Kim Jong Un Vows Full Speed Ahead for North Korea’s Nuclear Program, as He Flaunts ICBM Missiles
Yoonjung Seo and Brad Lendon | CNN
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed on Monday to ramp up his development of nuclear arms, as a military parade in Pyongyang showcased the country’s most advanced weaponry yet—including an intercontinental ballistic missile experts say puts the entire US mainland in range. The country would “strengthen and develop” its nuclear forces at the “highest possible” speed, Kim said as a Hwasong-17 ICBM, multiple giant rocket launchers, and a submarine-launched ballistic missile, were all paraded through the streets of the North Korean capital. Experts said the parade—held to mark the 90th anniversary of the founding of the North Korean army—offered a glimpse into Kim’s ambitions for his weapons program, particularly his efforts to develop solid-fueled missiles that would be easier to hide from foreign spy agencies. It also offered an insight into his mindset, they said.
U.S. and Israel Will Hold Iran Talks Amid Stalemate in Nuclear Negotiations
Barak Ravid | Axios
The U.S. and Israel will hold a new round of strategic talks this week focusing on Iran’s nuclear program and countering its activity in the region, Israeli and U.S. officials said. Why it matters: The talks will take place amid a deep stalemate in indirect negotiations between the U.S. and Iran over reviving the 2015 nuclear agreement. The Biden administration has recently started discussing a scenario in which the nuclear deal isn’t revived. Israel is pressing the administration to cooperate on a “Plan B” in case that happens.
Russia to Deploy Sarmat Missiles by Autumn in ‘Historic’ Nuclear Upgrade
Mark Trevelyan | Reuters
Russia said on Saturday it plans to deploy its newly tested Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missiles, capable of mounting nuclear strikes against the United States, by autumn. The target stated by Dmitry Rogozin, head of the Roscosmos space agency, is an ambitious one as Russia reported its first test-launch only on Wednesday and Western military experts say more will be needed before the missile can be deployed. The Sarmat is capable of carrying 10 or more nuclear warheads and decoys, and of striking targets thousands of miles away in the United States or Europe.
North Korea’s New Short-Range Ballistic Missile
Vann H. Van Diepen | 38 North
On April 16, North Korea tested a new, unnamed short-range ballistic missile (SRBM), claiming the test would improve the operation of its “tactical nukes.” The new missile would add incrementally to the substantial existing artillery and SRBM threat against South Korean and US forces within about 100 km of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). But it would not add meaningfully to North Korea’s tactical nuclear weapons (TNW) capability, given its longstanding deployment of large numbers of other nuclear-capable SRBMs, such as the Scud and the new KN-23. More significant is Pyongyang’s rhetorical emphasis on “tactical nukes,” clearly an effort to heighten South Korean and US concerns about the potential use of such weapons. Observers have rightly noted that the North’s claims, in conjunction with renewed activity at its nuclear test site, could mean Pyongyang plans to test a TNW in the near future. Although such a test would be logical (and probably required to field a small, low-yield TNW), it is still not clear what exactly the North means by “tactical nukes,” and there are logical reasons to test various other types of nuclear weapons as well.
To Track Hypersonic Missiles, Space Force to Develop ‘At Least’ 4 MEO Satellites
Theresa Hitchens | Breaking Defense
Under a new program to be initiated in fiscal 2023, the Space Force will develop an “initial” constellation of new satellites in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) to detect and track hypersonic missiles, according to the service’s budget books. Space Systems Command (SSC) has budgeted some $828 million from FY23 through FY27 for the effort, aimed at developing at least four satellites to provide an “initial warfighting capability” by 2028, according to the budget justification books, or j-books, released Friday. The new program, called “Resilient Missile Warning Missile Tracking – Medium Earth Orbit (MEO),” will transition SSC’s current study, first reported by Breaking Defense last July, to a program of record.
Nuclear Power Could Help Europe Cut Its Russia Ties, but Not for Years
Liz Alderman and Stanley Reed | New York Times
On the windswept coast of Flamanville, an industrial city in northwest France facing the choppy waters of the English Channel, a soaring concrete dome houses one of the world’s most powerful nuclear reactors. But when this hulking giant will begin supplying power to France’s electrical grid is anyone’s guess. Construction is a full decade behind schedule and 12 billion euros, or $13 billion, over budget. Plans to start operations this year have been pushed back yet again, to 2024. And the problems at Flamanville are not unique. Finland’s newest nuclear power plant, which started operating last month, was supposed to be completed in 2009. As President Vladimir V. Putin’s war in Ukraine pushes Europe to sever its dependence on Russian natural gas and oil, nuclear power’s profile is rising, promising homegrown energy as well as reliable electricity.