Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest A Fortnightly Newsletter from the Indian Pugwash Society Volume 12, Number 4 February 29, 2020 1 Convenor Amb. Sujan R. Chinoy Executive Council Cdr. (Dr.) Probal K. Ghosh Air Marshal S. G. Inamdar (Retd.) Dr. Roshan Khanijo Amb. R. Rajagopalan Dr. Rajesh Rajagopalan Shri Dinesh Kumar Yadvendra Prepared by Ms. Diya Deep Singh Ms. Rajrajeshwari Singh 2 Contents India • Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.511 • Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 680 • India-Pakistan nuclear war would harm ocean life: Study • India to Test Nirbhay Cruise Missile With Indigenous Propulsion System • Russia, India May Cooperate To Build Nuclear Plants In Middle East, Africa • Transforming nuclear waste into wealth China • China's lunar rover travels 367 meters on moon's far side • PLA air force dispatches 8 transport aircraft to support Wuhan's coronavirus fight • Wuhan defies rising pressure • China develops new gyroplane for border plateau operations • China's Long March-5B carrier rocket arrives at launch site • PLA Air Force to perform in Singapore despite epidemic • Taiwan scrambles jets as mainland Chinese air force flies around island • US military build-up threatens global arms control: Chinese FM • Chinese military never engages in cyber espionage:Defense Spokesperson Pakistan • Lt Gen (r) Kidwai warns India not to take Pakistan's nuclear capability as a 'bluff' • Don’t take Pak nuclear capability as a bluff: Lt Gen Kidwai • Pakistan touts its nuclear security measures • ‘Pak nuclear safety regime as per world standards’ • ‘Seek China’s help to counter India’s military modernisation’ USA • U.S. pressure on Iran to continue despite lifting sanctions on China's COSCO unit, official says • Nuclear part of US Northwest's optimal clean energy mix, study shows • Framatome wins TVA fleet contracts • US to start negotiating with Russia on nuclear arms control soon • US Adds ‘Low Yield’ Nuclear Weapon to Its Submarine Arsenal • US cleanup mission set for big advances in 2020 3 • Grossi sets out vision to 'recalibrate' the IAEA • DOE invites feedback on advanced reactor programme • Trump halts support for Yucca Mountain, Nevada nuclear waste dump • Trump Budget Calls for New Nuclear Warheads and 2 Types of Missiles • Trump budget proposes $150 million for creation of uranium reserve • Trump's Pentagon budget bolsters nuclear weapons, weapons research • US budget request includes USD150 million for uranium reserve • BWXT to support HALEU research reactor fuel programme • Containment concreting milestone at Vogtle 3 • Canada, USA complete used fuel return • US uranium reserve proposal receives positive response • U.S. renews pressure on China to join nuclear talks Europe • EU foreign policy chief to visit Iran amid regional tensions • Europe Extends Time Limit to Resolve Nuclear Deal Disputes with Iran • France's Macron calls on Europe to push international nuclear arms control • Macron seeks leading role in post-Brexit EU nuclear strategy • Mideast peace plan, Iran top EU diplomat's agenda in US • EU's only remaining nuclear power France demands centre stage in EU army • Europe Puts What Remains of the JCPOA in Limbo • Iran seeks compromise from Europe on nuclear deal Russia • Russia reaches milestone with Kursk II RPV • Russia eyes raising thousands of radioactive relics from watery Arctic graves • Only equal dialogue can mitigate nuclear conflict risks — Russian senate speaker • Moscow concerned over low-yield nuclear warheads deployed on US submarines • Russia’s top brass uploads video of upgraded Tu-160M bomber’s debut flight • Russia starts automated system hot tests on Leningrad II-2 • Lavrov calls for extending New START • Bellona’s Russian nuclear project celebrates its 25th anniversary • Russia ready to discuss its weapons with US in context of possible treaties — Lavrov • Shipbuilders to deliver advanced nuclear-powered sub to Russian Navy in 1.5 months • Russia Could Build Nuclear Power Plant in Sri Lanka: Ambassador • Extending New START could help Russia, US ease bilateral tensions — ex-diplomats • Russia seals Akkuyu reactor vessel • Protective shield installation gathers pace at Kursk II-1 4 • Threats and risks for humankind so high as never before in post-WWII period, warns Lavrov West Asia Iran • Iran says to advance nuclear program with more determination • Top EU diplomat holds talks in Iran 'to de-escalate tensions' • Iran’s reasoning convinced E3 against activating trigger mechanism: spox • Iran rocket launch fails to put satellite into orbit • Iran unveils ballistic missile, 'new generation' engines • Iran’s Salehi in Vienna to attend nuclear security conference • US accuses Iran of developing missiles through satellite bid, vows ‘enormous pressure • Iran's nuclear chief: U.S. JCPOA move undermining diplomacy • If redesign of Arak reactor delayed Iran will return to previous one: Salehi • Iran will never decide under pressure: Salehi • Iran’s satellite carriers have no military aspect: defense minister • Zafar Satellite or producing nuclear intercontinental ballistic missiles? • Zarif says Iran’s nuclear decisions are reversible if Europe takes ‘meaningful’ steps Turkey • 1st reactor vessel welding for Akkuyu NPP completed UAE • How UAE's Barakah nuclear energy plant promises a sustainable future Israel • Nuclear Tension: Israel vs. Iran East Asia Japan • U.N. Secretary-General Guterres to attend Aug. 6 Hiroshima event 5 North Korea • North Korea's Kim offers condolences to China's Xi about virus outbreak: KCNA • Burdened by sanctions, North Korea sees coronavirus threaten economic lifelines • Rash moves only make things worse • Trump to nominate envoy for North Korea to United Nations job • U.S. ready to allow North Korea sanctions exemption to combat coronavirus • Former chief of staff Kelly rejects Trump North Korea approach as futile: report South Korea • U.S. military in South Korea imposes quarantine for troops returning from China • 'Security-sovereignty-development' nexus in denuclearization Misc • Russia ready to share its experience in nuclear energy sector with Indonesia – Lavrov • Brazil, USA promote cooperation in nuclear energy • Tomorrow’s nuclear reactors: small but beautiful • Countries with most nuclear warheads: US is not No 1; with 135 weapons India at 7th spot • US, Ukraine to conduct Open Skies observation flight over Russia • Uzbekistan updates IAEA on progress as nuclear ‘newcomer’ Op-Ed India • Here Are Five Deadly Weapons India Would Use Against Pakistan In a War • India's Hypersonic Missile Could Start A Nuclear War China • China won't join trilateral arms talks with US and Russia • Chinese reactor design clears hurdle Pakistan • Toying with nuclear stability 6 USA • How Donald Trump Can Stop a Nuclear Arms Race • Donald Trump Is About to Make One Big Giant 'Nuclear' Mistake • A Plea to Save the Last Nuclear Arms Treaty • Here’s what happens in a nuclear apocalypse Europe • European insights into new nuclear • France's Nuclear Weapons Have Kept It A Military Powerhouse In Europe • Algeria: 60 years on, French nuclear tests leave bitter fallout Russia • Step to nuclear doomsday: US puts low-yield nukes on submarines to counter made-up Russian ‘strategy' • Trouble: Russia Is Helping China Build Its First Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier • Russia's Tsar Bomba Nuke Is So Destructive That It Was Only Tested Once • Arctic Aggression: Russia Is Better Prepared for a North Pole Conflict Than America Is West Asia Iran • Scholar says nuclear activity back to pre-JCPOA level, predicts change in Majlis composition, slams ‘deal of century’ • Europe’s dependence on U.S. impedes efforts to preserve nuclear deal: expert Israel • Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Israel's Nuclear Weapons • A War In The Middle East Could Go Nuclear (And That Can Only Mean 1 Thing) East Asia Japan • Final disposal of Fukushima nuke water should reflect local input • Deployment of ‘usable nuclear weapons’ could spark arms race 7 North Korea • North Korea enhanced nuclear, missile programs in 2019 in breach of sanctions - U.N. report • Dimming prospects of talks South Korea • Trump and N. Korea Interviews • Interview: Trump’s nuclear insecurities and other secrets from the author of “The Bomb” Think Tanks • Russia killed arms control. Why does it want to keep New START? • The Last Remaining Nuclear Arms Control Treaty Between the U.S. and Russia Could Expire in One Year, Here’s Why That’s Dangerous • Don’t let New START die • Toward Accountable Nuclear Deterrents: How Much is Too Much? • Trump’s New Nuclear Budget Is Bad News for Russia • Trump’s 2021 budget: More nuclear spending, less of almost everything else • Pakistan Streamlines its National Nuclear Power Programme with IAEA Support 8 India Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.511 February 5, 2020 The details of the precautionary steps being taken to minimise risk factors associated with nuclear accidents? The Minister Of State For Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions And Prime Minister’s Office (Dr. Jitendra Singh): Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has been successfully operating all its nuclear facilities for the past six decades by ensuring radiological safety both to its workforce and every member of public. Nuclear Power Plants (NPP) are designed adopting safety principles of redundancy, diversity and provided fail-safe design features following a defence-in-depth approach which ensures multiple layers of safety to minimize the probability of any accident and quantity of release to the environment in case of a hypothetical accident. Additionally,