy. The day also Mr. Osvaldo Calzetta Larrieu, President of witnessed the handing over of FOC CNEA Certificate and Release to Service Document (RSD) to the Chief of Air Staff Mr. Sanjiv Ranjan, Ambassador of India to Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa, in the Argentina presence of Defence Secretary Shri Sanjay https://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral- Mitra and Chairman and Managing documents.htm?dtl/31062/ Director of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited List_of_MOUsAgreements_signed_during_State_ Shri R Madhavan. Visit_of_President_of_Argentina_to_India Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) of the Translation of Prime Minister’s aircraft took place in the year 2013 and IOC standard Aircraft were inducted into Press Statement during the visit of IAF No. 45 Squadron, in July 2016. The President of Argentina Ministry IAF Squadron has since flown over 1500 External Affairs, February 18, 2019 sorties successfully on the Aircraft. It is a India and Argentina have good cooperation proud day for all the agencies involved in in international forums. For global peace and the design, development and production security and economic and social of the aircraft i.e., Aeronautical advancement of all people we accept the Development Agency (ADA), the need of reformed multilateralism. Argentina autonomous society of DRDO as the design has strongly supported India’s membership agency and Hindustan Aeronautics in the Missile Technology Control Regime, Limited (HAL) as the manufacturer. Many Wassenaar Arrangement, Australia Group other DRDO laboratories like ADE, GTRE, and the Nuclear Suppliers Group. South- LRDE, CEMILAC etc., as well as other South Cooperation holds great importance agencies such as BEL, CSIR, DG-AQA, and for us. I am happy to say that India will Private sector agencies have contributed actively participate in the second high level in the journey of LCA. conference of United Nations on South- http://pib.nic.in/ South Cooperation in Buenos Aires in 2019. PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1565667 Our views are similar in the fight against climate change. I am very happy to welcome India, Argentina further Argentina as a new member in the cooperation in nuclear energy International Solar Alliance (ISA). Our cooperation in the field of space and World Nuclear News Feb 20, 2019 peaceful use of nuclear energy is The two countries signed an Agreement continuously increasing. on Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy in 2010. That agreement https://www.mea.gov.in/Speeches- Statements.htm?dtl/31061/ has led to progress in cooperation on the Translation_of_Prime_Ministers_Press_Statement_during Fission Molly Project, the molybdenum _the_visit_of_President_of_Argentina_February_18_2019 plant being built in Mumbai by the Argentine company INVAP, with a target for completion in 2020. 7 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

According to a joint statement issued by underground targets. The missile employs India’s Ministry of External Affairs, they GPS/INS midcourse guidance, electro- have also hope to: “enhance and explore optical IR seeker, scene-matching cooperative ventures” in civilian nuclear technology used in Rafael’s Spice stand- power; other societal uses of nuclear energy off glide munitions, and either a in the health, agriculture sectors and for penetration or blast-fragmentation industrial applications; and training. They warhead. Rafael’s deputy general also noted that the MoU would “bolster manager for business development, institutional linkages” in civilian nuclear marketing, and strategy, Gideon Weiss, R&D and capacity building. said the missile is in a “Technical Readiness Level (TRL 8)” development phase, http://world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/India,- completing full-scale development and Argentina-further-cooperation-in-nuclear-en testing with just the final phase of the development process remaining. The India to Test Fire Nuclear-Capable Rocks is currently certified on an Israeli ‘Nirbhay’ Cruise Missile in April Air Force F-16I Sufa multirole aircraft. Franz-Stefan Gady, Diplomat, February 21, 2019 https://missilethreat.csis.org/rafael-unveils- stand-off-rocks-missile/ India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) is slated to conduct DAE Media Meet held at Anushakti the final developmental flight trial of the Bhavan PIB February 23, 2019 nuclear-capable Nirbhay cruise missile, the country’s first indigenously designed and Efforts of DAE Units have ensured developed long-range cruise missile, availability of state-of-the-art according to an official of India’s radiopharmaceuticals at an affordable Aeronautical Development Establishment price to thousands of patients in India (ADE). everyday: DAE Secretary, PIB

Two other test launches also ended in failure, The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), with only one other flight trial, conducted in collaboration with PIB Mumbai, in October 2014, declared a success. DRDO organized a half-day event today to engineers have pointed to problems with the provide an opportunity for the media flight control software and navigation interested in the sector to get a deeper system of the Nirbhay, as well as hardware understanding of issues germane to the design flaws, for the causes of the failed field. The theme chosen for the Media missile tests. Without offering any details, Meet was “Radioisotopes in Healthcare – the ADE officials noted that past issues Radiopharmaceuticals for Nuclear related to the missile’s control hardware and Medicine: DAE Roles and Contributions” software have apparently now been fixed. http://pib.nic.in/ https://thediplomat.com/2019/02/india-to-test- PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1566088 fire-nuclear-capable-nirbhay-cruise-missile-in-april/ India reluctant nuclear weapon Rafael Unveils Stand-off “Rocks” state, committed to no first use Missile Missile Defense Project, policy: Manmohan Singh India February 22, 2019 Today, February 24, 2019 On February 20, Israel’s Rafael Advanced New proliferation risks and challenges can Defence Systems unveiled its new stand-off lead to “unintended escalations”, “Rocks” air-to-surface missile (ASM) at the increasing the likelihood of a nuclear strike, Aero India show in Bangalore. According former prime minister Manmohan Singh to Rafael representatives, the Rocks travels said on Sunday, asserting that India is a faster than Mach 1 and is capable of “reluctant” nuclear weapon state. attacking surface or more hidden 8 Volume 11, Number 05 March 15, 2019

Asserting that multipolarity has become a Reactor, Uttar Pradesh, Kakarapar Atomic reality in the global economy but the political Power Plant, Gujarat structures have yet to overcome the inertia of outmoded thinking, he said, “Many https://www.power-technology.com/features/ countries are modernising their nuclear nuclear-power-plants-in-india/ arsenals with tactical and low yield weapons, and increasing the likelihood of India’s Strategic Preparedness in their use. The goal of nuclear disarmament Times of Escalating Cross-border seems to be receding.” Tensions Ali Ahmed, Economic and Political Weekly, February 26, 2019 https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/india- reluctant-nuclear-weapon-state-committed-to-no- Besides the operation four days after the first-use-policy-manmohan-singh-1464104-2019- Pulwama attack which killed three JeM 02-24 operatives, India recently launched a “non-military pre-emptive strike” targeting Musharraf warns Pak consequences a JeM training camp in Balakot. In of nuke war with India Deccan Herald, response, the Pakistani Foreign Minister February 25, 2019 Shah Mahmood Qureshi termed the strike an “act of aggression” that violated the Pakistan’s former military dictator Gen Line of Control, and that Pakistan had (retd.) Pervez Musharraf has termed talk of every right to respond. The present any nuclear war with India as rubbish, government has refrained from publishing saying if Pakistan would attack India with a national defence white paper. Ali one atomic bomb, then New Delhi could Ahmed writes that operations such as the “finish us by attacking with 20 bombs”. “surgical strike” across the LoC suggest that India’s disposition towards the use of Musharraf, who was the army chief of force has changed from traditional “strategic Pakistan during the Kargil War in 1999, said restraint” to “strategic proactivism”. India had advantage in some areas in Kashmir and it could launch a surgical https://www.epw.in/engage/article/indias- strike, but Pakistan also had advantage in strategic-preparedness-times many other areas. He suggested to Pakistan Army t... India Test-Fires Surface-To-Air https://www.deccanherald.com/international/ Missiles Capable Of Engaging musharraf-warns-pak-720265.html Multiple Targets Bloomberg Quint February 26 2019 The top seven nuclear power plants India successfully test-fired two in India Jack Unwin, Power Technology, indigenously developed Quick Reaction February 26, 2019 Surface-to-Air missiles capable of Nuclear power forms an important part of simultaneously engaging multiple targets, India’s energy mix and the country is officials said. looking to expand this, with another 5.4GW The missiles, equipped with radars with to be added to current nuclear power plants search on move capability, were test-fired in the next decade. Power Technology takes from the Integrated Test Range at a look at the country’s current fleet. Chandipur on a day when India Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, Tamil conducted a major air assault on the Nadu, Tarapur Nuclear Reactor, biggest training camp of terror outfit Jaish- Maharashtra, Rajasthan Atomic Power e-Mohammed inside Pakistan. Describing Plant, Rajasthan, Kaiga Atomic Power the launch as “fully successful”, an official Plant, Karnataka, Kalapakkam Nuclear from Defence Research and Development Power Plant, Tamil Nadu, Narora Nuclear Organisation said all the mission objectives 9 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

were met during the trial. The two missiles approval in one go for setting up 12 were tested for different altitude and indigenous PHWR-type nuclear power conditions. The test flights successfully reactors in the country. And with these demonstrated the robust control, reactors, India is poised to add a total of aerodynamics, propulsion, structural 20 new reactors in an unprecedented push performance and high maneuvering to achieve a capacity addition of 15,200 capabilities thus proving the design megawatts. This positive move will configuration. increase the share of clean power generation significantly, thereby not only “Radars, Electro Optical Systems, Telemetry facilitating India to realise its climate goals, and other stations have tracked the Missiles but also help the earth by contributing and monitored through the entire flights. All towards slowing down global warming. the mission objectives have been met,” a defence statement said. Defence Minister https://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/ Nirmala Sitharaman congratulated the Opinion/2019-02-26/Nuclear-power-can-avert- DRDO for the achievement. catastrophic-climate-change-/502893

https://www.bloombergquint.com/global-econom- India nuclear weapons: Does India ics/india-test-fires-surface-to-air-missiles-capable- have nuclear weapons? Latest of-engaging#gs.19q05m World War 3 threat, Amani Hughes Twin Success for Quick Reaction Express, February 27, 2019 Surface-to-Air Missile PIB February Pakistan carried out air strikes and shot 26, 2019 down two Indian jets on Wednesday, Pakistani officials said today. The shocking Defence Research and Development strike comes just a day after Indian Organisation (DRDO) successfully test fired warplanes struck inside Pakistan for the indigenously developed Quick Reach first time since a war in 1971, prompting Surface-to-Air missiles (QRSAM) from fears World War 3 could break out ITRChandipur, off the Odisha Coast today. imminently. And according to Brian Toon, The two missiles were tested for different a Professor of Atmospheric and Oceanic altitude and conditions. The test flights Sciences, a war between India and successfully demonstrated the robust Pakistan could bring a nuclear winter Control, Aerodynamics, Propulsion, which would “destroy civilisation”. Structural performance and high manoeuvring capabilities thus proving the https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1093084/ design configuration. India-nuclear-weapons-does-India-have- nuclear-weapons-World-War-3-latest Radars, Electro Optical Systems, Telemetry and other stations have tracked the Missiles Pak warns India of ‘surprise’, calls and monitored through the entire flights. All the mission objectives have been met. nuclear authority meeting: report Asian Age, February 27, 2019 http://pib.nic.in/ PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1566363 Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has called a meeting of National Command Nuclear power can avert Authority on Wednesday, hours after India attacked on a terrorist camp in catastrophic climate change Pratap M Balakot in response to attack in Pulwama Anam, The Hans India, February 26, 2019 terror attack. Global warming, the cause of climate Even though Pakistan has denied Indian change, is driven to a great extent by human Air Force had ambushed terror camp and activities that involve emission of greenhouse gases, primarily carbon dioxide (CO2). cause heavy casualties, Islamabad vowed to respond “at the time and place of its Recently, Government of India accorded 10 Volume 11, Number 05 March 15, 2019

choosing’ and will raise issue at the United political settlement process and realize Nation and other international forums. denuclearization and lasting peace on the Peninsula at an early date. http://www.asianage.com/world/south-asia/ 270219/paks-warns-india-of-surprise-calls- The Ministers underscored that the Joint nuclear-authority-meeting.html Comprehensive Plan of Action on the Iranian nuclear issue was an important The Nuclear Game Theory of the achievement of multilateral diplomacy, India-Pakistan Crisis Uri Friedman and which serves international and regional Krishnadev Calamur The Atlantic, peace and security and the common February 27, 2013 interests of the international community. Recalling the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Pakistan’s prime minister and senior Indian Action (JCPOA) on the Iranian Nuclear officials have said they don’t want to see the Programme and the UN Security Council situation deteriorate any further, but the risk Resolution 2231, they called upon all of miscalculation remains high, amid fears parties to fully comply with their that any misstep could trigger all-out war, obligations and ensure full and effective the first between the two countries since they implementation of the JCPOA to promote both developed nuclear weapons—in fact, international and regional peace and the first between two nuclear-armed states, security. They recognized Iran’s right to ever. peaceful uses of nuclear energy as also the international community’s strong interest The situation illustrates the paradox a in the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear arsenal poses: Nonproliferation nuclear programme. advocates would argue that the danger of escalation into apocalyptic war is why states https://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral- should not possess such weapons. But it is documents.htm?dtl/31097/Joint_Communique_ precisely because of situations like these that of_the_16th_Meeting_of_the_Foreign_Ministers_ countries such as India and Pakistan will of_the_Russian_Federation_the_Republic_ never renounce them. of_India_and_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China

https://www.theatlantic.com/international/ While the world watched US- archive/2019/02/pakistan-india-nuclear-north- korea-trump/583723/ North Korean negotiations, two nuclear powers squared off Matt Joint Communique of the 16th Field Bulletin of Atomic Scientist, Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of February 28, 2019 the Russian Federation, the While audiences around the world Republic of India and the People’s watched the breathless media coverage of Republic of China Ministry of External US President Donald Trump’s follow-up summit with North Korean leader Kim Affairs, February 27, 2019 Jong Un, the proud owner of perhaps 10- The Ministers welcomed the 20 nuclear weapons, they may have significantÿpositive changes in Korean missed escalating military tensions Peninsula since 2018 and DPRK’s declared between India and Pakistan, two commitment for denuclearization. They countries with almost 300 nuclear welcomed the talks and consultations warheads between them. Pakistan now between the US and the DPRK, as well as has about 140-150 nuclear warheads, improvement of inter-Korea relations. The according to the Bulletin of the Atomic Ministers reaffirmed that the Korean Scientists’ Nuclear Notebook. That figure Peninsula issues should be resolved by could grow to 220 to 250 by 2025, the peaceful and diplomatic means and notebook’s authors write. A lot depends expressed the hope that all parties concerned on how India builds up its nuclear and work together for continued progress in the other military forces. India, meanwhile, 11 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

probably has between 130-140 nuclear Can nuclear-armed Pakistan and warheads and is modernizing its India step back from the brink? capabilities, keeping a cautious eye on Dan De Luce and Robert Windrem, China, in addition to its traditional nemesis, NBCNEWS, Feb 28, 2019 Pakistan. Nuclear-armed rivals Pakistan and India https://thebulletin.org/2019/02/while-the-world- are locked in the worst crisis in years over watched-us-north-korean-negotiations-two- the disputed region of Kashmir, and the nuclear-powers-squared-off/ capture of an Indian fighter pilot could mean the confrontation will only get Inside a nuclear bunker in Berlin worse, former diplomats and regional Rasheed Kappan, Deccan Herald, analysts say. India’s Prime Minister February 28, 2019 Narendra Modi now faces a crucial crossroads, experts said, faced with either Reports indicate that about 14,000 nuclear holding back and seeking to settle the bunkers are being built by India, all of them dispute, or taking further military action. on the Indo-Pak border to protect families. With elections in less than three months The border towns and villages are within in India, hitting back at Pakistan could the range of tactical nuclear weapons in play well to nationalist sentiment — but it Pakistan’s possession, although the N-option could also risk a full-blown war. is now only in the realm of blackmail, say defence analysts. But decades ago, faced The U.S. and China have helped tamp with the prospect of total annihilation by down tensions between Islamabad and Soviet nuclear missiles, the West Germans New Delhi in previous crises, but it was had built 23 nuclear bunkers in West Berlin. unclear if Washington and Beijing would However, each of these underground be able to exert similar influence this time. bunkers (called fallout shelters) would let in The Trump administration only recently only the first 3,000 people, lined up in an named a nominee for the top State orderly manner. Department position overseeing diplomacy in South Asia, and it has not Stepping into one of them in the heart of appointed an ambassador to Pakistan. Berlin, this correspondent was instantly struck by the claustrophobic feel. The first https://www.chinabusinessreview.com/the- step was the toughest: Getting into an air- handshake-that-changed-the-world/ locked decontamination chamber. Terrified by an imminent attack, the people would China first be asked to strip naked for an ice-cold shower to decontaminate. Extremely limited Submarine arms race seen heating food and water stocks were to be rationed. up in Indo-Pacific amid ‘great Filtered air would not last for more than two threat’ from China, Minnie Chan, South weeks. The bunker had bathrooms, a China Morning Post, February 16, 2019 kitchen, a diesel-powered electric generator and storage areas. Despite three major wars The submarine arms race in the Indo- with Pakistan and one with China, urban Pacific is heating up, military analysts said bunkers have not been a priority in India. after the US Indo-Pacific commander told “We have not moved forward in that a Senate panel that America needed to direction, because nuclear exchange as a strengthen its underwater advantage in possibility is still too far away,”defence the region.Admiral Phil Davidson told a analyst, Air Marshal B K Pandey told Senate Armed Services Committee hearing Deccan Herald. on Tuesday that Chinese technological advances had been cutting into the US https://www.deccanherald.com/specials/inside- military advantage in the air and in space. nuclear-bunker-berlin-720829.html All the US submarines are nuclear- powered, so they are quieter and more 12 Volume 11, Number 05 March 15, 2019

stealthy, with better strike capability, than Russian violations. Moscow denied any Chinese submarines,” Li said.Earlier this wrongdoing. month, US ally Australia announced it had signed a US$50 billion deal for a fleet of 12 https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/ Attack-class submarines with French article/2186502/china-says-no-germanys-call- shipbuilder Naval Group.The submarines arms-control-deal-us-and-russia are to be designed and built in Australia under a “strategic partnership” as part of China rebuffs Germany’s call for the government’s A$90 billion (US$63.94 U.S. missile deal with Russia Robin billion) National Shipbuilding Plan. Emmott, Reuters, February 17, 2019

Meanwhile, India’s defence ministry last China rejected on Saturday German month approved a US$5.6 billion project for Chancellor Angela Merkel’s appeal to join six advanced submarines to be built under a Cold War-era arms control treaty that a strategic partnership model to bolster the the United States accuses Russia of country’s undersea forces, the Hindustan breaching, saying it would place unfair Times reported.The report said the limits on the Chinese military. Fearing a submarine project would help the Indian nuclear arms race between China, Russia navy counter the swift expansion of China’s and the United States after the collapse of fleet. the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty, which the United States is https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/ withdrawing from, Merkel made her call article/2186376/submarine-arms-race-seen- for a global treaty. “Disarmament is heating-indo-pacific-amid-great-threat something that concerns us all and we would of course be glad if such talks were China rejects German appeal to join held not just between the United States, endangered cold war-era nuclear Europe and Russia but also with China,” treaty Liu Zhen, South China Morning Post, Merkel told the Munich Security Conference. February 17, 2019 Merkel’s suggestion of involving China in Politburo member Yang Jiechi says Chinese a negotiation is seen by European NATO weapons are defensive and don’t pose a diplomats as a potential way out of the threat impasse because a new treaty could address American concerns about a German Chancellor Angela Merkel is calling growing military threat from China and for a global medium-range treaty to take Russia. But China’s top diplomat Yang account of China’s growing missile power. Jiechi, who spoke on a panel in Munich, China has rejected German Chancellor said that Chinese missiles were defensive. Angela Merkel’s appeal for Beijing to sign So we are opposed to the up to a key US-Russia nuclear arms control multilateralization of the INF. treaty that is about to collapse, saying it would place unfair limits on its military. China’s stated ambition is to modernize its People’s Liberation Army by 2035, Yang Jiechi, a member of the Communist improve its air force and push into new Party’s decision-making Politburo, told the technologies including very high speed Munich Security Conference in Germany on cruise missiles and artificial intelligence. Its Saturday that China opposed expansion of defense budget grew nearly six percent the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces between 2017 and 2018, according to the Treaty (INF) between the United States and London-based International Institute for the former Soviet Union into a multilateral Security Studies (IISS). Cheaper to build, agreement. The INF was a key nuclear arms more mobile and easier to hide, ground- control deal during the cold war, but US based rocket launchers are an attractive President Donald Trump started the six- option to China as it develops its armed month withdrawal from it this month, citing forces, experts say, whereas the United 13 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

States operates more costly sea-based material; its strength is over 100 times that systems to comply with the INF. of steel. “The fastest conduction”: electron transfer rate of graphene is also the fastest https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany- among the currently known materials. In security-china/china-rebuffs-germanys-call-for-u- addition, the light transmitting rate of s-missile-deal-with-russia-idUSKCN1Q50NZ graphene reaches 97.7 percent. It also has the best thermal conductivity of 5000 W / China hopes US, Russia will return (m·K). to INF Treaty: official China Daily February 18 2019 With Beijing taking lead in innovation, Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region serving as the China hopes that the United States and platform, a national network can be Russia will return to the Intermediate-Range connected.Beijing’s leading role in Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, a senior innovation is also reflected in the Chinese official said here Saturday.Yang incubation of small and medium-sized Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of technology companies.Currently, a large the Communist Party of China (CPC) industrial cluster with a plant area of Central Committee and also director of the 77,400 square meters has been built in Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of Dongli district of Tianjin, with an the CPC Central Committee, made the investment of 4 billion yuan. remarks after delivering a keynote speech at the 55th Munich Security Conference. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/m/beijing/ zhongguancun/2019-02/19/ Yang said that China firmly advocates content_37438903.htm maintaining global strategic stability.The unilateral declaration by the United States China, Iran vow to boost to withdraw from the INF Treaty has serious relationship Cao Desheng, China Daily, consequences, and has drawn widespread February 20, 2019 concern from the international community, he said. China hopes that the United States Two countries agree to strengthen and Russia can get back to the INF Treaty dialogue, coordination on nuclear and is opposed to the multilateralization of issue.Beijing and Teheran agreed on the treaty, Yang said. Tuesday to continue to strengthen communication and coordination on the http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201902/18/ Iran nuclear issue. The two nations also WS5c6a13a1a3106c65c34e9d56.html pledged to safeguard their respective legitimate rights and interests, implement Docter Chen talks about graphene the nuclear agreement and defend research China Daily, February 19 2019 multilateral rules when State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Iranian Chen Xudong, Ph.D in Materials from Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif BIAM graphene research teams recently met in Beijing.The meeting between Wang shared his views on the applications and and Zarif took place amid efforts to industrialization of graphene in China. It is preserve the Iran nuclear deal. alleged that that if the 20th century is the century of monocrystalline silicon Zarif said Iran considers China an (electricity), then the 21st century is the important and all-around cooperation century of graphene. partner. “Our relationship with China is valuable to us. We consider the Graphene is recognized by scientists as the comprehensive strategic partnership next generation of revolutionary and between Iran and China as one of our strategic materials. With a thickness of only most important relations.” He commended 0.334 nm, graphene possesses a series of the China-proposed Belt and Road excellent properties. “The most solid”: Initiative, and said the initiative is graphene is proved to be the sturdiest especially important to Iran and China. His 14 Volume 11, Number 05 March 15, 2019

country stands ready to actively participate The Handshake that Changed the in the cooperation on the initiative, Zarif World Doug Barry, China Business said. Teheran welcomes China playing a Review, February 21, 2019 more important role in the Middle East and nearby regions, such as in the Syria issue, Forty-seven years ago today, Nixon the rebuilding of Iraq and the peace process grasped the hand of Chinese Premier in Afghanistan, he added. Zhou Enlai, an image that represented a sea change in foreign relations for the two http://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201902/20/ countries. Lesser known, however, is the WS5c6c9099a3106c65c34ea351.html story of how those images were captured and broadcast around the world. Robert US military plans new war-fighting Siegenthaler, the head of the TV network concept in response to threat from pool covering the visit, shares his story China, Russia Zhenhua Lu, South China with CBR. Morning Post, February 20, 2019 China and the United States have had It involves ‘stealth and joint penetration’ on almost a half century to talk; but mutual land, in the air and at sea, causing understanding and negotiation of each simultaneous dilemmas for adversaries to nation’s strategic goals have been elusive. effectively fight back. US Air Force chief of staff says US$135 billion budget will be Nixon was concerned about defusing sought for ‘penetrating capability’ tensions with a nuclear-armed China, capitalizing on a Sino-Soviet split, and America’s military is developing a new war- enlisting China’s help with ending the fighting concept in response to the threat of Vietnam War. Today, the United States conflict with China, Russia and other and China are clashing over trade, cyber adversaries, the US Air Force chief of staff espionage, and China’s efforts to expand said. General David Goldfein told a its spheres of influence within Asia and Brookings Institution event on Tuesday that beyond. the US Army and Air Force would put forward the “concept of operations” within A reset of the relationship is long overdue, a year and would seek a US$135 billion but will require potentially painful budget for “penetrating capability”. The US concessions and changes by both Marine Corps and Navy were also involved countries. Only if successful can we begin in the planning, the general said. to realize how a reimagined relationship could address the world’s many grave China has stepped up the modernisation of challenges. If unsuccessful, the its military in recent years, but experts relationship could become one of its generally agreed that the People’s Liberation gravest challenges.Perhaps it’s time to Army still lagged behind the US in areas share a bowl of tangerines and recall days such as air and naval forces as well as missile long ago when an unexpected visit capabilities. According to Goldfein, the changed history. stated purpose of the new concept was to carry out “stealth and joint penetration” in https://www.chinabusinessreview.com/the- adversaries’ territories on land, in the air and handshake-that-changed-the-world/ at sea, causing simultaneous dilemmas for the opposing forces to effectively fight back. China, Russia, India to strengthen cooperation after foreign https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/ article/2187006/us-military-plans-new-war- ministers’ meeting, Xinhuanet, fighting-concept-response-threat February 27, 2019 China, Russia and India on Wednesday agreed to enhance coordination and cooperation, firmly uphold multilateralism 15 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

and jointly fight against terrorism. The Zarif has made positive contributions to agreement came as Chinese State Councilor the development of China-Iran relations. and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Russian The Chinese side appreciates this. China Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Indian and Iran are comprehensive strategic External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj partners, and we stand ready to work with held the 16th meeting of the foreign ministers Iran to advance our comprehensive of China, Russia and India in Wuzhen, strategic partnership. Regarding the eastern China’s Zhejiang Province. JCPOA you mentioned, I believe you are aware of China’s position. We always Noting that the world today is undergoing believe that the JCPOA must be upheld, unprecedented changes that have not been and we are making our best efforts along seen in the past 100 years, Wang said China, with relevant parties, including Russia, to Russia and India, as influential major uphold the validity of the deal. We believe powers and important emerging economies, this is conducive to the peace and stability should enhance coordination, converge in the Middle East and the international consensus, cement cooperation and jointly nuclear non-proliferation system, and promote world peace and stability.He serves the shared interests of the suggested that the three countries should international community. firmly safeguard the international system with the United Nations (UN) as the core, Q: The second summit between the DPRK and adhere to the principle of non- and the US leaders will soon be held in interference in internal affairs and deepen Hanoi. What expectations does China counter-terrorism and security cooperation. have for this meeting? What kind of role will China play between the DPRK and The three sides agreed to constantly the US during this meeting? What is consolidate and expand trilateral practical China’s comment on Vietnam’s efforts and cooperation, and work on setting up a role in hosting this meeting? meeting mechanism among their defense ministers in an appropriate time. China also A: As you know, China’s proposition on proposed to discuss “China, Russia, India the Korean Peninsula issue mainly plus” cooperation, so as to improve global comprises two aspects: first, to realize the influence of the trilateral cooperation. The denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula; next meeting between three foreign second, to achieve and maintain the ministers will be held in Russia, Wang said. lasting peace and stability on the Peninsula and then in Northeast Asia. To http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-02/27/ achieve these two goals, we believe that c_137855295.htm the DPRK and the US, as the key parties concerned, should take effective Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu measures, fully consider and Kang’s Regular Press Conference on accommodate each other’s legitimate February 26, 2019 Consulate General of concerns, and work for the shared goal of the People’s Republic of China, February 27, realizing denuclearization and lasting 2019 peace of the Peninsula on the basis of mutual respect. We are pleased to see that Q: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad the situation is developing in the direction Javad Zarif announced his decision to resign that China has advocated and hoped for. today. What is the Foreign Ministry’s This is the role that China has always response to this? It was only last week that played and will continue to play. The Zarif wrapped up his visit to China. Is the second meeting between the DPRK and Chinese side worried about the future of the the US leaders is going to be held in Hanoi. Iranian nuclear deal? It is not only the Chinese side, but also A: The Chinese side noted relevant reports. actually all parties in the international Over the past five years or so, as the Iranian community, that hope the DPRK and the Foreign Minister Mr. Mohammad Javad US will continue to make substantial steps 16 Volume 11, Number 05 March 15, 2019

towards realizing the denuclearization, What is China’s comment on an end-of- peace and stability on the Peninsula. war declaration?

Q: About the DPRK-related sanctions, last A: As we said yesterday, we hope the week China said that the Security Council upcoming DPRK-US summit will build on needs to consider holding a debate on what has been achieved and lead to more invoking the provisions of Security Council positive outcomes. China supports an early resolutions, which would at least take a end to the state of war on the Korean concession from the US. Do you have any Peninsula. We proposed and still believe suggestions about what concessions might that the effective way to resolve the be made on either side to make the Peninsula issue is to follow the dual-track negotiations move forward as the DPRK-US approach, which is to promote summit is to be held in days? denuclearization and the establishment of a peace mechanism on the Peninsula in A: Like I just said, progress needs to be made parallel. We support all efforts that are in the negotiations between the DPRK and conducive to this process and stand ready the United States, and the key is that both to play our role in this regard. sides should carefully listen to, consider and accommodate each other’s legitimate https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/ concerns and meet each other half way. As xwfw_665399/s2510_665401/2511_665403/ the Chinese side said, the general direction t1641502.shtml should be both promoting the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula China’s been very helpful for both and replacing the armistice with a peace the US and North Korea: Trump regime in parallel. We believe that under the No deal reached in Hanoi, Global current circumstances, as various members Times February 28, 2019 of the international community are calling for, if some positive measures are taken, Despite the setback at the Kim-Trump such as easing or even lifting part of the summit held in Hanoi, venue for the sanctions against the DPRK, it will surely second meeting between the US and North be conducive to this process. As for what Korean leaders, Trump thanked Chinese kind of concessions the DPRK and the US President Xi Jinping for acting as mediator should make respectively, it depends on the between the two sides. talks between the DPRK and the US, and the Chinese side cannot get ahead of that. Trump and US Secretary of State Mike But we believe that the two sides should Pompeo, who both attended the press follow the general direction of mutual respect conference, said that differences on and accommodation of each other’s sanctions were the key reason contributing legitimate concerns. to the outcome. Trump told the press conference that North Korea wants the https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/ sanctions lifted entirely, but “we couldn’t xwfw_665399/s2510_665401/2511_665403/ do that,” and that North Korea was t1641180.shtml “willing to denuke a large portion of the areas that we wanted, but we couldn’t give Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu up all of the sanctions for that ... We had Kang’s Regular Press Conference on to walk away from that.” February 27, 2019 Consulate General of Observers from both China and South the People’s Republic of China, February 27, Korea said the outcome was surprising 2019 and disappointing. But it proved that the Q: It is reported that the US and the DPRK US still believes sanctions are the most leaders may discuss the declaration on important measure to guarantee complete ending the Korean War during their denuclearization, and they cannot be lifted meeting. China was part of the Korean War. so quickly. However, the North thinks it is 17 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

time for the US to show more sincerity. dramatically slows down glass dissolution.” The researchers and their Although the two leaders showed publicly partners want to investigate the influence they have a good relationship, the outcome of self-irradiation damage in the glass on proves a continued lack of trust, said Koh its corrosion resistance. “The current work Yu-hwan, a professor from the South should mainly prove that our new method Korean Dongguk University, speaking at a can provide far-reaching insights into these forum in Hanoi held by the (South) Korea processes,” says Geisler-Wierwille. Press Foundation to review the Kim-Trump summit. China hopes North Korea and the https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/ US will continue their dialogue in which 190228113627.htm China is willing to play a constructive role, Lu said.The bilateral negotiation [between Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu North Korea and the US] has entered a Kang’s Regular Press Conference “deep-water zone” and difficulties are on February 28, 2019 Consulate inevitable, said Chinese State Councilor and General of the People’s Republic of China, Foreign Minister Wang Yi. February 28, 2019 http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1140562.shtml Q: The second DPRK-US summit in Hanoi ended abruptly. Apparently, they failed to In-depth insights into glass reach an agreement. Do you have any corrosion Science Daily February 28, 2019 comment?

Silicate glass has many applications, A: I see that you have already come to a including the use as a nuclear waste form conclusion for their meeting? Based on the to immobilize radioactive elements from information released by the US side, my spent fuel. However, it has one disadvantage understanding is that President Trump — it corrodes when it comes into contact will hold a press briefing. I am just as with aqueous solutions. Scientists at the interested as you are in how the DPRK University of Bonn were able to observe in and the US would comment on their detail which processes take place. The Hanoi summit. Over the past year or so, results have now been published in the the situation on the Korean Peninsula has journal Nature Materials. witnessed a major turnaround and the Peninsula issue has been brought back The results indicate that silicate glass quickly onto the right track of political settlement. dissolves when it comes into contact with This outcome is hard-won and should be aqueous solutions — almost like a sugar cube cherished. in a cup of coffee. However, while the sugar molecules are quickly distributed evenly in In fact, ups and downs on the Peninsula the water by diffusion, this is not the case over the past several decades show that during glass corrosion: Part of the resulting dialogue and consultation is the only way dissolved silica seems to remain near the out, and only by meeting each other half surface of the glass. At some point, its way can ensure steady progress on the concentration becomes so high that it right course. We hope that the DPRK and solidifies. the US will continue to engage in dialogue, show sincerity, respect and accommodate “For the first time, we have experimentally each other’s legitimate concerns and demonstrated that a boundary solution with jointly promote denuclearization and the dissolved silica forms between the opal layer establishment of a peace mechanism on the and the underlying glass,” explains Geisler- Korean Peninsula. China will continue to Wierwille. “As the thickness of the opal layer play a constructive role in this regard. increases, it increasingly prevents the silica solution from being transported away from Q: Regarding the second DPRK-US the reaction interface. “We suspect that it summit, the US said in a press release that eventually gels to a viscous mass, which no agreement was reached and the 18 Volume 11, Number 05 March 15, 2019

working lunch between the two sides was including the dual-track approach and our canceled. Some say that this meeting ended consistent efforts to encourage the DPRK with outcomes. What’s your comment? and the US to meet each other half way and truly take into consideration each A: I just answered a similar question raised other’s legitimate concerns. by an ROK journalist. To be honest, we are closely following the development of the In fact, since the very beginning of the situation. We noted some comments and Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, even in media reports, but I hope you will listen to the most trying time, China has been what the governments of the DPRK and the making its utmost effort to encourage the US will say about how they view this DPRK and the US to resolve the issue meeting later on. I also hope you understand through the only viable way of dialogue that as the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue and consultation and uphold the peace has been there for many years, it cannot be and stability on the Peninsula. The Six- resolved easily overnight. Party Talks you mentioned is an important platform for the solution of the Korean Over the past year or so, the fact that the Peninsula nuclear issue, the establishment issue is brought onto the right track of of which was guided by China with its political settlement has proved that it is utmost efforts. The September 19 Joint necessary for the two sides to demonstrate Statement of the Six-Party Talks was a good faith, meet each other halfway and very good consensus, but unfortunately, stay committed to dialogue and it has not been implemented afterwards. consultation. The key is, the DPRK and the We hope all parties can learn lessons from US, as two parties directly concerned, should the past, continue the momentum of truly respect and accommodate each other’s dialogue, meet each other half way, and legitimate concerns. As far as I know, based jointly commit themselves to promoting on what we can see from the reports by far, denuclearization and the establishment of the two sides may continue with their talks a peace mechanism on the Peninsula. at the working level. This is what we hope for. We also hope that the two sides, by truly https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/ respecting and accommodating each other’s xwfw_665399/s2510_665401/2511_665403/ legitimate concerns, will reach positive t1641847.shtml outcomes that they and all people around the world aspire for. Pakistan

Q: The second DPRK-US summit has Saudi Arabia Is Investing $20 encountered setbacks. What role will China Billion in Pakistan. Here’s What play at this moment? Do you think the Six- It’s Getting in Return Joseph Hincks, Party Talks will be a good choice? Time, February 19, 2019

A: Just now some of you said the DPRK-US Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed talks have “failed”, some said no agreement bin Salman has been shunned by much of was reached, and some said there are the world after the murder of dissident setbacks. We’re following the latest journalist Jamal Khashoggi in October, development, and I hope you can first listen which the CIA concluded he had ordered. to what the US and the DPRK governments A-list executives pulled out of his Riyadh say about this summit. We may find what investment forum (dubbed ‘Davos in the we can do based on their views. Desert’), street protests greeted his arrival in Tunisia in November, and there were As to China’s role, like we said, over the past reports Morocco’s King Mohammed VI year or so, there has been a major snubbed him on a visit to the North turnaround in the situation on the Korean African country. That wasn’t the case Peninsula. The Chinese side has been earlier this week in Pakistan, however, promoting peace, facilitating talks and which bestowed its highest civilian award contributing our propositions and ideas, on the young Saudi prince, gave him a 19 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

gold-plated gun, and declared Monday a He said tension between the neighbouring public holid n addition to the staggering nuclear powers, India and Pakistan, had financial package, MBS on Khan’s request again reached a “dangerous level”. The ordered the “immediate release” of more former army chief said India had than 2,000 Pakistani prisoners incarcerated advantage in some areas in Kashmir and in the Kingdom. It precedes stops in India it could launch a surgical strike, but and China, which like Pakistan have not Pakistan also had advantage in many spoken out about Khashoggi’s murder. But other areas. Saudi Arabia’s investment in the nuclear- armed South Asian state is more than just a https://www.dawn.com/news/1465699 PR exercise. Imran calls top decision making http://time.com/5531724/saudi-arabia-pakistan- body on nuclear issues PTI Deccan mbs-imran-khan/ Herald, February 27, 2019 Here’s a look at how the militaries Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on of India and Pakistan stack up The Wednesday called a meeting of the top Express Tribune (Reuters) February 20, 2019 decision-making body on nuclear issues after India targeted terrorist camp in the Tensions between India and Pakistan have country. The National Command escalated sharply after a suicide bombing in Authority controls policy formulation, the Indian-occupied region of Kashmir killed exercises, deployment, research and 40 Indian paramilitary police, an attack development, employment and claimed by banned group Jaish-e- operational command and control of the Mohammad. country’s nuclear arsenals.

Missiles and nuclear weapons The decision to call the NCA meeting was taken on Tuesday in the meeting of Both nations have ballistic missiles capable National Security Committee - a civil- of delivering nuclear weapons. India has military top level body that discussed the nine types of operational missiles, including situation after the Indian attack. The the Agni-3 with a range of 3,000 km (1,864 parliamentary leaders will also be given miles) to 5,000 km (3,106 miles), according an in-camera briefing by the government to the Center for Strategic and International on the situation after India’s strikes. Studies (CSIS) in Washington. Pakistan’s missile programme includes mobile short- https://www.deccanherald.com/international/ and medium-range weapons that can reach imran-khan-calls-meeting-top-720582.html any part of India, CSIS said. The Shaheen 2 has the longest range, of up to 2,000 km Get ready for our surprise’: (1,242 miles) Pakistan warns India it will https://tribune.com.pk/story/1914519/1-heres- respond to airstrikes Michael Safi in look-militaries-india-pakistan-stack/ Delhi, Mehreen Zahra-Malik in Islamabad and Azhar Farooq in Srinagar, The Musharraf says half of Imran’s Guardian, February 27, 2019 cabinet are ‘his people’ Amir Wasim, Pakistan’s army has warned it will Dawn, February 24, 2019 respond to India’s aerial bombing over the disputed border in Kashmir, telling Delhi: Chief of the All-Pakistan Muslim League “It is your turn now to wait and get ready (APML) and former military ruler retired for our surprise.” Gokhale said Indian jets Gen Pervez Musharraf sees “political struck JeM’s largest training camp in the environment” in Pakistan “favourable” for Balakot area, claiming a “very large his return though he has no immediate plan number of JeM terrorists, trainers, senior to come back to the motherland. commanders and groups of jihadis being 20 Volume 11, Number 05 March 15, 2019

trained for fidayeen [suicide] action were and India on Wednesday, Prime Minister eliminated.” The facility, which he described Imran Khan warned of catastrophic as being in thick forest on a hilltop, was far consequences should “better sense” not away from any civilian settlements,overseen prevail. by the brother-in-law of the JeM chief, Masood Azhar, he added. “Can we afford any miscalculation with the kind of weapons that we have and you Significantly, Balakot is in the province of have?” the prime minister said, alluding Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, about 50 miles from to the nuclear arsenal of both the countries the line of control and well into accepted and asking: “If escalation begins from here, Pakistan territory. An attack there would where will it go?” He added that if the represent an escalation from previous Indian situation escalates from here, “it will not reprisals. be in my or Modi’s control”. The director general of the Strategic Plans Division https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/26/ presented a briefing on Pakistan’s nuclear pakistan-india-jets-breached-ceasefire-line- capability. kashmir-bomb https://tribune.com.pk/story/1919458/1-pm- Pakistan nuclear weapons: Does imran-address-nation-shortly/ Pakistan have nuclear weapons? Imran Khan to consult chiefs Rachel What is National Command Russel, Express UK, February 27, 2019 Authority: Imran Khan convenes meeting of Pakistan’s apex nuclear Mr Khan will hold an emergency body after Balakot air strikes parliamentary session and also meet with the body in control of Islamabad’s nuclear Firstpost, February 27, 2019 arsenal. This will be in response to India’s Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has first air strikes on Pakistan since 1971. On called for a meeting of the National Tuesday, India launched an air strike on Command Authority (NCA) in the what it said was a militant training base. aftermath of India’s pre-emptive, non- military air strikes at terror camps in Balakot Pakistan spent 1.26 trillion Pakistani rupees in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. ($8,3billion), which about 3.6 percent of its GDP, on 653,800 troops. The Stockholm The NCA comprises the Employment International Peace Research Institute Control Committee, Development Control (SIPRI) said that more than 20 percent of Committee and a Strategic Plans Division Pakistan’s annual government expenditure of Pakistan. All three committees were to was spent of the military between 1993 and be led by the head of the government, 2006. India said a large number of JeM which was Musharraf at that time. In fighters had been killed but in conflicting 2019, the Pakistani National Assembly reports, but Pakistani officials said the strike approved the National Command was a failure as it did not cause any Authority (NCA) Bill, 2009, legally casualties. In a statement, Pakistan’s foreign establishing the NCA as a civilian-led body ministry said it had hit a “non-military” in charge of the country’s nuclear assets. target inside Indian-controlled Kashmir. Late in 2016, the Pakistani Senate passed the National Command Authority https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1093079/ (Amendment) Bill, 2016, giving it the Pakistan-nuclear-weapons-does-Pakistan-have- power to disburse funds to the country’s nuclear-weapons-World-War-3-latest Central government, instead of the finance department. PM to Modi: ‘Let better sense prevail’ The Express Tribune February 27, 2019 https://www.firstpost.com/world/what-is-the- national-command-authority-imran-khan- As escalating tensions fuelled concerns of convenes-meeting-of-pakistans-apex-nuclear- all-out war between nuclear-tipped Pakistan body-after-balakot-airstrikes-6160131.html 21 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

Diplomacy the only path to resolve US will not open door to Saudi Indo-Pak conflict PTI, Deccan Herald, Arabia building nuclear weapons, February 28, 2019 deputy energy secretary says David Reid, CNBC, February 16, 2019 Top US lawmakers have said that the escalating tension between Pakistan and A representative of the United States India is “deeply alarming” and asked the government said Saturday that it would two nuclear-armed countries to settle their not help Saudi Arabia develop nuclear differences through negotiations and not technology without guarantees that it war. would only be used for civilian purposes. Saudi Arabia has put the U.S. on a Democratic presidential aspirant Tulsi shortlist with China, Russia and others to Gabbard said, “To our friends in India and bid for nuclear power projects in the Pakistan: As nuclear powers, please country. Washington sees Saudi Arabia as remember it’s your responsibility to the global a big customer of American nuclear community to settle differences through expertise and hardware, but lawmakers negotiations — not war. In times like this. from both U.S. political parties are https://www.deccanherald.com/international/ demanding a deal be based on tough diplomacy-only-path-resolve-720792.html controls. Section 123 of the United States Atomic USA & Europe Energy Act of 1954, titled “Cooperation US nuclear industry seeks With Other Nations,” sets an agreement for cooperation as a prerequisite for presidential support World Nuclear nuclear deals between the U.S. and any News, February 16, 2019 other nation. Under a “123 measure,” any Representatives from companies including U.S. nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia Centrus Energy, Exelon, General Electric, would prohibit routes toward the making Lightbridge, NuScale Power, TerraPower, of nuclear weapons by banning Westinghouse and X-energy were invited to enrichment of uranium or the reprocessing the White House to discuss a variety of issues of plutonium. relating to nuclear energy. The meeting was https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/16/brouillette- arranged by Jack Keane, a co-founder and us-wont-give-saudi-arabia-key-to-nuclear- director of the IP3 International organisation weapon-building.html which works to integrate the US industry into the development and Whistleblowers Raise Grave operations of peaceful and secure nuclear power in the global marketplace via public/ Concerns with Trump private initiatives and US industry-led Administration’s Efforts to Transfer partnerships. Sensitive Nuclear Technology to Saudi Arabia Prepared for According to Axios, a White House official Chairman Elijah E. Cummings said the president talks “periodically” with Keane, who is a retired US Army general. Interim Staff Report, Committee on A full nuclear cooperation agreement - also Oversight and Reform U.S. House of known as a 123 agreement - between Saudi Representatives February 2019 Arabia and the USA will be needed before This interim staff report was prepared for any exports of US nuclear technology or Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, the Chairman equipment would be possible. of the Committee on Oversight and http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/US- Reform, after multiple whistleblowers nuclear-industry-seeks-presidential-support came forward to warn about efforts inside the White House to rush the transfer of highly sensitive U.S. nuclear technology to 22 Volume 11, Number 05 March 15, 2019

Saudi Arabia in potential violation of the Saudi Arabia may be playing a double Atomic Energy Act and without review by game with the US. On hand it makes fiery Congress as required by law—efforts that disclaimers that it it doesn’t get a modified may be ongoing to this day. The Trump 123 agreement, it will talk to China. On Administration’s interactions with Saudi the other hand, getting them from Arabia have been shrouded in secrecy, Westinghouse and big chunks of its supply raising significant questions about the chain makes protecting Saudi Arabia from nature of the relationship. Finally, General Iran much more in the US interest. Flynn told investigators that he stayed at the Because . . . they will now have our nuclear King Khaled International Hotel, but a U.S. reactors and we will want to keep an eye consulate official could not identify any such on them. Is Saudi Arabia strong enough to hotel in Saudi Arabia. According to this make good on its “disclaimer” of having news report, 24% of the $7 billion in other sources? Maybe they do have a China investments raised by Mr. Barrack’s option, but would China also come with a company since Donald Trump won the security guarantee? I don’t think so. nomination “has come from the Persian Gulf all from either the U.A.E. or Saudi Arabia.” https://neutronbytes.com/2019/02/17/a-plau- sible-scenario-for-saudi-arabias-nuclear-energy- https://oversight.house.gov/sites/ plan-goodbye-us-ap1000-hello-china-hualong- democrats.oversight.house.gov/files/ one-via-pakistan/ Trump%20Saudi%20Nuclear%20Report%20- %202-19-2019.pdf House Opens Inquiry into Proposed U.S. Nuclear Venture in A Plausible Scenario for Saudi Saudi Arabia Nicholas Fandos and Arabia’s Nuclear Energy Plan; Mark Mazzetti New York Times, Goodbye US AP1000, Hello China February 19, 2019 Hualong One via Pakistan Nuetron Top Trump administration officials have Bytes, February 17, 2019 pushed to build nuclear power plants The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has throughout Saudi Arabia over the vigorous long maintained that if it doesn’t get what objections of White House lawyers who it wants from a US 123 Agreement for export question the legality of the plan and the of nuclear reactor technologies, it has other ethics of a venture that could enrich options including buying Chinese Hualong Trump allies, according to a new report One PWRs, at 1100 NMW each, similar to by House Democrats released on Tuesday. the two units now being built at a coastal site in Pakistan near Karachi. The report is the most detailed portrait to date of how senior White House figures Such an scenario would be a win for China, — including Michael T. Flynn, President which would benefit from a long-standing Trump’s first national security adviser — relationship, first documented in 2003, worked with retired military officers to between KSA and Pakistan, involving KSA’s circumvent the normal policymaking financial support for Pakistan’s nuclear process to promote an export plan that weapons program. experts worried could spread nuclear weapons technology in the volatile Middle The Chinese Hualong One, a PWR at 1100 East. Administration lawyers warned that MW is comparable in electrical power output the nuclear exports plan — called the to the Westinghouse AP1000 at 1150 MW. Middle East Marshall Plan — could violate For its part, the US reiterated at the Munich laws meant to stop nuclear proliferation Security Conference on Feb 16 that the U.S. and raised concerns about Mr. Flynn’s will not open door to Saudi Arabia building conflicts of interest. nuclear weapons by abandoning the “gold https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/19/us/ standard” set with a similar agreement with politics/trump-saudi-arabia-nuclear-power.html the United Arab Emirates. 23 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

The Marine Corps Wants to Be Able Zarif decries ‘US hypocrisy’ over to Sink Enemy Warships (With An planned nuclear sale to Saudis F-35 Assist), David Axe, The National Aljazeera, February 20, 2019 Interest February 19 2019 Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad he U.S. Marine Corps wants new missiles Javad Zarif accused the US of hypocracy so its forces can help the U.S. Navy to sink for allegedly attempting to sell nuclear enemy ships. “There’s a ground component technology to Saudi to the maritime fight,” Gen. Robert Neller, Arabia while Washington tries to wreck the Marine Corps commandant, said at a Iran’s nuclear programme. February 2019 conference in San Diego. “First a dismembered journalist; now illicit “We’re a naval force in a naval campaign,” sale of nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia Neller said. “You have to help the ships fully expose #US Hypocrisy,” Zarif added, control sea space. And you can do that from referring to the killing of Saudi the land.” Neller said land-based sea-control writer Jamal Khashoggi at the hands of forces would complement, not replace, Saudi agents, and the new report by a US Marine aircraft operating in the anti-ship congressional committee on the planned role. technology sale

Marine units with anti-ship missiles could .https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/02/zarif- spread out across islands in order to control decries-hypocrisy-planned-nuclear-sale-saudis- strategic ocean checkpoints. “So there’s a lot 190220100506949.html of geographical chokepoints, and you know what they are, and the potential adversaries Trump’s Idea of a Middle East know what they are,” Neller said. “So if you Nuclear Deal The New York Times get there first and you can control that space, February 20, 2019 then you have an operational advantage.” An interim report from the House “Fortifying the offshore island chain while Oversight Committee paints a familiar deploying naval assets in adjoining waters picture of Trump associates skirting the could yield major strategic gains on the law to curry favor with people who can cheap,” James Holmes, a professor at the make them richer. This time, the dealing Naval War College in Rhode Island, advised doesn’t involve Russians but Saudis, and in 2014. “Doing so is common sense.” it is not about a lavish tower in Moscow but the sale of nuclear power reactors. The Marines’ new missile should be compatible with Navy ships, Neller stressed. The United States has long been a leader “This is the same type of stuff you’d want in nuclear technology, the sale of which is to put on a ship.” The Corps could team up governed by bilateral pacts, called ”123 with the Navy to test the new weapon, agreements,”which require adherence to Neller pointed out. The need is urgent, nine nonproliferation criteria. Some 21 according to the commandant. “The countries, the European Union and the urgency is just the situation security-wise we International Atomic Energy Agency have find ourselves in the world.” China rapidly these agreements. is modernizing and growing its maritime forces and exerting more and more pressure https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/20/opinion/ trump-saudi-arabia-nuclear-technology.html on U.S. allies in disputed waters in the China Seas. A Big Reason America Needs the https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/marine- F-35: Russia Would Crush the A-10 corps-wants-be-able-sink-enemy-warships-f-35- Warthog Dave Majumdar, The National assist-45042 Interest, February 22, 2019 In a military confrontation against the Kremlin in the European theatre, the A- 24 Volume 11, Number 05 March 15, 2019

10 would not be able to get close enough to The Pentagon wants to boldly go a Russian Ground Forces’ motor rifle brigade where no nuclear reactor has gone (MRB)—the most common Russian before Edwin Lyman Bulletin of the mechanized unit—to engage because of their Atomic Scientists, February 22, 2019 heavy organic air defenses. In January, the Defense Department Assuming the F-35B is able to survive against issued a call for information in support of Russian air defenses, four jets flying four the aptly titled Project Dilithium. It seeks sorties per day could potentially devastate to develop a tiny, readily transportable, yet a Russian armored brigade.Given the virtually indestructible nuclear power Russian threat, the United States Air Force reactor for use at forward operating bases, should consider adopting some number of the military facilities that provide logistical F-35B wings for the European theater. The and troop support to the front-lines of United States Air Force recently issued a conflict zones. request for proposals (RFP) for a program called the A-10 Thunderbolt Advanced- The Pentagon presumably chose the name Wing Continuation Kit—or ATTACK—to to convey a futuristic image—at least, to fit new wings onto the venerable close air the Star Trek aficionados among us. Make support jet. no mistake, however: The project, with its naïve optimism that such reactors “have Once the Air Force selects a vendor, there the potential to be an across-the-board would be a contracting period followed by strategic game changer,” is less Captain five years of firm orders plus options for two James T. Kirk and more Lieutenant more years of production. The Air Force General Samuel D. Sturgis, who founded intends to order the kit as an indefinite the now-defunct Army Nuclear Power quantity contract—which the service defines Program more than sixty years ago. as having contract minimum of the first article plus three Low Rate Initial Project Dilithium’s name isn’t its only Production articles. The maximum science fiction-related aspect. To be sure, production number would be 112 each of the type of reactor it is seeking could be a wing sets and 15 kits. The winning bidder great military asset: all the benefits of would not have to deliver the first low rate nuclear energy with none of the risks. The production kits until 2029. costly and dangerous process of trucking diesel fuel to bases, sometimes through The kits would not be sufficient to re-wing hostile territory, may eventually be a thing all of the so-called “thin wing” A-10s, but of the past. Unfortunately, the need to the order quantity and timing would be store and ship irradiated nuclear fuel in a enough to keep enough Warthogs flying in war zone will introduce different problems. six super-sized squadrons into the 2040s. And the odds that a meltdown-proof That means that out of the roughly 280 A- reactor could be successfully developed 10s in service, about 80 jets would be retired any time soon are vanishingly small. eventually. But the Air Force is only keeping the Warthog in service because of pressure https://thebulletin.org/2019/02/the-pentagon- from the U.S. Congress, which has refused wants-to-boldly-go-where-no-nuclear-reactor- to allow the service to retire the A-10. has-gone-before-it-wont-work/ Instead, the Boeing F-15C Eagle is likely going to be on the chopping block.

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/big-reason- america-needs-f-35-russia-would-crush-10- warthog-45297 25 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

TRUMP -KIM SUMMIT Threatening U.S., Putin Promises Russians Both Missiles and Butter House Dems reveal new info on a Neil MacFarquhar The New York Times, shady White House plan to sell February 20, 2019 nuclear tech to Saudi Arabia Michael Flynn, Trump’s disgraced President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia former national security adviser, facing an economically beleaguered, less- supportive public used his annual state- was behind it. Alex WardVox, of-the-nation speech on Wednesday to February 19, 2019 promise a raft of social spending, while A new report from House Democrats reveals also doubling down on threats against the disturbing new details about a secretive United States. effort by top Trump administration officials Mr. Putin said Washington was fueling a to sell sensitive nuclear technology to Saudi new arms race by withdrawing from a Arabia — in defiance of at least some of the landmark nuclear weapons treaty and nation’s ethics statutes. possibly deploying new missiles in Europe. The House Oversight and Reform Committee Without mentioning any country in on Tuesday released a report — particular, he warned that if American accompanied by a tranche of internal White missiles were deployed on the continent, House emails — detailing a scheme within a few minutes’ flight of his country, spearheaded by now-disgraced former Russia would aim its weapons at those National Security Adviser Michael Flynn to missiles and at targets in the United States. sell technology for roughly 40 nuclear power Over all, Mr. Putin’s approval rating has plants to Saudi Arabia. The plan was dropped sharply in the last year, initially already known due to previous reporting by prompted by raising the retirement age but the Wall Street Journal, for example, but the also fueled by five years of dropping real Democrats’ report does add more insight incomes, higher prices and a variety of new into what was happening behind the scenes taxes. Mr. Putin seemed to be trying to to push the proposal through. The effort was address all those grievances with his part of a broader Middle East economic laundry list of promises. development plan Flynn began putting together before Trump’s inauguration while https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/20/world/ he was serving as an adviser to Trump’s europe/russia-missile-threat.html campaign and transition team. North Korea’s Kim shuffles During that same time period, though, Flynn was also working as an adviser for a private nuclear talks team after company called IP3 International — a firm defections, spying allegations run by retired US military generals that bills Hyonhee Shin, Reuters, February 20, 2019 itself as a “global enterprise to develop Veteran North Korean diplomats are being sustainable energy and security sidelined from nuclear talks ahead of a infrastructure.” In other words, a company second summit with the United States as that had a clear financial interest in recent defections and allegations of spying exporting US nuclear energy technology to undermine the trust of leader Kim Jong Un, Saudi Arabia. Once Trump was South Korean officials and experts say. inaugurated, Flynn, along with longtime Trump associate Thomas Barrack, worked Kim has purged and replaced many top with other senior officials in the new Trump diplomats and officials who served his administration to make the plan a reality. father and grandfather with new, younger advisors as he gears up to meet https://www.vox.com/world/2019/2/19/18231812/ saudi-arabia-nuclear-flynn-trump-democrats 26 Volume 11, Number 05 March 15, 2019

U.S. President Donald Trump in Vietnam research reactors, Mo-99 has a half-life of next week. only 66 hours and cannot be stockpiled, and security of supply is a key concern. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea- Most of the world’s supply currently usa-diplomats-analysis/north-koreas-kim-shuffles- comes from just four reactors in Belgium, nuclear-talks-team-after-defections-spying- the Netherlands, Russia and South Africa, allegations-idUSKCN1Q90HN and recent years have illustrated how unexpected shutdowns at any of those SMR-160 attracts Ukrainian and US reactors can quickly lead to shortages. attention World Nuclear News, Furthermore, most Mo-99 is currently February 21, 2019 produced from HEU targets, which are seen as a potential nuclear proliferation risk. The SMR-160 application is under review by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/ and is in Phase 1 of the three-phase Four-US-companies-chosen-for-Mo-99-produc- evaluation cycle. State Nuclear Regulatory tion-fund Inspectorate of Ukraine, the nuclear regulatory authority in Ukraine, is expected Czech PM outlines nuclear to coordinate its regulatory assessment of expansion with state control over SMR-160 under a collaborative arrangement construction Robert Muller, Reuters, with its Canadian counterpart. February 21, 2019 Energoatom President Yury Nedashkovsky Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis on announced plans to establish a consortium Thursday outlined the government’s plan with Holtec and Ukraine’s national nuclear to build a number of nuclear reactors, consultant, State Scientific and Technical saying the state should control Centre for Nuclear and Radiation Safety construction so it can halt the expansion (SSTC-NRS), to explore the environmental should power prices fail to support the and technical feasibility of qualifying a project. The government expects to sign a ‘generic’ SMR-160 system that can be built contract with majority state-owned CEZ and operated at any candidate site in the to build one or more new reactors at country “with absolute assurance of public Dukovany, with a tender towards the end health and safety” A formal announcement of 2020 and a supplier chosen by 2024. of the adoption of the terms of engagement for the consortium is expected shortly. Babis said the government would not provide CEZ an unlimited state guarantee http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/ and that the utility would cover any extra SMR-160-attracts-Ukrainian-and-US-attention costs not generated by the state or foreign regulators. “The basic aim of the state Four US companies chosen for Mo- should be to take control of construction 99 production funding World Nuclear of new nuclear capacity,” Babis told a News, February 21, 2019 nuclear conference. “The state would get such control by signing a contract with The US Department of Energy’s National CEZ on construction.” “It is simpler and Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) more favourable for customers than state has selected four companies to begin guarantees, which would in fact amount negotiations for potential new cooperative to a blank cheque.” agreement awards for the supply of molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) without using The government has been considering how highly enriched uranium (HEU). to fund a multi-billion-dollar expansion of CEZ’s nuclear power plants, before some Mo-99 is used in hospitals to produce the units reach the end of their lifetime. CEZ technetium-99m employed in around 80% has balked at starting a tender without of nuclear imaging procedures. Produced in receiving state guarantees but Babis has 27 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

said the company, Central Europe’s largest North Korea’s Kim: I don’t want listed utility, can handle the project itself. my children to bear burden of https://www.reuters.com/article/czech-nuclear/ nuclear arms – report, Jack Kim, update-1-czech-pm-outlines-nuclear-expansion- Reuters, February 23, 2019 with-state-control-over-construction- idUSL5N20G3O4 North Korean leader Kim Jong Un told the U.S. secretary of state he did not want his What to Expect at the Second North children to live with the burden of nuclear Korea Summit.Trump, Kim, and the weapons, a former CIA officer involved Dangers of Bromance Diplomacy in high-level diplomacy over the North’s weapons was quoted as saying on Victor Cha and Katrin Fraser Katz, Foreign Saturday. Kim made the rare personal Affairs Korea, February 22, 2019 comments to Mike Pompeo during a visit s U.S. President Donald Trump and North to the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, Korean leader Kim Jong Un geared up for a in April last year to lay the groundwork historic face-to-face meeting in Singapore for the historic first summit between the last June, one question loomed large: Would North’s leader and U.S. President Donald the two return to the bluster that had Trump in June in Singapore, former CIA characterized their relationship in 2017? official Andrew Kim said, South Korea’s That year, a steady drumbeat of North Yonhap news agency and the Wall Street Korean nuclear and missile tests had Journal reported. “‘I’m a father and a prompted the United States to talk of husband. And I have children’,” Andrew “bloody nose” military strikes to compel Kim Kim quoted the North Korean leader as to denuclearize. telling Pompeo, when asked whether he was willing to end his nuclear None of this was optimal. But history program.”‘And I don’t want my children suggests that there are no perfect outcomes to carry the nuclear weapon on their back between the United States and North their whole life.’ Korea—only suboptimal and terrible ones. And Trump did accomplish some good things That was his answer,” Andrew Kim told in Singapore. He secured a commitment from a lecture on Friday at Stanford Kim to repatriate the remains of U.S. troops University’s Asia Pacific Research Center, killed in the Korean War, and he established where he is a visiting scholar. Before he the basis for a trusting relationship, itself a retired from the CIA, Kim established the prerequisite for any diplomatic process that agency’s Korea Mission Center, in April might lead to denuclearization or lasting 2017, and accompanied Pompeo - who peace. Equally significant, the summit did was then CIA director - to Pyongyang last not end with either leader abruptly walking year. In their Singapore summit, Kim and away from the negotiations, which could have Trump pledged to work toward peace precipitated a devastating war. between their countries and for the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. Of all these pros and cons coming out of the Singapore summit, the surprising affection https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea- that has evolved between Trump and Kim usa-kim/north-koreas-kim-i-dont-want-my- has proved to be the biggest game changer. children-to-bear-burden-of-nuclear-arms-report- Although the long-term impact of this idUSKCN1QC0CZ unusual relationship remains to be seen, it is already reshaping the diplomatic At the Trump-Kim summit in landscape—in ways that put Trump in a Hanoi, expect a bad small deal The distinctly disadvantaged position as he Economist, February 23, 2019 heads into Hanoi. After their made-for-television spectacular https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/north- last June in Singapore, Donald Trump and korea/2019-02-22/what-expect-second-north- Kim Jong Un needed another gig. A second korea-summit 28 Volume 11, Number 05 March 15, 2019

summit between the American president After Putin’s warning, Russian TV and North Korea’s dictator will take place lists nuclear targets in U.S. Andrew on February 27th and 28th in Hanoi, the Osborn, Reuters, February 25, 2019 Vietnamese capital. The choice of venue is intriguing. For America, Vietnam’s Russian state television has listed U.S. Communist Party is foe turned buddy, and military facilities that Moscow would it has blazed a trail of market reforms in the target in the event of a nuclear strike, and country. Mr Kim, presumably, is expected said that a hypersonic missile Russia is to look and learn. But he has steadfastly developing would be able to hit them in refused to emulate Vietnam’s economic less than five minutes. transformation. And, though Mr Trump has confessed to falling in love with the young The United States says it has no immediate despot, North Korea and America have only plans to deploy such missiles in Europe just started dating. For Mr Kim, Vietnam and has dismissed Putin’s warnings as may just be a country that defeated the disingenuous propaganda. It does not United States. currently have ground-based intermediate- range nuclear missiles that it could place in https://www.economist.com/asia/2019/02/23/at- Europe. the-trump-kim-summit-in-hanoi-expect-a-bad- small-deal Kiselyov, who is close to the Kremlin, said the “Tsirkon” (‘Zircon’) hypersonic missile Trump’s cronies are in secret talks that Russia is developing could hit the to sell nuclear tech to Saudi. The targets in less than five minutes if launched from Russian submarines. Hypersonic risks are clear Simon Tisdall, The flight is generally taken to mean traveling Guardian, February 23, 2019 through the atmosphere at more than five The idea that the US might sell state-of-the- times the speed of sound. art nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-nuclear- potentially enabling Crown Prince russia/after-putins-warning-russian-tv-lists- Mohammed bin Salman’s reckless regime to nuclear-targets-in-us-idUSKCN1QE1DM build nuclear weapons, sounds so far- fetched as to be almost grotesque. (US-NK summit) Political parties The inquiry’s interim findings, published last express hope for success of Trump- week by newly empowered Democrats on Kim summit Yonhap February 25, 2019 the House of Representatives’ oversight The ruling Democratic Party (DP) and committee, were based in part on testimony four opposition parties on Monday from “multiple” whistleblowers, its authors adopted a joint statement expressing their said. They focus in particular on two high- support for this week’s summit between profile figures – Jared Kushner, Trump’s son- the leaders of the United States and North in-law and Middle East envoy, and General Korea. Michael Flynn, his former national security adviser. Both have featured prominently in The floor leaders of the five parties voiced Robert Mueller’s almost completed federal hope that a second summit between U.S. probe into the Trump campaign’s dealings President Donald Trump and North with Russia. The committee said it would Korean leader Kim Jong-un, set for urgently expand its inquiry “to determine Wednesday and Thursday in Hanoi, could whether the actions being pursued by the set a “new milestone” for North Korea’s Trump administration are in the national denuclearization. “We welcome the security interests of the US or, rather, serve smooth preparation for a second U.S.- those who stand to gain financially”. North Korea summit to be held in Hanoi and wish for the success of the talks with https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/feb/23/ the international community,” the trump-cronies-secret-talks-nuclear-tech-saudi-arabia statement said. 29 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

They said the upcoming summit should Korean, Czech companies proceed based on a strong alliance between strengthen cooperation World South Korea and the U.S. and that close Nuclear News, February 26, 2019 coordination with relevant countries is needed down the road. “We strongly hope South Korea’s Kepco Engineering & the summit can set a new milestone for North Construction Company has signed an Korea’s complete denuclearization and agreement with Czech engineering firm permanent peace of the Korean Peninsula,” UJV Rez to strengthen their cooperation it said.The National Assembly will closely in nuclear power plant projects.Kepco monitor the outcome of the summit and take E&C said it had already carried out many bipartisan action if needed, it added. activities with UJV Rez, including hosting a nuclear technology exchange workshop. https://en.yna.co.kr/view/ It said it hoped to establish more concrete AEN20190225006800315 cooperation with the Czech company through a memorandum of understanding Regulator concludes Finnish EPR (MoU) signed yesterday. Under the MoU, can operate safely World Nuclear News the two companies will carry out mutual February 26, 2019 workforce and technology exchanges for research and development to bolster Finland’s Radiation and Nuclear Safety technical cooperation and joint business Authority (Stuk) yesterday informed the development. They will also expand government it sees no reason why an technical cooperation for new nuclear operating licence for the first-of-a-kind EPR power generation, as well as jointly at Olkiluoto should not be granted to utility develop new technology to enhance the Teollisuuden Voima Oyj (TVO).TVO safety of nuclear power plants. submitted its 130,000-page application to the Finnish Ministry of Employment and the Kepco E&C said, “Through this MoU, the Economy (TEM) in April 2016. The company has established a practical application contained information on, cooperation system with UJV Rez in the among other things, the technical and field of nuclear power plant design and operational safety principles, arrangement research, and has set up an opportunity for nuclear waste management, and details for localisation in the future for new of TVO’s expertise and financial position. nuclear power plant orders.”The Korean company noted that it will acquire In addition to seeking approval to operate technology experience of the Russian Olkiluoto 3 for an initial 20-year period (from VVER pressurised water reactors the beginning of 2018 to the end of 2038), operating in the Czech Republic. For UJV TVO’s application also seeks permission to Rez, there are expected to be opportunities use the existing on-site interim storage for major equipment replacement orders facilities for the used fuel and other from Korean nuclear power plants. Kepco radioactive wastes that will be generated by E&C - which built South Korea’s fleet of the unit over this period. The application 14 nuclear power plants - said it intends does not concern the use of final disposal to further strengthen its cooperation with facilities for nuclear wastes.The application other Czech nuclear-related organisations. has been reviewed by Stuk, as well as several ministries and certain other authorities and http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/ communities. Stuk has now given its overall Korean,-Czech-companies-strengthen-cooperation safety assessment for the application, while the others will submit statements to TEM. 4 Ways North Korea Fell Short of The Finnish government will make a Its Nuclear Promises After the decision on TVO’s application based on the First Trump-Kim Summit, Abigail ministry’s recommendations. Abrams Time, February 26, 2019 http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Regula- After a summit in Singapore with North tor-concludes-Finnish-EPR-can-operate-safely Korean dictator Kim Jong Un last summer, 30 Volume 11, Number 05 March 15, 2019

President Donald Trump tweeted that of all its weapons for its mass destruction “there is no longer a nuclear threat from programmes, as well as produce a North Korea.” As he heads to a second roadmap and concrete plan of action on summit in Vietnam this week, Trump has how it sets about achieving that goal. continued to lavish praise on Kim, but he has dialed down some of the claims. Other Apart from the easing of sanctions and a U.S. officials, including Secretary of State declaration formally ending the Korean Mike Pompeo, have said they hope to War, North Korea is also calling for the achieve more “real demonstrable, verifiable” relaunching of some inter-Korean steps this time around. economic projects and the opening of a US liaison office in Pyongyang, according to North Korea is still making fuel for nuclear Biegun. weapons https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/02/ Soon after Trump and Kim met in Singapore, 190226020435999.html analysts began to raise questionsabout how much progress was really being made. Few Summit collapse clouds future of expected North Korea to make drastic U.S.-North Korea nuclear changes right away, but it soon became clear diplomacy Jeff Mason, Hyonhee Shin, that many aspects of the country’s nuclear Reuters, February 28, 2019 weapons program were running business as usual. A second summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader “North Korea is never going to unilaterally Kim Jong Un collapsed on Thursday over give up their nuclear weapons as long as the sanctions, and the two sides gave political relationship with the United States conflicting accounts of what happened, stays the same,” she said. “Until there is an raising questions about the future of their actual change in the nature of the denuclearisation negotiations. relationship that helps justify them going down that path and there are some tangible Trump said two days of talks in the benefits, that are not only promised but have Vietnamese capital Hanoi had made good started to be received, we’re not getting to progress in building relations and on the the end of the road.” main issue of denuclearisation, but it was important not to rush into a bad deal. He http://time.com/5537298/north-korea-summit- said he had walked away because of nuclear-program/ unacceptable North Korean demands.

Trump-Kim summit 2.0: What you “It was all about the sanctions,” Trump need to know Faraz Ghani, Aljazèera, told a news conference after the talks were February 26, 2019 cut short. “Basically, they wanted the sanctions lifted in their entirety, and we Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un are due to couldn’t do that.” However, North Korean meet in Hanoi, Vietnam, this week, more Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho told a news than eight months after their landmark first conference past midnight and hours after summit in Singapore. Heading into the talks Trump left Hanoi that North Korea had on Wednesday and Thursday, officials from sought only a partial lifting of sanctions both the United States and North Korea “related to people’s livelihoods and have not disclosed details about the focus of unrelated to military sanctions”. the meetings. https://in.reuters.com/article/northkorea-usa/ As Trump has made clear, the US is seeking trump-and-kim-hold-second-day-of-summit-in- an assurance from North Korea that it will hanoi-idINKCN1QG2ZY stop testing its nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. It also wants Pyongyang to get rid 31 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

The art of no deal: how Trump and ‘Sometimes you just have to walk’: Kim misread each other, Julian Borger, Trump and Kim fail to reach nuke The Guardian, February 28, 2019 deal at second summit Jesse Johnson, Japan Times, February 28, 2019 As with many disastrous second dates, the collapse of Donald Trump’s summit with “Sometimes you just have to walk.”That Kim Jong-un was made inevitable by the was how U.S. President Donald Trump misreading of each other’s intentions at their explained the stunning breakdown in first encounter. Since their initial meeting in nuclear talks between him and North Singapore last June, the US president had Korean leader Kim Jong Un In Tokyo, become fixated on what he saw as a close Prime Minister Shinzo Abe praised Trump personal bond with the North Korean after the news for “not striking an easy dictator half his age In North Korea, compromise” on the denuclearization however, the phrase is a routine regime issue. “With a strong determination to slogan that refers to a gradual defusing of realize denuclearization, (Trump) didn’t tensions on the peninsula and phased strike an easy compromise,” Abe told multilateral disarmament, during which reporters after a telephone conversation North Korea would be treated as a nuclear with the U.S. president. “I support Mr. power. Trump’s decision.”

For his part, Kim appears to have come away The prime minister also said Trump had from Singapore interpreting Trump’s explained Abe’s stance on the issue of gushing behaviour as sign of a desperation Japanese nationals abducted by North to strike a deal, which would potentially Korean agents during the one-on-one leave most of his arsenal in place while meeting with Kim. normalising relations with the US and lifting sanctions. These wildly different perceptions “Next, I myself must face chairman Kim collided painfully in Hanoi, where the two Jong Un” to resolve issues related to Japan, leaders discovered each other not to be the he said. Abe has made addressing the ideal partner they had previously imagined. issue of Japanese nationals kidnapped by North Korean agents in the 1970s and https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/28/ 1980s one of his administration’s top how-donald-trump-kim-jong-un-misread-each- priorities.Despite the talks’ breakdown, other-hanoi-summit some analysts said Tokyo “will not be unhappy with this outcome.” Trump Made Decision Not to Sign Joint Statement With N Korea’s Kim “While sanguine publicly, the Abe – Pompeo Sputnik, February 28, 2019 government would have been worried about the prospect of Trump cutting a side Earlier in the day, the US and North Korea deal with Kim that limited threats to the failed to reach an agreement after the second continental U.S. … but not those to Japan meeting between North Korean leader Kim in the form of Nodong delivery systems,” Jong-un and US President Donald Trump. Andrew O’Neil, an expert on North Korea According to Mike Pompeo, US President and a professor at Griffith University in Donald Trump has made the decision not Australia, said in reference to to sign a joint statement with North Korea. intercontinental ballistic missiles and Pompeo added that a date hasn’t been set shorter-range Nodong weapons that Tokyo for next working-level meeting on North views as a top threat. Korea, because it may take a little while as both sides need to regroup. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/02/28/ asia-pacific/politics-diplomacy-asia-pacific/ https://sputniknews.com/asia/ trump-says-hes-no-rush-nuclear-deal-second- 201902281072836504-trump-north-korea-usa- meeting-north-koreas-kim/#.XIXJ0JgvO7h kim/ 32 Volume 11, Number 05 March 15, 2019

Trump says Kim promised not to maps Sunday showing how Russian test nuclear weapons, missiles missiles could reach targets in the U.S. Reuters, February 28, 2019 https://www.foxnews.com/world/russian-choir- U.S. President Donald Trump said on draws-criticism-over-performance-describing- Thursday had still wanted to keep his nuclear-attack-on-u-s relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who had promised not to test Russia nuclear weapons or rockets. Trump was A Nuclear Arms Race Will talking to reporters after his second summit Mikhail with Kim, held in the Vietnamese capital, Produce No Winners ended without any agreements being Gorbachev, The Moscow Times, finalised. February 14, 2019 That INF Treaty was the first step, and it https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea- was followed by others — the Strategic usa-trump-kim-nuclear/trump-says-kim-prom- ised-not-to-test-nuclear-weapons-missiles- Arms Reduction Treaty (START I) and idUSKCN1QH0YS mutual steps towards eliminating a significant part of all tactical nuclear Russian choir draws criticism over weapons. The two states revised their performance describing nuclear military doctrines to reduce their reliance on nuclear weapons, slashing their attack on U.S., Louis Casiano, Fox News, number by more than 80 percent from February 28, 2019 their highpoint during the Cold War. The Russian Orthodox Church expressed I would like to address all Americans, and regret over a choir performance that particularly the Republican and featured a satirical Soviet-era song Democratic members of Congress. It is describing a nuclear attack on the United unfortunate that the divisive domestic States in the midst of heightened tensions political situation in the U.S. in recent between Washington and Moscow. The Feb. years has led to the breakdown of the 23 performance by the St. Petersburg entire U.S.-Russian dialogue, including on Concert Choir at the historic St. Isaac’s nuclear weapons. It is time to overcome Cathedral attracted widespread attention inter-party disagreements and begin after it was posted on social media. serious talks. I am confident that Russia is During its performance to mark Defending open for them. the Fatherland Day, the choir sang an https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2019/02/14/ untitled song from 1980 that described Soviet mikhail-gorbachev-a-nuclear-arms-race-will- submariners and bomber pilots preparing to produce-no-winners-op-ed-a64491 launch a nuclear strike at the U.S. “for three rubles.” The lyrics include the lines: “On a Russian nuclear-capable bombers submarine with an atomic motor/ And with a dozen bombs of a hundred megatons / fly over Sea of Japan: Ifax Reuters, Crossed the Atlantic and I call on the February 15, 2019 gunner: / “Aim, I say, at the city of Nuclear-capable Russian bombers carried Washington!” out a training flight over the Sea of Japan, prompting Tokyo to scramble air force In his state of the nation speech last week, planes to intercept them, the Interfax news Russian President Vladimir Putin warned agency cited the Russian defense ministry the U.S. not to deploy missiles to Europe, as saying on Friday. Japanese fighter jets saying Russia would respond with new accompanied the Russian bombers for weaponry designed to reach targets quickly. parts of their more than 15-hour flight, That was followed by Dmitry Kiselyov, the which also passed over the Sea of Okhotsk Kremlin’s top propagandist, who displayed 33 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

and eastern parts of the Pacific Ocean, the Are Trump and Putin Opening ministry was quoted as saying. Pandora’s Box? Theodore Postol, The https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-japan- New York Times, February 19, 2019 bombers/russian-nuclear-capable-bombers-fly-over- One particularly difficult aspect of this sea-of-japan-ifax-idUSKCN1Q41PN situation is that the Russians and the Americans each accuse the other of Why Russia is standing aloof on the flouting the treaty’s purpose in Europe by Korean Peninsula, Artyom Lukin, East planning for, or deploying, nuclear- Asia Forum, February 16, 2019 capable weaponry that could have a dual use — defensive on its face but potentially Moscow did host the first ever Russia– offensive after quick modification. It is fair China–North Korea trilateral at the vice to say that each side has given the other a foreign minister level in October 2018. reason to fear its ultimate intent and that Russia is also calling for the easing of Americans must take the Russian position sanctions on North Korea to reward seriously. Unless both sides back away Pyongyang for its peaceful gestures such as from their threats, accusations and the nuclear and missile testing moratorium. suppositions about the other side, both will be in peril if the treaty is abandoned. Russia’s relative passivity on the Korean Peninsula is also explained by Russia’s Facts support the Russian position. This limited economic resources. Moscow cannot reality must be taken into account if the afford to generously subsidise North Korea United States and Russia (and possibly as China does through oil supplies and other other countries) are to agree on continued means. It is notable that Moscow denies as control of intermediate-range missiles. ’stupid’ the reports that Russia offered to Both sides must stop and think about the build a nuclear power plant in North Korea common and avoidable danger they are in exchange for Pyongyang’s abandonment creating by clinging to arguments about of nuclear weapons. According to Russian each getting some inconsequential military officials, Moscow is not able to make North advantage. In fact, existing nuclear Korea a gift as expensive as a nuclear power weapons systems can do anything plant worth several billion dollars. imaginable, and much more that is unimaginable. It is the unimaginable Even though this strategy has never been capabilities of these weapons that must spelled out officially or publicly, the Kremlin take center stage when considering the appears to have chosen to refrain from giant and still unknown terrors and threats balancing China in East Asia. Mongolia is they pose to global stability and the only East Asian nation that can count humanity’s future. on Russian security guarantees vis-a-vis China. Most of East Asia lies outside the area https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/19/opinion/ of Russia’s vital interests. Russia’s overriding inf-treaty-missile-defense.html priority there is purely defensive: keeping sovereignty over the geopolitically Zambia Keen on Expanding vulnerable Russian Far East. As long as Nuclear Energy Cooperation With Russia remains a formidable military and nuclear power, its Far Eastern territories are Russia – Foreign Min. Sputnik News safe against aggression from any potential February 20, 2019 predator, be it China or anyone else. In 2017, Russia and Zambia signed a deal https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2019/02/16/why- to cooperate in the construction of a russia-is-standing-aloof-on-the-korean-peninsula/ nuclear science and technology centre in Zambia, which is expected to begin in 2019. Sputnik spoke on the issue as well as on additional prospects for cooperation 34 Volume 11, Number 05 March 15, 2019

between the two countries with Zambian “propaganda designed to divert attention Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Malanji. from what Washington alleges are Moscow’s violations of the Intermediate- https://sputniknews.com/interviews/ range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. 201902201072592429-zambia-cooperation-russia- nuclear-energy/ https://in.reuters.com/article/russia-putin-usa- missiles/moscow-ready-to-cut-time-for-nuclear- Moscow ready to cut time for strike-on-u-s-if-necessary-putin- nuclear strike on U.S. if necessary - idINKCN1Q918Q Putin Andrew Osborn, Katya Golubkova, Putin’s warning on missiles in Reuters, February 20, 2019 Europe pushes U.S. and Russia Moscow will match any U.S. move to deploy closer to new arms race Sabra Ayres new nuclear missiles closer to Russia by And David S. Cloud, LA Times, stationing its own missiles closer to the February 20, 2019 United States or by deploying faster missiles or both, President Vladimir Putin said. Putin Russian President Vladimir Putin warned said Russia was not seeking confrontation the Trump administration Wednesday and would not take the first step to deploy against basing intermediate-range missiles missiles in response to Washington’s decision in Europe, saying that Moscow would this month to quit a landmark Cold War- respond by deploying new weapons of its era arms control treaty. own that could directly target Washington.

But in his toughest remarks yet on a potential Although the threat did not mark a new arms race, he said Russia’s reaction to change in Russian doctrine, it raised the any deployment would be resolute and that ante in what could be a new arms race U.S. policymakers, some of whom he between the two countries.Russia and the accused of being obsessed with U.S. United States already have stockpiles of exceptionalism, should calculate the risks hundreds of nuclear-armed missiles before taking any steps. “It’s their right to capable of reaching each other’s territory, think how they want. But can they count? a vestige of Cold War hostilities. But I’m sure they can. Let them count the speed Putin’s annual state of the nation address and the range of the weapons systems we to both houses of parliament and his are developing,” Putin told Russia’s political government ministries was a warning that elite to strong applause. a nuclear-armed standoff between the two countries appears in danger of returning. “Russia will be forced to create and deploy It came less than a month after President types of weapons which can be used not only Trump said the United States was in respect of those territories from which the withdrawing from the 1987 Intermediate direct threat to us originates, but also in Nuclear Force Treaty, a landmark Cold respect of those territories where the centres War agreement that lessened tensions of decision-making are located,” he said. between Moscow and Washington but “These weapons, by their tactical and which the U.S now says Moscow is technical specifications, including their flight violating. time to the command centres I’m talking about, will fully correspond to the threats Russia is not looking for confrontation and that will be directed against Russia.” The remains open to arms control talks with U.S. State Department said Washington was Washington, but Moscow will respond to not developing “exotic new nuclear any threats to its security, Putin said.In weapons delivery systems” and repeated its theory, the U.S. and its allies will be free claim that Russia violates the INF treaty to base missiles in Europe once the U.S. while the United States does not. In completes its pullout from the INF treaty Washington, the U.S. State Department in April. Putin’s bellicose speech appeared dismissed Putin’s comments as to be a warning against any move by the 35 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

Trump administration to return U.S. Advanced coastal defense missile medium-range missiles to Europe. systems to protect Russia’s https://www.latimes.com/world/europe/la-fg- Caspian Flotilla base, Military & russia-putin-20190220-story.html Defense TASS Russian News Agency February 22, 2019 Russia to Replace Damaged S-400 The Bal coastal defense missile system is Missile Shipment to China Missile armed with Kh-35 subsonic low-altitude Defense Project, The Center for Strategic and anti-ship missiles and is capable of International Studies, February 20, 2019 destroying enemy ground and naval On February 18, Sergey Chemezov, CEO of targets at a range of about 130 km Russian defense contractor Rostec, revealed A battalion of the Bal coastal defense that a ship delivering S-400 missiles to China missile systems has arrived at the Caspian was damaged in a storm in the English Flotilla base in Dagestan in North Channel. The shipment was one of three Caucasus, Commander of Russia’s total ships delivering the 40N6 interceptors Southern Military District Alexander to China, the other two successfully Dvornikov said on Friday. The battalion’s completing the delivery. Chemezov main task is to protect the places of the confirmed that all of the 40N6 missiles on stationing of Caspian Flotilla warships and board were discovered to be damaged after units on the republic’s territory in areas reaching China. The missiles were sent back vulnerable to amphibious assaults, the to Russia and destroyed. Russia is expected commander stressed. The modernized Kh- to deliver replacement missiles to China by 35E missile with a range capability of up the end of 2020. to 300 km can be guided by a drone. https://missilethreat.csis.org/russia-to-replace- Caspian Flotilla’s new base:Russian damaged-s-400-missile-shipment-to-china/ Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said in early April 2018 that the Caspian Flotilla Russia Confirms Development of will be relocated from Astrakhan to Tsirkon Hypersonic Cruise Missile Kaspiysk. Late in June, Russian Navy Missile Defense Project, The Center for Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Koroloyov Strategic and International Studies, told journalists that the Flotilla would be February 22, 2019 moved to its new stationing place On February 20, Russian President Vladimir gradually as the necessary infrastructure Putin confirmed the country’s development was built. of the Tsirkon hypersonic cruise missile at http://tass.com/defense/1045956 his state of the nation address. President Putin said the missile will travel at Mach 9 Winning the Nuclear Game (2.06 km/s) and will have a range of 1,000 km. Compatible with the Kalibr missile Against Putin’s Russia Tobin system, the Tsirkon will be ship-launch and Harshaw, Bloomberg, February 23, 2019 sub-launch capable, designed to strike Last week I discussed nuclear game theory surface or land targets. U.S. intelligence with Vipin Narang, a professor of political have reported Russia’s testing of the Tsirkon science at MIT and author of ”Nuclear in December 2018, as well as five other tests Strategy in the Modern Era.” If we agreed since 2015, and the missile is scheduled to on one thing, it was that nuclear war is enter into service in 2022. not a game. “It’s really about a strategic logic,” Narang explained, “how your https://missilethreat.csis.org/russia-confirms- development-of-tsirkon-hypersonic-cruise-missile/ adversary behaves based on your moves and how you react to their reaction to your moves.” President Donald Trump meets 36 Volume 11, Number 05 March 15, 2019

with Kim Jong Un in Vietnam next week. I strongly anti-American tone, once saying don’t expect to see much strategic logic Moscow could turn the United States into when the self-proclaimed “best negotiator radioactive ash. Asked to comment on in the world” sits down with Kiselyov’s report, the Kremlin said on the monomaniacal leader of a starving police Monday it did not interfere in state TV’s state. I also don’t consider North Korea a editorial policy. viable nuclear threat to the U.S. or its allies. Kim may be unhinged, but he doesn’t seem With tensions rising over Russian fears that the suicidal type. the United States might deploy intermediate-range nuclear missiles in https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/ Europe as a Cold War-era arms-control 2019-02-23/winning-the-nuclear-weapons-game- treaty unravels, Putin has said Russia against-putin-s-russia would be forced to respond by placing hypersonic nuclear missiles on submarines After Putin’s warning, Russian TV near U.S. waters. The United States says lists nuclear targets in U.S. Andrew it has no immediate plans to deploy such Osborn, Reuters, February 25 2019 missiles in Europe and has dismissed Putin’s warnings as disingenuous Russian state television has listed U.S. propaganda. It does not currently have military facilities that Moscow would target ground-based intermediate-range nuclear in the event of a nuclear strike, and said that missiles that it could place in Europe. a hypersonic missile Russia is developing would be able to hit them in less than five https://in.reuters.com/article/usa-nuclear-russia/ minutes. The targets included the Pentagon after-putins-warning-russian-tv-lists-nuclear- and the presidential retreat in Camp David, targets-in-u-s-idINKCN1QE1DQ Maryland. The report, unusual even by the sometimes bellicose standards of Russian Russia’s Latest Diesel-Electric state TV, was broadcast on Sunday evening, Attack Sub to Commence Sea days after President Vladimir Putin said Trials in 2019 Franz-Stefan Gady, The Moscow was militarily ready for a “Cuban Diplomat, February 28, 2019 Missile”-style crisis if the United States wanted one. Russia second Project 677 Lada-class diesel-electric attack submarine (SSK), In the Sunday evening broadcast, Dmitry christened Kronstadt, will undergo a series Kiselyov, presenter of Russia’s main weekly of trials in 2019, the commander in chief TV news show ‘Vesti Nedeli’, showed a map of the Russian Navy, Admiral Vladimir of the United States and identified several Korolyov, told reporters during a visit to targets he said Moscow would want to hit the Rubin Central Design Bureau for in the event of a nuclear war. The targets, Marine Engineering in St. Petersburg this which Kiselyov described as U.S. month. presidential or military command centres, also included Fort Ritchie, a military training “Serial production of the non-nuclear centre in Maryland closed in 1998, Lada-class submarines continues. This McClellan, a U.S. Air Force base in year, testing will commence on the second California closed in 2001, and Jim Creek, a non-nuclear Lada-class submarine naval communications base in Washington Kronstadt, which was launched in state. September 2018,” Korolyov was quoted as saying by TASS news agency on February Kiselyov, who is close to the Kremlin, said 22. The Kronstadt, was officially launched the “Tsirkon” (‘Zircon’) hypersonic missile at the St. Petersburg-based Admiralty that Russia is developing could hit the Shipyards on September 20 thirteen years targets in less than five minutes if launched after the SSK was laid down.The from Russian submarines. Kiselyov is one of construction of the Kronstadt was was the main conduits of state television’s suspended in 2011 due to a number of 37 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

design and technical challenges, in addition of trying to “break” American sanctions to a funding shortage, and only restarted in on Iran and called on them to follow 2013. Washington in pulling out of the nuclear deal. https://thediplomat.com/2019/02/russias-latest- diesel-electric-attack-sub-to-commence-sea-trials- https://www.timesofisrael.com/merkel-warns-us- pullout-from-syria-risks-boosting-iran-russia/ in-2019/ Iran’s Zarif says there is ‘great West Asia risk’ of war with Israel Times of Pence says time has come for EU to Israel, February 17, 2019 withdraw from Iran nuclear deal Iranian FM tells Munich Security Reuters, February 16, 2019 Conference that Jerusalem is using bombing raids in Syria to instigate conflict, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence pressed flouting international law along with US. European countries on Saturday to Iran’s foreign minister said Sunday that withdraw from a nuclear deal between Iran Jerusalem is “looking for war” and that and major powers, and urged them to be the behavior of Israel and the United wary of using telecoms equipment supplied States was increasing the prospects of a by Chinese provider Huawei.”The time has conflict. come for our European partners to stand with us and with the Iranian people,” Pence Israel in recent years has carried out told the Munich Security Conference. “The hundreds of airstrikes in Syria against time has come for our European partners to targets linked to Iran, which alongside its withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal.” proxies and Russia is fighting on behalf of the regime of Syrian President Bashar “The United States has also been very clear Assad. with our security partners on the threat posed by Huawei and other Chinese telecom https://www.timesofisrael.com/irans-zarif-says- companies,” he said. “We must protect our there-is-great-risk-of-war-with-israel/ critical telecom infrastructure and America is calling on all our security partners to be Netanyahu Calls Out Gantz For vigilant”. Iran Nuclear Deal Support In https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany- Campaign Video Jerusalem Post, security-usa/pence-says-time-has-come-for-eu-to- February 17, 2019 withdraw-from-iran-nuclear-deal- idUSKCN1Q50CK Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a campaign video on his Facebook Merkel warns US pullout from Syria page last week that criticizes former IDF chief of staff Benny Gantz for supporting the risks boosting Iran, Russia The Times Iran nuclear deal. “Fact: Gantz supported the of Israel, February 16, 2019 Iran nuclear deal,” the video says German chancellor plays down differences It then shows Netanyahu speaking before with Trump administration over nuclear various groups as the narrator says, “He deal, calls accord an ‘anchor’ allowing made a speech at the American Congress, pressure on Tehran. In her remarks, Merkel sent the Mossad to Tehran to bring the also defended European powers’ decision to nuclear archive, and convinced President stand by the Iran nuclear deal, describing it Trump to exit the deal and to place as an “anchor” allowing the West to exert sanctions on Iran.” pressure. https://www.jpost.com/Israel-Elections/ US Vice President Mike Pence earlier this Netanyahu-calls-out-Gantz-for-Iran-nuclear- week accused Germany, France and Britain deal-support-in-campaign-video-580888 38 Volume 11, Number 05 March 15, 2019

Abu Dhabi arms fair opens amid Iran exporting Yemen war criticism The Associated radiopharmaceuticals to 15 Press - The Star February 17, 2019 countries Tehran Times February 19, 2019 A biennial arms fair has opened in the United Radiopharmaceuticals, or medicinal Arab Emirates as the country faces increasing radiocompounds, are a group of scrutiny over its involvement in the Saudi-led war pharmaceutical drugs which have in Yemen. While the war went unmentioned at radioactivity. Radiopharmaceuticals can be the opening ceremony of the International used as diagnostic and therapeutic agents. Defence Exhibition and Conference in Abu They emit radiation themselves, which is Dhabi on Sunday, it was clearly present in different from contrast media which absorb the theatrical show offered to spectators. In or alter external electromagnetism or it, a militia threatens an unknown country ultrasound. The main group of these with both launchpad-based and mobile compounds are the radiotracers used to ballistic missiles. Saudi Arabia has faced over diagnose dysfunction in body tissues. While 100 such launches by Yemen’s Houthi rebels not all medical isotopes are radioactive, into the kingdom. Saudi Arabia and the UAE radiopharmaceuticals are the oldest and are the leading members of a coalition that still most common such drugs. has been at war with the Iran-aligned Houthis since March 2015. The conflict that has killed Iran is a pioneer in the field of developing tens of thousands of people and caused the and producing radiopharmaceuticals in world’s worst humanitarian crisis. western Asia, Salehi said, adding that the compounds are being exported to Egypt, https://www.thestar.com/news/world/middleeast/ India, Pakistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and 2019/02/17/abu-dhabi-arms-fair-opens-amid- some European countries.Salehi went on to yemen-war-criticism.html say enemies are striving to impose sanctions on exportation of radiopharmaceuticals, Iran urges Europe to do more on however, “we don’t give up”. nuclear deal following U.S. call for withdrawal Global Times February 18, 2019 https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/433091/ Iran-exporting-radiopharmaceuticals-to-15- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad countries Zarif on Sunday urged European powers to do more to save the nuclear deal with the Michael Flynn Pushed to Share Islamic republic, and accused Washington of Nuclear Power Technology With having an “obsession” with Iran. Europe has Saudi Arabia, Report Says Haaretz to do more if it wants to preserve relations with Iran, said Zarif at the Munich Security February 20, 2019 Conference. He added that Europe needs to Senior White House officials pushed a “walk the walk” to match the talk of project to share nuclear power technology multilateralism.”Europe needs to be willing to with Saudi Arabia despite the objections get wet if it wants to swim against the dangerous of ethics and national security officials, tide of U.S. unilateralism,” he told the conference, according to a new congressional report saying that Iran for now was committed to a citing whistleblowers within the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. administration. Lawmakers from both Zarif’s speech came a day after U.S. Vice parties have expressed concerns that President Mike Pence urged Germany, Saudi Arabia could develop nuclear France and Britain to follow Washington in weapons if the U.S. technology were withdrawing from the deal and to “stop transferred without proper safeguards. undermining U.S. sanctions.” The United According to the report, the nuclear effort States had an “unhealthy fixation” or was pushed by former National Security “obsession” with Iran, said Zarif. Adviser Michael Flynn, who was fired in http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/ early 2017. Derek Harvey, a National 1139216.shtml Security Council official brought in by 39 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

Flynn, continued work on the proposal, was quoted as saying in a cabinet meeting which has remained under consideration by by the state broadcaster IRIB. “The U.S. the Trump administration. pressures on firms and banks to halt business with Iran is one hundred percent https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/flynn-pushed- a terrorist act,” he said. Trump has to-share-nuclear-power-technology-with-saudi- reimposed the sanctions with the aim of arabia-report-says-1.6955296 slashing Iranian oil sales and choking its economy in order to curb its ballistic missile Ex-Fm Official: Put Secret Iran program and its activities in the Middle Nuke Archives On Internet Yonah East, especially in the conflicts in Syria and Jeremy Bob, Jerusalem Post, February 20, 2019 Yemen. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif accused the The entire secret Iranian nuclear United States of hypocrisy for trying to archives taken by the Mossad from wreck Iran’s nuclear program while Tehran should be posted online, former seeking to sell nuclear technology to Saudi foreign ministry director-general Dore Gold Arabia, Tehran’s regional rival. said on Monday. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-usa- On the nuclear front, Amidror said that the rouhani/irans-rouhani-says-u-s-sanctions-are- Islamic Republic “didn’t jump yet into the terrorist-act-idUSKCN1Q90ZO nuclear area, but is building long-range missiles and the next generation of Iran still holding up its end of centrifuges” to enrich uranium for a bomb. nuclear deal, IAEA report shows Further, he said that the secret nuclear Francois Murphy, Reuters, archives Iran kept have proven it will not February 22, 2019 give up the goal of developing nuclear The International Atomic Energy Agency weapons, since that was the only reason it is policing the deal, which lifted sanctions would have held on to and concealed such against Tehran in exchange for restrictions files after the 2015 nuclear deal. on Tehran’s atomic activities aimed at https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Ex-top- increasing the time Iran would need to official-Put-secret-Iran-nuke-archives-on- make an atom bomb if it chose to. internet-581041 ran has stayed within caps on the level to which it can enrich uranium, as well as Iran’s Rouhani says U.S. sanctions are its stock of enriched uranium, the IAEA ‘terrorist act’ Reuters, February 20, 2019 said in a confidential quarterly report sent Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on to its member states and obtained by Wednesday relations with the United States Reuters. “Not much has changed..., a had rarely been so bad and that sanctions continuing reporting of the imposed by the Trump administration implementation (by Iran),” a senior targeting Tehran’s oil and banking sectors diplomat said on condition of anonymity, amounted to “a terrorist act”. Animosity summarising the report. The IAEA also between Washington and Tehran - bitter repeated its usual statement that it carried foes since Iran’s 1979 revolution - has out so-called complementary access intensified since U.S. President Donald inspections - which are often at short notice Trump withdrew from an international - at all locations in Iran that it needed to nuclear deal with Tehran last May and visit. reimposed sanctions lifted under the accord. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran- “The struggle between Iran and America is nuclear-iaea/iran-still-holding-up-its-end-of- nuclear-deal-iaea-report-shows- currently at a maximum. America has idUSKCN1QB1XC employed all its power against us,” Rouhani 40 Volume 11, Number 05 March 15, 2019

Iran starts Gulf war games, to test media said the missile was an upgraded submarine-launched missiles Arab version of the Nasr-1 missile the country News, February 22, 2019 had showcased in 2008. It was then described as an anti-vessel missile with a Iran on Friday began large-scale naval drills range of35 kilometers (or 22 miles). Iran at the mouth of the Gulf, which will feature frequently touts its military arsenal, much its first submarine cruise missile launches, of which is manufactured locally because state media reported, at a time of rising of international sanctions. The Strait of tensions with the United States. More than Hormuz, at the mouth of the Arabian 100 vessels were taking part in the three- Gulf, is a crucial bottleneck for global day war games in a vast area stretching from energy supplies, with about a third of all the Strait of Hormuz to the Indian Ocean, oil traded by sea passing through it. the state news agency IRNA reported. http://www.arabnews.com/node/1457211/ “The exercise will cover confronting a range middle-east of threats, testing weapons, and evaluating the readiness of equipment and personnel,” Bid by ‘enemies’ to sabotage navy commander Rear Admiral Hossein missiles foiled: Iran Guards Arab Khanzadi, said in remarks carried by state News, February 24, 2019 television. “Submarine missile launches will be carried out ... in addition to helicopter The Revolutionary Guards on Sunday and drone launches from the deck of the accused “enemies” of Iran of trying to Sahand destroyer”. Iran has expanded its sabotage the country’s missiles so that they missile program, particularly its ballistic would “explode mid-air” but said the bid missiles.Western experts say Iran often was foiled.”They tried as best as they could exaggerates its weapons capabilities, to sabotage a small part which we import although there are concerns about its long- so that our missiles would not reach their range ballistic missiles. target and explode mid-air,” Fars news agency reported, quoting the Guards’ http://www.arabnews.com/node/1456296/middle- aerospace commander Amir Ali east Hajjizadeh. “But they couldn’t do a damn thing because we had seen this coming from Iran launches cruise missile from the start and had reinforced this sector,” he submarine during drill Arab News, added, accusing Iran’s “enemies” of February 24, 2019 sabotage without naming any specific country. Iran launched a cruise missile from a submarine for the first time during an Iran reined in most of its nuclear program ongoing annual military drill in the Strait of under a landmark 2015 deal with major Hormuz, local media reported Sunday. The powers in return for sanctions relief, but semi-official Fars news agency reported on has continued to develop its ballistic missile the Sunday launch and released an image technology. Earlier this month the New of a green submarine on the surface of the York Times reported that the US water launching an orange missile. It said administration of President Donald other submarines have the same capability. Trump was pushing a secret program It did not provide details on the missile’s aimed at sabotaging Iranian rockets and range. State TV showed a video of the missiles. It said Washington was trying to launch in which a missile fired from a “slip faulty parts and materials into Iran’s submarine hit a pre-determined target. aerospace supply chains” as part of a campaign to undercut Tehran’s “They were trying to carry out sabotage in military.UN Security Council Resolution part by exploding missiles in the air, but they 2231 — adopted just after the nuclear deal failed to do anything since we had predicted — calls on Iran “not to undertake any and secured,” the program, he said. Iranian activity related to ballistic missiles designed 41 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

to be capable of delivering nuclear not to try to evade Iran sanctions, or will weapons.” face stiff fines.

Tehran insists that its missile program is http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/ “purely defensive” and compliant with the 1139871.shtml resolution but it has developed medium- range ballistic missiles capable of reaching Ground license to be granted to arch-foe Israel. Hajjizadeh, whose remarks Sinop NPP Baris Siimsek, Daily Sabah, were also reported by Tasnim news agency, February 25, 2019 said similar sabotage attempts had happened before and targeted Iran’s nuclear Turkey’s second nuclear power plant and oil sectors. (NPP), to be built in Sinop under a Japanese-French partnership, will make a http://www.arabnews.com/node/1457291/middle- breakthrough by obtaining a ground east license this year. The plant, which will have an installed capacity of 4,480 Iran envoy hails EU’s ‘first step’ to megawatts (MW) and consist of four save nuclear deal Yao Lijuan Source, reactors with a 1,120-MW capacity each, Global Times, February 24 2019 will cost $20 billion. Iranian ambassador to China Mohammad The first reactor of the nuclear power plant Keshavarz-Zadeh hailed the registration of is scheduled to be put into operation in the Instrument for Supporting Trade 2025. The environmental impact Exchanges (INSTEX) on Friday after France, assessment report for the project will also Germany and the UK announced the new be obtained this year. The ministry will mechanism for facilitating legitimate trade complete legislative and institutional with Iran to bypass US sanctions. infrastructure works related to nuclear energy and prepare necessary plans and “This shows that the European side is programs accordingly. determined to safeguard multilateralism. China firmly supports their efforts in https://www.dailysabah.com/energy/2019/02/25/ sustaining cooperation with Iran, getting ground-license-to-be-granted-to-sinop-npp INSTEX up and running at an early date, and keeping it open to third parties to Over 50 Turkish experts to work at promote normal economic and trade Akkuyu Nuclear JSC Daily Sabah, cooperation between the international February 25, 2019 community and Iran,” Chinese foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said on Friday. Over 50 new Turkish specialists, receiving diplomas from the Moscow Engineering The French, German and British foreign Physics Institute (MEPhI) of Russia’s ministers on Thursday issued a joint National Research Nuclear University statement on the creation of INSTEX. “It will (NRNU), commenced their work at Akkuyu support legitimate European trade with Iran, Nuclear JSC, the Russian nuclear energy focusing initially on the sectors most essential company Rosatom announced on to the Iranian population, such as Saturday. pharmaceutical, medical devices and agricultural goods. INSTEX aims in the long The second group of Turkish students term to be open to economic operators from graduated from NRNU MEPhI in Moscow, third countries who wish to trade with Iran Rosatom said in a statement, adding that and the E3 to continue to explore how to a group of students from Vietnam and achieve this objective,” the statement Mongolia have also obtained their diploma. said.The EU and Iran started talks on the Special Purpose Vehicle after the US https://www.dailysabah.com/energy/2019/02/25/ announced its withdrawal from JCPOA last over-50-turkish-experts-to-work-at-akkuyu- May. The White House has warned the EU nuclear-jsc 42 Volume 11, Number 05 March 15, 2019

Israel Burying ‘Nuclear Waste With India used Israeli arms for strike Radioactive Content’ in Golan - UN inside Pakistan — report Judah Ari Report Sputnik, February 25, 2019 Gross and Agencies, The Times of Israel, February 26, 2019 Secretary-General of the UN Antonio Guterres has presented a report to the UN Israeli-made smart bombs were reportedly Human Rights Council based on Syrian used by India in an airstrike on Pakistani accusations against Israel’s action in the jihadists across the volatile Kashmir border Golan Heights, saying that Israel has been early Tuesday, in an attack that raised burying “nuclear waste with radioactive tensions between the two nuclear arch- content in 20 different areas populated by rivals. Syrian citizens” in the occupied territory. Most of the waste has allegedly been dumped in The EU called on New Delhi and the area near Al-Sheikh Mountain. Islamabad to exercise “maximum restraint” amid the soaring tension Israel is suspected of possessing nuclear between the nuclear-armed powers who weapons, but no evidence proving or both lay claim to the Kashmir region. “We disproving the suspicion has been presented remain in contact with both countries and so far. Tel Aviv has neither confirmed, nor what we believe is essential is that all denied possessing nuclear weapons. exercise maximum restraint and avoid further escalation of tensions,” EU https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/ spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic told 201902251072730944-israel-nuclear-waste-golan- reporters. heights-un/ https://www.timesofisrael.com/india-used- US dismisses surprise resignation israeli-arms-for-strike-inside-pakistan-report/ of Iran’s Zarif The Times of Israel, February 26, 2019 British parliament warned Yemen is testbed for Iranian weapons The US said its policy regarding Tehran Damien McElroy, The Nation, February 26, would not change after Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif abruptly 2019 tendered his resignation Monday. He has A leading British lawmaker has warned served as Rouhani’s foreign minister since that the Yemen conflict is being used by August 2013 and has been under constant Iran to test advanced missile pressure and criticism by hardliners who developments that have violated United opposed his policy of detente with the West, Nations resolutions on Tehran’s ballistic as well as by the Trump administration, weapons programme. which has hammered away at the nuclear deal he helped broker. Iran’s ballistic missiles represents a threat to the region despite the signing of the 2015 Within Iran, Zarif’s standing in the country’s nuclear deal, according to the Foreign political establishment took a hit when the US Office’s Middle East minister Alistair Burt. withdrew last year from the nuclear deal, “Alongside our partners we continue to aimed at curbing Tehran’s nuclear program, call on Iran to act consistently with all UN and the pact’s achievements became less and security council resolutions in relation to less clear as Iran’s economy nosedived. ballistic missile programme,” he said. “It Zarif was blamed by ultra-conservatives for is essential to get the conflict in Yemen to negotiating a bad deal that had not gained an end, to prevent that sort of threat, to anything meaningful for Iran in exchange prevent it being used as a based for the for all the concessions it had made in its testing of weapons.” nuclear program. Mr Burt added that while London https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-dismisses- continued to believe that Iran was surprise-resignation-of-irans-zarif/ complying with the restrictions on its 43 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

nuclear programme set out in the 2015 coverage of the visit, one online website nuclear deal, it needed to be clear about that said “the foreign minister was not the issues around weaponry was equally informed”. Zarif played the lead role in critical. striking the deal under which Iran agreed to curbs on its nuclear programme in https://www.thenational.ae/world/british-parlia- return for the lifting of international ment-warned-yemen-is-testbed-for-iranian- financial sanctions. He came under attack weapons-1.830701 from anti-Western hardliners in Iran after the United States pulled out of the Turkey wants to see world free of agreement last May and reimposed nuclear weapons: FM Hurriyet Daily sanctions on Iran’s economy and its February 26, 2019 lifeblood oil industry that were lifted under the deal. Turkey’s ultimate goal is to see a world free of nuclear weapons, the country’s foreign https://in.reuters.com/article/iran-zarif-resigna- minister said on Feb. 25. Mevlüt Çavuþoðlu’s tion/irans-foreign-minister-zarif-architect-of- remarks came at the UN’s Disarmament nuclear-deal-resigns-idINKCN1QE2H6 Conference held in Geneva, Switzerland. Zarif resignation saga hampers “Disarmament, proliferation nuclear deal Lu Wenao, Global Times, of nuclear weapons and weapon control is of critical importance for global security and February 27 2019 peace,” Çavuþoðlu said, adding that Turkey President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday faced numerous risk and threats in its region. rejected the shock resignation of Iranian He emphasized that a world foreign minister Mohammed Javad Zarif. without nuclear weapons could only be Zarif, lead negotiator in the landmark 2015 achieved by implementing the Treaty on the nuclear deal with major world powers, at Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons first gave no specific reason for his (NPT) in a successive and universal manner. resignation, but later indicated that internal factional struggles might have http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-wants- forced his hand. He previously told the to-see-world-free-of-nuclear-weapons-fm-141486 Tehran-based news agency Islamic Iran’s Foreign Minister Zarif, Republic News Agency (IRNA) that he hoped his resignation could serve as a architect of nuclear deal, resigns reminder to the Iranian Foreign Ministry to Parisa Hafezi, Reuters, February 26, 2019 reclaim its “legal position” in maintaining Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad foreign relations.Rouhani said in a letter Zarif, the urbane, U.S.-educated architect of published by IRNA on Wednesday that its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, Zarif’s resignation was “against the announced his resignation unexpectedly on country’s national interests,” and rejected Monday on Instagram. “Many thanks for it, standing by his moderate ally. Zarif’s the generosity of the dear and brave people resignation shed light on a schism between of Iran and its authorities over the past 67 Iran’s hard-liners and moderates. months. I sincerely apologise for the inability However, the modest man received a to continue serving and for all the malicious response from US Secretary of shortcomings during my service. Be happy State Mike Pompeo, who described Zarif and worthy”, he wrote on his Instagram and Rouhani as front men for a “corrupt page jzarif_ir. religious mafia.” Chinese Foreign Ministry He gave no specific reasons for his decision. spokesperson Lu Kang said on Tuesday. Unconfirmed media reports indicated he “We believe this is conducive to peace and resigned over Syrian President Bashar al stability in the Middle East and the Assad’s visit to Tehran on Monday. Noting international nuclear non-proliferation that Zarif was not pictured in any of the system, and serves the shared interests of 44 Volume 11, Number 05 March 15, 2019

the international community.” If Iran is American “space force,” a new branch of abandoning the 2015 nuclear deal, years of the US military to be dedicated to multilateral diplomatic work will have been “handling threats in space.” However, as in vain and Iran’s hard-earned peace and I have indicated, there are a number of stability will for sure be jeopardized once space issues, some of them newly again. The world cannot afford to see Iran emerging, that require major updates and copying North Korea by building a nuclear that will not be easy to work out. arsenal, as nuclear tests reverberate in the Middle East. Indeed, it is not far-fetched to predict that, within the next decade or two, many http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/ accidents and disputes will take place in 1140398.shtml space. There will soon be new space stations, manned missions to the Moon Update to space laws long overdue and Mars, perhaps even small stations Nidhal Guessoum, Arab News, built there to house astronauts for months February 27, 2019 or even years, companies taking hundreds if not thousands of tourists to space for a Does any state or international organization few hours or longer, states or private “police” outer space? What laws apply out companies beginning to mine asteroids, there? If a crime is committed in space, say and other developments, this will require on the International Space Station, what some new laws and legal frameworks to jurisdiction applies? If small or large debris ensure that outer space remains, as the from launch rockets or broken satellites hit very first treaty stated, “the province of and damage or even destroy a spacecraft, mankind,” not of the rich and powerful. who will be held responsible for the damages and possibly the loss of life? If a space http://www.arabnews.com/node/1458926 organization (national or private) lands on an asteroid (and, as I write, the Japanese Greek party leader to discuss Hayabusa-2 just landed on Ryugu), can it, situation in Mediterranean, Syria as will soon be possible, mine it for rare, and Iran in Moscow TASS Russian valuable and expensive minerals, bring them New Agency, February 27, 2019 back to Earth and commercially benefit from them? When people start establishing President of the New Democracy party stations on the Moon or on Mars, can they Kyriakos Mitsotakis is going to meet with just claim ownership of the lands? CUPUOS Russian officials during his two-day visit has led efforts to regulate space affairs, and to Moscow and discuss bilateral relations indeed five treaties and five declarations and with them, the situation in the legal principles have been issued and signed Mediterranean, in Syria and Iran’s nuclear by many countries. Those treaties, however, problem, he said in an interview with require some updating. TASS.

The first thing to note is that 40 years have “I’ll have a number of important meetings passed since the most recent treaty, and with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry more than 20 years since the last declaration. Medvedev, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Secondly, these documents speak only of and State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav states and do not consider private Volodin. I’m looking forward to thematic companies, especially multinational ones. discussions on all issues of bilateral And thirdly, some of the problems they relations - on regional and international barely touch upon (damages and liability) issues of mutual interest, the last events in have become much more pressing today, as the Eastern Mediterranean and important there are now more than half a million pieces challenges in the sphere of international of debris bigger than 1 centimeter. The security, such as terrorism, the situation important issue of military operations, in Syria and Iran’s nuclear problem. I will especially with the recent creation of an discuss all of this in light of Russia’s special 45 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

role and responsibility in the creation of a agreeing to remain highly cooperative with safe environment and stability in Europe,” each other in order for a complete the Greek opposition leader said. denuclearization and a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula to be achieved http://tass.com/world/1046659 through advances in inter-Korean and United States-Democratic People’s Republic Meridor: Preventing Iran Nuke Is of Korea relations in a virtuous circle. Not The Only Strategy Yonah Jeremy = Minister Kang, placing hope on the Bob, Jerusalem Post, February 27, 2019 forthcoming second US-DPRK summit Preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear as a significant opportunity to see weapon is not Israel’s only defense option, meaningful progress toward a former intelligence minister Dan Meridor complete denuclearization and the told The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday. Speaking establishment of peace on the Korean following INSS’s publication late Monday of Peninsula, asked the EU to remain Meridor’s update to his landmark 2006 supportive and cooperative to that end. report on Israel’s national security doctrine, his point was not that Israel should not do = High Representative Mogherini voiced all it can to stop the Islamic Republic from hope that the second US-DPRK getting a weapon. Rather, he wanted to summit would produce tangible emphasize the need to plan five and 10 years progress toward denuclearization, into the future for what Israel’s optimal reaffirming the EU’s all-out support response would be if Tehran gets a nuclear and commitment to cooperation weapon despite military and diplomatic regarding the peace process on the efforts to stop it. Korean Peninsula. http://www.mofa.go.kr/eng/brd/m_5676/ Some put forth an announcement by Prime view.do?seq=320398&srchFr=&srchTo=&srchWord=&srchTp Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in late 2018 =&multi_itm_seq=0&itm_seq_1=0&itm_seq_2=0&company_ that he had developed a long-term doctrine cd=&company_nm=&page=5&titleNm= looking toward the year 2030 as an example of an updated doctrine. While Meridor said Outcome of ROK-Russia Foreign he was not familiar with the specifics of the Ministerial Meeting Held on Netanyahu strategy – the prime minister released only snippets for public Occasion of Munich Security consumption – he said that his Conference 2019 Ministry of Foreign understanding was that the strategy dealt Affairs, Korea February 16, 2019 with only a limited list of projects and was Minister Kang shared with her Russian not comprehensive. counterpart the ROK government’s work https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Meridor- to accomplish a complete denuclearization Preventing-Iran-nuke-is-not-the-only-option-581 and establish a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula. She added that the ROK East Asia government, in close communication with Russia and other relevant countries, would Korea make utmost efforts for the success of the forthcoming second summit between the ROK-EU Foreign Ministerial United States and the Democratic People’s Meeting Held on Occasion of Republic of Korea and for progress in the Munich Security Conference 2019 currently ongoing denuclearization Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Korea February negotiations. She asked for Russia’s 16 2019 continued cooperation in that regard.

The Minister and the High Representative Minister Lavrov highly commended the shared with each other assessments of the progress in the situation on the Korean current situation on the Korean Peninsula, Peninsula; expressed strong support for 46 Volume 11, Number 05 March 15, 2019

the efforts to resolve Korean Peninsula issues enriched, weapons-grade uranium. He through dialogue; and mentioned that now believes the facility has since doubled Russia, on its part, would continue playing in size.Yongbyon is estimated to have 50 a constructive role in the work to achieve kilograms of weaponized plutonium, denuclearization and a lasting peace on the enough for six to 10 bombs, and a highly Korean Peninsula. enriched uranium inventory of 250 to 500 kilograms, sufficient for 25 to 30 nuclear Minister Kang’s fourth meeting with her devices. Russian counterpart since her inauguration and her first in 2019 is seen to carry significance “The uranium enrichment facility which as having serving as an opportunity to step started running in 2010 requires significant up ROK-Russia strategic communication for operating experience for high denuclearization and peace on the Korean performance. The North may have a Peninsula at a very significant time ahead covert space to accumulate the of the second US-DPRK summit as well as experience,” said Ahn Jin-soo, a former to reaffirm close cooperation with Russia, researcher at the Korea Institute of Nuclear the ROK’s pivotal partner in implementing Nonproliferation and Control.Yongbyon’s its New Northern Policy. light water reactor is known to be capable of producing 10 to 15 kilograms of http://www.mofa.go.kr/eng/brd/m_5676/ plutonium a year, but the quality falls short view.do?seq=320396&srchFr=&srchTo=&srchWord=&srchTp= of weapons-grade plutonium, Ahn said. &multi_itm_seq=0&itm_seq_1=0&itm_seq_2= 0&company_cd=&company_nm=&page=5&titleNm= http://www.koreaherald.com/ view.php?ud=20190228000534&ACE_SEARCH=1 Glimpse into Yongbyon nuclear complex Park Han-na, Korea Herald, Spain investigates incident in February 28, 2019 North Korean Embassy, AP Korea Herald, February 28, 2019 The Yongbyon Scientific Research Center has been at the center of nuclear talks Spanish authorities said police were between the US and North Korea for more investigating an incident last week at the than two decades. Built in the 1960s under North Korean Embassy in Madrid in the leadership of North Korea’s founding which a woman was hurt and, according leader Kim Il-sung, the Yongbyon complex to a North Korean government’s aide, has expanded in scale by adding a 5- computers and cellphones also were megawatt-electric reactor, 100-megawatt- stolen. A group of unidentified assailants thermal experimental light water reactor, bound and gagged workers inside the uranium enrichment buildings as well as gated embassy compound on Feb. 22 for spent fuel reprocessing facilities and research four hours, according to Spain’s El buildings. Confidencial news site, which first reported the incident on Wednesday. The Just as Siegfried Hecker, a leading nuclear site said that a woman escaped from the scientist at Stanford University who has assailants and that her screams prompted visited the site four times, called Yongbyon residents in the affluent Madrid “the heart of nuclear program” of North neighborhood where the embassy is Korea, it produces the two key materials located to call police. used in making nuclear weapons — plutonium and highly enriched uranium — A National Police spokesman confirmed at the same location. The facility also to The Associated Press that its officers produces the tritium it needs to make assisted a North Korean woman with nuclear warheads small enough to fit its unspecified injuries. The spokesman, who long-range missiles. wasn’t authorized to be named in media reports, declined to comment further. An In 2010, Hecker said he witnessed 2,000 Interior Ministry official who was also centrifuges capable of producing highly bound by customary rules of anonymity 47 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

said the incident was “under investigation’’ despite deep divisions over how to solve a and noted that North Korean authorities decades-old territorial dispute.The meeting hadn’t filed any official complaint. The between Japanese Foreign Minister Taro embassy couldn’t be reached for comment Kono and his Russian counterpart Sergey Wednesday. Lavrov in Munich on the sidelines of an annual security conference is a follow-up to http://www.koreaherald.com/ their leaders’ summit in January in Moscow. view.php?ud=20190228000533&ACE_SEARCH=1 Abe is believed to be setting his sights on Japan reaching a broad agreement with Putin in June, when the Russian leader is expected TEPCO training workers to shift to visit Japan for the Group of 20 summit. spent nuclear fuel from March But the likelihood of an immediate Chikako Kawahara, The Asahi Shimbun, breakthrough seems to be slim. Not only February 16, 2019 do the two countries have differing interpretations of the joint declaration, but Tokyo Electric Power Co. has instituted a opposition lawmakers in Japan have taken rigorous training program so technicians can issue with Abe’s perceived shift in policy proceed with the removal in late March of to seek the return of two rather than all spent nuclear fuel from the No. 3 reactor of four of the contested islands. Abe and the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. Putin agreed in November to accelerate A reporter from The Asahi Shimbun was peace treaty talks based on the 1956 permitted to observe a session Feb. 15 that declaration, which mentions the transfer involved using a huge 50-ton crane to lift from Moscow to Tokyo of the smaller two and move a container, simulating the of the four islands — Shikotan and the conditions under which spent nuclear fuel Habomai islet group — once a peace treaty would be recovered. is concluded.

The No. 3 reactor has 566 nuclear fuel Japan is not part of the 1987 treaty that assemblies stored in the fuel pool on the top bans the development and possession of floor of the reactor building. Moving the land-based missiles with ranges of spent nuclear fuel is considered an urgent between 500 and 5,500 kilometers.The task due to fears the crippled facility could dispute over the islands, called the be further damaged in the event of another Northern Territories in Japan and the major earthquake or tsunami. Plans call for Southern Kurils in Russia, has prevented removing seven fuel assemblies in late March. the conclusion of a peace treaty to formally A new roof for the reactor building was end World War II hostilities. completed last year to contain any radioactive fallout. A hydrogen explosion https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20190217/ blew the original roof apart shortly after the p2g/00m/0na/001000c magnitude-9.0 Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011 that generated towering Nuclear plants should be kept, ex- tsunami, inundating the plant’s cooling premier says, Lin Chia-nan, Taipei system and triggering the nuclear disaster. Times, February 19, 2019

http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/ The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) AJ201902160021.html administration should maintain the nation’s nuclear power plants as required Japan, Russia foreign ministers by approval of a referendum held on Nov. meet over postwar peace treaty 24 last year, former premier Jiang Yi-huah said yesterday. Jiang made the remarks at Mainichi Japan, February 17, 2019 a Taipei news conference called by the Fair The foreign ministers of Japan and Russia Winds Foundation — of which Jiang is met Saturday hoping to make progress chairman — and former president Ma toward concluding a postwar peace treaty Ying-jeou’s foundation. 48 Volume 11, Number 05 March 15, 2019

The government should stop sending unused Japan and Tepco again ordered to nuclear fuel rods away, he said. Ma Ying- pay damages to Fukushima nuclear jeou Foundation executive director Hsiao disaster evacuees Japan Times Hsu-tsen said the two foundations would February 20, 2019 hold a non-governmental energy forum on March 10. Premier Su Tseng-chang on A district court Wednesday ordered the Saturday said that if Ma and Jiang could state and the operator of the crippled have found proper sites for long-term Fukushima nuclear plant to pay a storage of nuclear waste, they would not combined ¥419 million ($3.78 million) in have mothballed the Fourth Nuclear Power damages to evacuees from the 2011 Plant, the construction and maintenance of nuclear disaster. The order by the which has wasted billions of dollars. Yokohama District Court was the eighth such decision against Tokyo Electric Power http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/ Company Holdings Inc. and the fifth archives/2019/02/19/2003709992 against the central government. Most of the 175 plaintiffs were forced to evacuate Host town of crippled nuke plant to from Fukushima to Kanagawa Prefecture, lift evacuation order, Hideyuki Miura near Tokyo, following the disaster, which and Daiki Ishizuka, The Asahi Shimbun, was triggered by a massive earthquake and February 20, 2019 tsunami. They had sought a combined ¥5.4 billion from the utility and the state. An evacuation order will be lifted for two districts here as early as April, eight years The ruling awarded compensation to 152 after the triple meltdown at the Fukushima of the 175 plaintiffs, of whom 50 had No. 1 nuclear power plant spewed massive evacuated voluntarily and 125 were forced amounts of radioactive substances into the to do so. They had each demanded air. It would be the first time for Okuma, ¥350,000 per month and compensation of which co-hosts the plant, to see the ¥20 million for psychological damage due evacuation order lifted, albeit partially. to “the loss of their hometown” in addition to compensation already paid by The Okuma town government, which Tepco. The ruling was the eighth among moved 100 kilometers to Aizuwakamatsu in approximately 30 similar suits filed by the prefecture following the disaster, more than 10,000 evacuees. The state reported at a meeting of town assembly became a defendant together with Tepco members on Feb. 19 that conditions in in six cases and was exempted from Okuma, including radiation levels, have compensation claims in only one ruling, improved to meet the criteria for lifting the which was handed down by the Chiba order.The town plans to discuss the schedule District Court in September 2017. for lifting the order with the central government and hold a meeting in March https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/02/20/ with evacuees. “I want to explain the town’s national/crime-legal/japan-tepco-ordered-pay- stance in such a way that residents will fully damages-fukushima-nuclear-disaster-evacuees/ understand,” said Okuma Mayor Toshitsuna #.XIXJFZgvO7h Watanabe. The entire town, with a population of 11,500, was ordered to evacuate after the Fierce opposition to recycling onset of the nuclear crisis following the radioactive soil from Fukushima Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami The Asahi Shimbun, February 26, 2019 in March 2011. How to dispose of mountains of soil The lifting of the order is expected to cover contaminated by radiation from the 2011 the Ogawara and Chuyashiki districts, both Fukushima nuclear disaster poses a southwest of the plant. massive headache for the central government. Officials had long insisted http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/ that contaminated surface soil removed AJ201902200049.html 49 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

after the triple meltdown at the Fukushima has asked U.S. President Donald Trump No. 1 nuclear power plant would eventually for help in securing the return of the be stored outside of Fukushima Prefecture. abductees. According to one estimate, the total volume of such soil will reach 14 million cubic Iizuka, who heads a group of abductees’ meters by fiscal 2021. Local entities outside relatives, also urged the Japanese of Fukushima are understandably hesitant government to stand firm on not easing about serving as host to such vast quantities economic sanctions imposed over North of possibly hazardous dirt. Officials in Korea’s nuclear and missile programs Tokyo are now hoping to sway local unless the abductees are repatriated. governments to act as hosts by proposing Tokyo officially recognized 17 Japanese reuse of the contaminated soil for public nationals, including Iizuka’s younger sister works projects under certain conditions. Yaeko Taguchi, as having been abducted by the North and suspects the country’s However, discussions have yet to begin on involvement in many more where to build the structure. Koji Yamada, disappearances.Five of the 17 returned an Environment Ministry official who has home in 2002, but Pyongyang maintains been involved in the issue, conceded it will that eight have died and the other four not be easy to find a candidate municipality were never in the country. for the facility. “We are now at the stage of trying to obtain understanding from a https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20190227/ national perspective,” he said. p2g/00m/0na/054000c

http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/ South, South East and Central Asia AJ201902260058.html Bangladesh’s energy conundrum Chu wavering on nuclear power: Su Shooha Tabil, Dhaka Tribune, Sean Lin, Taipei Times, February 27, 2019 February 16, 2019 Premier Su Tseng-chang yesterday accused In developing economies, growth in former New Taipei City mayor Eric Chu of modern sectors like industry, motorized vacillating on his position on nuclear energy transportation, and urban development for electoral gains. Su made the remark when requires gigantic growth in energy asked by Democratic Progressive Party consumption. But it should also be kept in (DPP) Legislator Chen Man-li about Chu’s mind that energy use also reflects climatic remark that he would activate the and geographic factors. Energy usage has mothballed Fourth Nuclear Power Plant in been growing rapidly in low and middle- New Taipei City’s in Gongliao District income countries, with Bangladesh being no exception. Total energy use refers to not http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/ only refined petroleum products and archives/2019/02/27/2003710499 nuclear power-based energy consumption, but also to the power usage Japan hopes US-N. Korea summit that comes from combustible renewables, will lead to return of abductees industrial and municipal waste including solid biomass and animal products, and Mainichi Japan, February 27, 2019 liquid and gas from biomass. Japan expressed hope Wednesday that the second U.S.-North Korean summit starting Leaning upon naturally devastating and later in the day in Hanoi will produce a expensive energy resources like coal and breakthrough in resolving the issue of past nuclear power plants, in spite of having abductions of Japanese nationals by the the scope of using low-cost renewable North, as well as in dismantling its nuclear energy sources, has raised a burning and missile programs. Chief Cabinet question about the course of Bangladesh’s Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news power-sector policies. The fact of the cost conference that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declination of renewable sources is clearly 50 Volume 11, Number 05 March 15, 2019

seen in a recent report by the International there” and that the INF Treaty had now Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).The become a “bilateral treaty in a multipolar cost of installing 1MW capacity of a solar ballistic missile world.”5 This brief power plant has been reduced to Tk11 crore explains the importance of China’s from Tk35 crore between 2010 and 2017. groundlaunched missile capabilities to Beijing’s overall military strategy; surveys https://www.dhakatribune.com/opinion/op-ed/ Chinese reactions to U.S. withdrawal from the INF Treaty; and assesses both the 2019/02/18/bangladesh-s-energy-conundrum positive and negative implications of treaty withdrawal for the military balance in Op-eds, Reports and Editorial Asia, global arms control regime, U.S. relations with Asian allies, and China- China’s Missile Program and U.S. Russia ties. Withdrawal from the Intermediate- Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty https://www.uscc.gov/sites/default/files/Re- search/China%20and%20INF_0.pdf Author: Jacob Stokes, Policy Analyst, Security and Foreign Affairs Contributor: Nuclear power should be part of Alec C. Blivas, Research Assistant, Security energy mix in fighting climate and Foreign Affairs change Alan Medsker, Daily Herald, U.S.-China Economic and Security February 10, 2019 Review Commission February 04, 2019 A recent open letter to legislators signed On February 2, 2019, the United States by 626 organizations states that we must suspended its obligations under the INF transition our power generation to 100 Treaty that it entered into with the Soviet percent renewable energy. The letter’s Union in 1987 and began the technical definition of renewable energy excludes process of treaty withdrawal. †1 The INF large hydroelectric and nuclear generation, Treaty requires destruction of ground- yet nuclear and hydro are the very energy launched ballistic and cruise missiles with sources that have been used to ranges of between 500 and 5,500 kilometers successfully decarbonize large-grid electric (km) (310 and 3,410 miles), their launchers, generation. France, Norway, Sweden, and associated support structures and Ontario, Costa Rica and Uruguay have equipment.2 China is not a party to the transitioned their energy generation to low treaty, and has consistently refused to carbon sources and each did so using accede to the accord.3 In the meantime, over nuclear or hydro technologies. (See the last two decades Beijing has built up a electricitymap.org to graphically view formidable missile arsenal outside the limits sources of world electricity generation.) No of the pact. In explaining its justification for large electrical grid has ever been withdrawing from the INF Treaty, the transitioned without them. Based on this Trump Administration has cited both experience, it would make more sense to Chinese missile capabilities and Russian focus first on these already-successful violations of the agreement. President Trump clean energy sources rather than criticized both countries’ development of INF excluding them.Excluding nuclear is Treaty-noncompliant missiles and explained particularly puzzling to me, because his rationale for planning to leave the treaty, nuclear energy gives us everything we saying, “If Russia’s doing it, and if China’s value about energy sources: doing it, and we’re adhering to the • Nuclear energy is clean, with lifetime agreement, that’s unacceptable.”4 National CO2 emissions comparable to wind. Security Advisor John Bolton further explained the Administration’s assessment, • Its environmental impact is small, with noting that China’s missile capabilities low land use requirements and zero meant there was a “new strategic reality out operational emissions. 51 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

• It is reliable and largely not affected by EDITORIAL: Probe shows weather (something we should be challenges posed by melted fuel at thankful for given the recent polar Fukushima plant The Asahi Shimbun vortex). Most nuclear plants run at 100 February 18, 2019 percent capacity well over 90 percent of the time. A specially designed, remotely controlled probe touched melted nuclear fuel debris • It is economical — energy costs over life at the bottom of a ruined reactor at the of a nuclear plant are both predictable Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in and competitive. the first successful operation to inspect • The materials requirements per unit of radioactive debris through direct contact. generating capacity for nuclear are low. The plant’s operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO), lowered the rod-like probe • It can be deployed rapidly. outfitted with a tong-like pinching device • It produces the least amount of waste, into the primary containment vessel of the which is responsibly captured and safely No. 2 reactor at the crippled plant and used managed. the machine to successfully lift pieces of the debris several centimeters. • It is one of our safest forms of energy production. The Fukushima prefectural government • It is available now, and we can realize demands that the nuclear waste from the the full benefits without the significant stricken plant including debris should be delay and expense of (for example) still- eventually moved out of the prefecture. developing storage technology or smart But there has been little serious debate on grid upgrades. specifics. Both the government and TEPCO should confront this issue head- Given the challenge of decarbonizing, it on. It is vital for them to offer sufficient makes no sense to exclude nuclear. If the and straightforward explanations about climate is in crisis, we need all hands on their efforts to tackle this problem to local deck. We cannot afford to ignore a governments and residents concerned technology with this type of track record. while seeking to win their understanding The Green New Deal resolution has the through sincere discussions. It is simply potential to push us, as a society, out of the impossible to complete the long and tricky climate change discussion and into climate process of decommissioning the reactors change action. We need that push to without support from the local continue for more and bolder action. communities. The government and the However, we also need to be pragmatic and utility should keep this firmly in mind. use science, data and history to guide our choices. Science has given us many tools to http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/ help us slow the warming of our planet. We AJ201902180019.html must be open to using all of these. Based on the data we have, most models tell us that Trump aides ignored legal without nuclear, our chances of making fast warnings in pushing reactor plan: and significant reductions in our emissions Democratic report Jonathan Landay, are much lower. Self-imposed restrictions on Nathan Layne, Reuters, February 20 2019 our energy choices will make decarbonization that much harder. Top White House aides ignored repeated warnings they could be breaking the law https://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20190210/ as they worked with former U.S. officials nuclear-power-should-be-part-of-energy-mix-in- and a close friend of President Donald fighting-climate- Trump to advance a multi-billion-dollar change?fbclid=IwAR3fLTsacTs66GctObosydllfm8 plan to build nuclear reactors in the Middle ptZr57Qskj93FjzyrQpP14OqKg7MUM0o East, Democratic lawmakers alleged in a report released Tuesday.The effort, the 52 Volume 11, Number 05 March 15, 2019

report said, began before Trump took office The report also warned, “Within the and continued after his inauguration in United States, strong private commercial January 2017 despite National Security interests have been pressing aggressively Council staff warnings that a proposed for the transfer of highly sensitive nuclear transfer of U.S. nuclear technology to Saudi technology to Saudi Arabia — a potential Arabia was being fast-tracked around a risk to U.S. national security absent mandatory approval process in possible adequate safeguards.”The Saudis began breach of the Atomic Energy Act. dangling visions of billion-dollar deals soon after President Trump was elected. In The nuclear project is being promoted by IP3 January 2017, IP3 International, a private International, a consortium of U.S. company that has assembled a consortium technology firms founded by retired Navy of American companies to build nuclear Rear Admiral Michael Hewitt, retired Army plants in Saudi Arabia, wrote Prince General John Keane, and Robert McFarlane, Mohammed, proposing a “Marshall Plan a former national security adviser to for the Middle East.” President Ronald Reagan. The board includes former senior U.S. civilian and The United States has long been a leader military officials.The report said the in nuclear technology, the sale of which is companies include reactor manufacturer governed by bilateral pacts, called “123 Westinghouse, which emerged from agreements,” which require adherence to Chapter 11 bankruptcy last year.The White nine nonproliferation criteria. Some 21 House had no immediate response to the countries, the European Union and the report.IP3 denied in a statement that Flynn International Atomic Energy Agency have ever served as an adviser and said he “had these agreements.The criteria include no stake in the company and was never guarantees that none of the nuclear compensated or reimbursed for expenses.” materials provided by the United States IP3 “looks forward to sharing what we will be used for explosives, that none of know” with Cummings and the committee’s the technology or classified data will be top Republican, Jim Jordan, it said. A transferred to third parties without American spokesman for Barrack said in an email that consent, and that the other country involved the long-time Trump friend and CEO of in the agreement will not enrich uranium or Colony Capital, a private equity firm, was reprocess plutonium, which could be a not contacted prior to the report’s release, pathway to a nuclear bomb. was reviewing the document and “stands The requirements are intended to prevent ready to cooperate” with the committee. another country from gaining nuclear weapons. The Saudis say they want the https://in.reuters.com/article/usa-trump-mideast- technology only to produce nuclear power oversight/trump-aides-ignored-legal-warnings-in- for domestic purposes and thus prolong pushing-reactor-plan-democratic-report- idINKCN1Q82FM their oil reserves, not to acquire a weapons capability. But it’s hard to trust such assurances, given Saudi animosity toward Trump’s Idea of a Middle East Iran and Prince Mohammed’s 2018 Nuclear Deal New York Times, comment, “Without a doubt, if Iran February 20, 2019 developed a nuclear bomb, we will follow suit as soon as possible.” By ramming through the sale of as much as $80 billion in nuclear power plants, the Although Iran never produced a nuclear Trump administration would provide weapon, it had a robust nuclear program sensitive know-how and materials to a until it agreed to an international deal in government whose de facto leader, Crown 2015 that curbed its activities. The deal, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has opposed by the Saudis, is now hanging by suggested that he may eventually want a a thread because Mr. Trump abrogated nuclear weapon as a hedge against Iran and America’s commitment. has shown little concern for what the rest of the world thinks. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/20/opinion/ trump-saudi-arabia-nuclear-technology.html 53 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

Stop Letting Your Cartoon Fears Of significant from the perspective of Nuclear Bombs Kill The Planet coordinating views ahead of the summit Michael Shellenberger, Forbes, between the U.S. and North Korean February 21, 2019 leaders at the end of February. But there remain doubts about whether Abe and Forget what you read about Iran, Saudi Trump are on the same wavelength. Arabia, and North Korea. Most experts believe that the risk of nuclear war has never Japan and the United States, however, been lower. The closest we came to nuclear were supposed to have been united on war was in 1962, a tender 13 years after the maintaining sanctions against North Soviet Union got the bomb. It was then that Korea until denuclearization was the US government discovered the Soviets achieved. If Trump loosens sanctions had transferred missiles to Cuba. The same without sufficient steps from the North as expert worried that “many of the political, he hurries to produce results, then technical, and situational roots of stable Pyongyang may end up keeping its nuclear deterrence between the U.S. and the nuclear weapons. Japan and the U.S. Soviet Union may be absent in South Asia, should work together on various levels. the Middle East or other regions to which After the telephone talks, Abe stated, “We nuclear weapons are spreading.” spoke at length particularly about the abduction issue” — a reference to North The Real Threat Korea’s past abduction of Japanese citizens. Japan will not progress simply by Last week, the former head of US nuclear asking the United States to represent weapons laboratory, Los Alamos, Sigfried Tokyo’s interests. While backing the talks Hecker, concluded the nuclear-armed between the U.S. and North Korea, the nation of North Korea is “less dangerous Japanese government should today than it was at the end of 2017.” The independently consider how to engage reason? Diplomacy is working. Yes, North with Pyongyang. Korean missiles can still reach Japan and South Korea, and experts believe it won’t https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20190222/ ever give up its nuclear arsenal. p2a/00m/0na/005000c

We have, for decades, seen nuclear plants US and Europe on chessboard over as little nuclear bombs — and nuclear Iran Yao Lijuan, Global Times, meltdowns as little explosions. We need February 24 2019 some fear so that we continue to only use nuclear weapons in peace, not war, but The vaunted US-sponsored Middle East we’ve let our fears get the best of us. It’s hard security conference, held with the aim to to believe that humankind would kill off our isolate Iran, was hobbled by the tepid best hope for preventing catastrophic eagerness shown by key European powers climate change out of an exaggerated fear to attend. EU foreign policy chief Federica of nuclear weapons, but that is precisely Mogherini was absent from the Warsaw what we are in the process of doing. conference held on February 13 and 14. UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt left https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelshellenberger/ early, while neither France nor Germany 2019/02/21/stop-letting-your-cartoon-fears-of- sent high-ranking officials. The reasons for nuclear-bombs-kill-the-planet/#8bcd3b819edf major European powers giving the meeting a short shrift are many. First, Editorial: Doubts linger over Japan- these European states may have been US alignment on North Korea swamped by domestic issues, like France Mainichi Japan February 22, 2019 caught up in the yellow vest protests.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe recently The US’ record of failure in the Middle East held telephone talks with U.S. President is another cause, leading to confrontation Donald Trump. Holding such talks was 54 Volume 11, Number 05 March 15, 2019

among great powers, such as the one coerced by Pakistan’s fast expanding between Washington and Moscow on Syria, arsenal. Punishing Pakistan for using strains with Iran and Turkey and US’ terrorists as an elemental pillar of foreign involvement in Yemen. Furthermore, the US policy will require not only India but the and European countries lack consensus on United States as well to disencumber how to deal with Middle East issues, themselves from Pakistan’s nuclear including Iran. Withdrawal of US President coercion strategy. While not impossible, doing so is politically risky and few policy The Iran issue will be crucial in negotiations makers would be willing seriously to between the US and Europe. There are contemplate such options. many bumps in US-Europe ties. Washington has adjusted its policies toward Europe. US- https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/sunday- Europe relations are at a low point as the special/perspective/pak-jihad-s-nuclear-umbrella/ two sides lack consensus on a number of 733917.html issues, such as how to play the role of major powers, and on their economic policies. End to nuke deal may start ‘era Among them, the disagreement on Iran is worse than Cold War’: Expert an important factor influencing ties. If Barçýn Yinanç, Hurriyet Daily, European nations bypass US sanctions to February 25, 2019 continue to trade with Iran, Washington may punish the companies involved. The collapse of the nuclear arms control Political and economic differences are regime can open an era even more apparent in current transatlantic ties. France dangerous than the cold war years, says a and Germany renewed their outlook over scholar. Turkey risks to become the setting their self-interest and intend to maintain the of a crisis between Washington and EU’s autonomy, which will make the US Moscow according to Professor Mustafa livid. Kibaroðlu.

http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/ The US announcement at the beginning 1139598.shtml of the month that it is suspending its compliance with the Intermediate- Pak jihad’s nuclear umbrella C. range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty can Christine Fair, The Tribune, lead to the demise of an arms control regime opening the way to an era of February 24, 2019 uncertainty with devastating Punishing Pakistan for using terrorists as an consequences said a scholar. In the elemental pillar of foreign policy will require resulting tension between Moscow and not only India but the US as well to Washington the parties could opt to give disencumber themselves from Pakistan’s each other messages via limited scale crisis nuclear coercion strategy. and Turkey risks to be one of the setting areas of these crisis warned Professor Understanding how Pakistan has managed Mustafa Kibaroðlu. to use Islamist (and non-Islamist) proxies with breathtaking impunity requires one to http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/end-to- grasp how the state developed its nuclear nuke-deal-may-start-era-worse-than-cold-war- program precisely to shield it from reprisals 141455 for its proxy warfare strategy. In many ways, the history of Pakistan’s nuclear program Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, China, and and strategy of proxy warfare are inexorably Russia: a new strategic and tied together. economic bloc Azhar Azam, Daily Times, February 25, 2019 Not only does Pakistan’s nuclear program constrain India’s punitive options, it also Saudi Arabia has been one of the United keeps in check the options of the States’ closest allies for years, but some international community, which is also recent tiffs seem to have disrupted bilateral 55 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

relations. Excessive regulations on nuclear What the Trump-Kim Summit technology transfer by the US — apparently Means for India, Jagannath Panda, The to protect the interests of its peerless partner, Diplomat, February 26, 2019 Israel — were a factor here. The wisdom of Delhi’s insistence on Riyadh does not have a nuclear bomb and “dialogue diplomacy” with North Korea it is also a NPT signatory. However, it has is finally being acknowledged. The world established a nuclear research center, King had overlooked the importance of both Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable “dialogue” and “diplomacy” in the Energy (KA-CARE), in 2010 to meet the Korean Peninsula for many years now, country’s energy and water needs. contrary to India’s continuous advocacy that dialogue diplomacy should be the real https://dailytimes.com.pk/358330/pakistan-saudi- pathway to attain peace. The prospects of arabia-china-and-russia-a-new-strategic-and- “dialogue diplomacy” in the Korean economic-bloc/ Peninsula remained bleak with North Korea’s withdrawal from the Six-Party Global arms control architecture Talks in 2009, and Pyongyang’s ‘collapsing’: UN, Arab News, continuous missile and nuclear tests ever February 25, 2019 since. China, North Korea’s lone military ally, had also emphasized “dialogue” The international arms control system is repeatedly, but Beijing’s sincerity was facing collapse, the United Nations chief always questionable. After all, China said Monday, as he urged Russia and the continued to offer a strategic shield to US to stop the imminent demise of a crucial North Korea’s continuous missile and nuclear treaty. nuclear tests by resisting and delaying Secretary General Antonio Guterres used an sanctions and measures at the United address to the UN’s Conference on Nation Security Council (UNSC). The Disarmament to warn that one of the years after the Six-Party Talks did not cornerstones of diplomatic achievement over encourage an environment that would be the last half century — arms control — was conducive for “dialogue diplomacy” in the in “grave danger.” region. Segregating Pyongyang through sanctions became the preferred measure “I will be blunt. Key components of the to find solutions to North Korea international arms control architecture are conundrum. collapsing,” Guterres said. The United States has already begun the process of The Hanoi summit between Trump and withdrawing from the Intermediate-Range Kim this week reiterates the significance Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty, in response to of “dialogue diplomacy.” With this, the Moscow’s deployment of the 9M729 missile, fall of North Korea is no longer a breaking prompting Russia to announce its own story to reckon with, nor does the world withdrawal. “We simply cannot afford to seem to be diffident about engagement return to the unrestrained nuclear with the Kim regime in Pyongyang any competition of the darkest days of the Cold more. Even though a permanent solution War,” Guterres said. “I call on the parties to is still a long way off, the world has started the INF Treaty to use the time remaining to realizing that continuous engagement engage in sincere dialogue on the various with Pyongyang is the best way to find a issues that have been raised,” he added. “It solution to North Korea’s nuclear impasse, is very important that this treaty be making Delhi’s stance triumphant. The preserved.” time has come to revisit and recount India’s perspective toward the Korean Peninsula http://www.arabnews.com/node/1457961/world to promote peace and partnerships.

https://thediplomat.com/2019/02/what-the- trump-kim-summit-means-for-india/ 56 Volume 11, Number 05 March 15, 2019

Paul Flynn was a champion in the Thus, the announcement by the Trump fight against nuclear power David administration that it will back out of the Lowry, The Gaurdian, February 26, 2019 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty unless Russia urgently mends its Paul Flynn had a huge range of causes, often ways has come like a bolt from the blue championing minority issues where others for an EU that has been bitterly divided, feared to tread, such as legalising cannabis listless and directionless for several years and supporting the troops returning from now. overseas wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, and the families of the fallen in these Leaders in countries like Poland and even wars, which he opposed. Hungary and the Baltic states would actually be happy to have the US missiles The issue on which I worked most with Paul back on their territory as they fear being was nuclear power and weapons dangers, the first in line of any possible Russian costs and secrecy. According to the attack and, hence, they remain vulnerable. Parliamentary Archives database, Paul But other nations, notably Germany, the asked 1,410 parliamentary questions on largest member of the EU, is less than keen nuclear issues during his time as an MP. on having any missiles, let alone nuclear Indeed his first three questions as an MP (in weapons, in its backyard. With the rapid July 1987) were posed on nuclear safety. He rise of the Green Party, which is fiercely opposed the Hinkley C plant in Somerset, anti-nuclear, the German people and the opposite his constituency across the Bristol government would be reluctant to see a Channel, to the end, and insisted the plans return to the Cold War scenario. Another for new nuclear plants in Wales at Wylfa big challenge for Europe is the weakening and a small modular reactor at of the Franco-German alliance that has so Trawsfynydd were expensive white far guided and given strength to the EU, elephants, while backing “clean, green not just in its enlargement but also in eternal” tidal power to the last. deepening intra-EU ties.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/ If EU leaders cannot quickly agree on a 26/paul-flynn-obituary-letter common strategy to respond to the US position on INF, or convince the Europe fears new Cold War amid Americans to use other means of getting suspension of nuclear treaty Ranvir S. the Russians to toe the line, it is very likely Nayar, Arab News, February 27, 2019 that US President Donald Trump will go ahead and tear up the treaty, meaning the There is never a good time to start an arms EU will be pulled closer to a renewed Cold race, but for Europe the news of the War. suspension of a nuclear arms treaty could not have come at a worse time. Europe is http://www.arabnews.com/node/1458931 already in deep paroxysms and uncertainty over the way Brexit is lurching ahead After the Trump-Kim Failure blindly. To add to it, the famous Franco- Nicholas Kristof, The New York Times, German engine that gives direction and February 28, 2019 power to the EU has become entirely dysfunctional since the election of President Trump was right to walk away Emmanuel Macron as president of France from his summit with Kim Jong-un rather and the severe setbacks suffered by than accept a bad nuclear agreement, but Chancellor Angela Merkel in Germany. The the outcome underscores that he was two leaders share a relationship that seems bamboozled last year at his first summit almost cold in comparison with the ties with Kim. Whatever genius Trump sees in between earlier heads of the two nations, the mirror, “the art of the deal” is not his right from the end of the Second World War, thing. Still, there are significant risks ahead. nearly 75 years ago. The most important is that North Korea 57 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

may return to testing nuclear weapons and Revisiting Chernobyl: ‘It is a huge ballistic missiles, for that would mark a huge cemetery of dreams’ Malcolm escalation of tensions and renewed concerns Borthwick, The Gaurdian, February 28, 2019 about brinkmanship and war. The 1986 nuclear disaster blighted Ukraine The collapse of the latest talks also and changed the world. Serhii Plokhy, underscores how misguided Trump was at who won the Baillie Gifford prize for his that earlier meeting. He didn’t understand history of the tragedy, returns to the once that Kim uses “denuclearization” to mean sought-after Soviet town something different than the meaning in the United States, and he gave Kim the https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/feb/ enormous gift of legitimacy that comes with 28/revisiting-chernobyl-cemetery-of-dreams a summit, without getting anything comparable in return. Focus on North Korea’s nuclear arsenal obscures threat posed by https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/28/opinion/ chemical and biological weapons trump-kim-summit.html James Stavridis, Japan Times, February 28, 2019 Here’s why US-North Korea talks will continue to fail Darius Shahtahmaseb, As U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian Times, February 28, 2019 North Korean leader Kim Jong Un held their summit in Vietnam, the narrow focus Given the current media climate on the issue on nuclear weapons obscured a major of North Korea, I can’t say I’m all the danger: Kim holds the whip in a three-ring surprised with the outcome of the summit. circus of weapons of mass destruction. The Despite Trump and Kim’s grandiose and other two rings, adjacent and in many ways laughable compliments towards each other, more frightening, feature chemical weapons and despite the fact that NBC reported the and — above all — biological threats. US was considering waiving its demand for full accounting of Pyongyang’s nuclear The North Koreans are suspected by U.S. program, we all knew at the end of the day and South Korean intelligence agencies of that little could be achieved between these holding substantial amounts of a variety of two nations because of the core issues at biological agents including smallpox, stake here. Some of us just disagree on the botulism, typhoid and anthrax. This means real reasons why this relationship was international pressure on North Korea to doomed from the outset (and some of us are sign global agreements banning such just plain lying to you). weapons; making those weapons part of the agenda alongside nukes in summit Still, to all those in the corporate media negotiations; and pressuring Russia and decrying that the Hanoi-based summit was China to persuade Kim to rid himself of any a waste of time, they need not fret. While in stockpiles before sanctions can be fully lifted. Vietnam, the Trump administration The chances of Kim quickly surrendering managed to ink a deal with Vietnam for 110 his entire nuclear arsenal are roughly the Boeing planes worth billions of dollars. same as that of Mexico paying for Trump’s Seems to me like it was a very lucrative and beautiful wall. Still, pursuing a diplomatic fruitful time in Vietnam, particularly for the conclusion — not Trump’s loose talk of “fire people who matter the and fury” — to the standoff on the Korean most: corporations that thrive as part of the Peninsula is the path forward. But the U.S. US war machine. shouldn’t forget to put other weapons of https://www.rt.com/op-ed/452698-korea-trump- mass destruction on the table as well. talks-fail/ https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/02/28/ asia-pacific/focus-north-koreas-nuclear-arsenal- obscures-threat-posed-chemical-biological- weapons/#.XIXKuZgvO7h 58 Volume 11, Number 05 March 15, 2019

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