NATO Chief Urges China to Join Nuclear Arms Control Talks
AP News
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg urged China on Monday to join international efforts to limit the spread of nuclear weapons amid concerns that the Asian superpower is rapidly developing missiles capable of carrying atomic warheads. Laying out his priorities for nuclear disarmament at NATO’s annual arms control conference, Stoltenberg said that more countries must be included in future missile restriction talks, not just Russia.
South Korea Fires Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile for First Time as North Prepares Military Parade
Park Chan-kyong | South China Morning Post
South Korea has successfully test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) for the first time, becoming the first country without nuclear weapons to develop such a capability, reports on Tuesday said. A new Dosan Ahn Chang-ho submarine carried out the test last week, after similar tests were conducted from a submerged vessel last month, Yonhap reported, citing military sources. The defence ministry declined to comment on the report, citing security reasons.
Boosted by China and Russia, Iran Digs In on Nuclear Talks
Jonathan Tirone| Bloomberg
U.S. and European efforts to coax Iran back into nuclear negotiations as soon as this month are being blunted by support the Islamic Republic’s already emboldened leaders are receiving from China and Russia. The result is that three years after former President Donald Trump imposed his “maximum pressure” policy, Iran has enriched uranium close to weapons grade while its economy is showing some signs of stabilizing with the help of Beijing and Moscow, even as crucial oil exports remain heavily sanctioned.
Israel’s Military Chief Says ‘Accelerating’ Iran Strike Plans
Al Jazeera
Military plans dealing with Iran’s nuclear programme have been “greatly accelerated”, Israel’s military chief warned, as questions on the ability to revive a landmark accord limiting Tehran’s weapons development continue to grow. Preparations for possible action against Iran are being intensified, Chief of General Staff Aviv Kohavi said in an interview published on Monday, adding “a significant chunk of the boost to the defence budget, as was recently agreed, was intended for this purpose”.
N.Korea Promotes General to Ruling Party's Powerful Presidium
Josh Smith and Sangmi Cha | Reuters
North Korea has elevated a general long seen as a rising star in the country's powerful military and a major player in its missile programme to a position in the presidium of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) politburo, state media reported on Tuesday. Pak Jong Chon will also serve as secretary of the WPK Central Committee, KCNA news agency said. His election to the presidium, one of the most powerful decision-making bodies in North Korea, came after he appeared to have been given a reprimand or demotion in July, along with other senior figures, after leader Kim Jong Un accused officials of causing a "great crisis" with unspecified coronavirus lapses.
Japan Prime Minister Contender Takes Harder Line on Missile-Strike Ability
Peter Landers | Wall Street Journal
Japan needs to consider building a missile-strike capability against potential foes, including China and North Korea, said one of the two top candidates to become the nation’s next leader, former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Mr. Kishida struck a hard-line tone on China, calling Taiwan the front line in the struggle by democracies to resist authoritarianism’s advance. He said Tokyo and Washington needed to run joint simulations of how they would respond together in a crisis scenario involving Taiwan, going a step further than current government officials.