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China Says Hopes For 'Clear' Message With New North Korea Sanctions

IN THIS ISSUE: China Says Hopes For 'Clear' Message With New North Korea Sanctions, THAAD In Japan? U.S. Anti-Missile System Considered By Tokyo To Strengthen Defense Capabilities, Swiss Voters Reject Early Shutdown of Nuclear Power, Governor Under Fire as Sendai Nuclear Reactor Likely to Restart, Russian Senator Promises Nuclear Response to NATO Expansion, Donald Trump and the Nuclear Crisis

Published on November 29, 2016

China Says Hopes For 'Clear' Message With New North Korea Sanctions

Reuters

China said on Tuesday it hoped for a "clear" message to be sent with new UN sanctions on North Korea over its nuclear program, but would not comment on the draft, saying there had been too much speculation about the details.

THAAD In Japan? U.S. Anti-Missile System Considered By Tokyo To Strengthen Defense Capabilities

Suman Varandani | International Business Times

Japan's Defense Minister Tomomi Inada said Friday that the country is considering introducing a U.S. anti-ballistic missile shield that could help strengthen the country's defense capabilities. Japan, which faces a growing threat from North Korea, currently has a two-layer ballistic missile defense system. “We are investigating future systems for intercepting missiles,” Inada told reporters in Tokyo. The government does not have a concrete plan to introduce the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in the country, but the government and military officials are “considering what can be done,” Inada said.

Swiss Voters Reject Early Shutdown of Nuclear Power

Straits Times

Swiss voters have rejected a quick shutdown of the country's five nuclear power plants, as concerns over losing energy independence outweighed safety worries Nearly 55 per cent of voters in a referendum on Sunday turned down the initiative promoted by the Green party, with 45 per cent favouring it, in a vote that was part of the Swiss system of direct democracy giving citizens a final say on important 

Governor Under Fire as Sendai Nuclear Reactor Likely to Restart

Asahi Shimbun

Anti-nuclear activists are castigating Governor Satoshi Mitazono, saying the politician has retreated from his campaign promises regarding the planned restart of a nuclear reactor in the prefecture.

Russian Senator Promises Nuclear Response to NATO Expansion

FT

In response to NATO’s efforts to enlist new member-countries, a member of the defense and security committee for Russia’s Upper House has said that Russia will target any sites it considers to be a threat with nuclear weapons.

Donald Trump and the Nuclear Crisis

Gideon Rachman | Financial Times

People who are worried by the prospect of President Donald Trump are often reminded of the checks and balances in the American system. The U.S. president is not a dictator. He is constrained by the constitutions, the courts and Congress.
 

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