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New Satellite Images Suggest Military Buildup in Russia’s Strategic Baltic Enclave

IN THIS ISSUE: New Satellite Images Suggest Military Buildup in Russia’s Strategic Baltic Enclave, Russia, U.S. Might Reaffirm Impossibility of Winning Nuclear War, U.S. Opposed to Koreas’ Plan for No-Fly Zone over Border, Ease or Squeeze? U.S., Seoul Wrangle Over North Korea Policy, CTBTO Ready to Participate in Inspection of N.Korea’s Nuke Test Site, U.S. Sanctions Iran Finance Network in Bid to Sever Tehran’s Global Ties

Published on October 18, 2018

New Satellite Images Suggest Military Buildup in Russia’s Strategic Baltic Enclave

Oren Liebermann, Frederik Pleitgen, and Vasco Cotovio | CNN

New satellite imagery shared exclusively with CNN shows Russia appearing to upgrade four of its military installations in Kaliningrad, Russia's strategic outpost on NATO's doorstep. Earlier this year, aerial images came to light that suggested the Russians had significantly modernized a nuclear weapons storage bunker in Kaliningrad. Now, satellite imagery and analysis from ImageSat International, a commercial satellite firm, appear to confirm that a major modernization is underway in at least four locations throughout the region.

Russia, U.S. Might Reaffirm Impossibility of Winning Nuclear War

TASS

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov believes that Moscow and Washington should reaffirm the idea it will be impossible to win a nuclear war. “The Americans and we have made two fundamental statements since the Soviet era to the effect nobody can win a nuclear war and for that reason it cannot happen. It might be a good idea to reaffirm this postulate in the current context,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview to RT France, Paris Match and Le Figaro.

U.S. Opposed to Koreas’ Plan for No-Fly Zone over Border: Sources

Hyonhee Shin | Reuters

The United States opposes a plan by South and North Korea to set up a no-fly zone over their heavily fortified border, the latest sign of a rift between Seoul and its top ally, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Ease or Squeeze? U.S., Seoul Wrangle Over North Korea Policy

Jonathan Cheng and Andrew Jeong | Wall Street Journal 

Friction is growing between South Korea and the U.S. over how best to persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear program, with Washington maintaining pressure and Seoul seeking to ease sanctions and reduce the North’s isolation. After coordinating on diplomatic engagement—most notably at a June summit between President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un—discord over the next steps reflects the allies’ conflicting objectives. 

CTBTO Ready to Participate in Inspection of N.Korea’s Nuke Test Site: Report

Yonhap News Agency

The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) has shown its willingness to take part in the inspection of Punggye-ri, North Korea's only known nuclear test site, in line with an agreement between Washington and Pyongyang, the Voice of America reported Thursday

U.S. Sanctions Iran Finance Network in Bid to Sever Tehran’s Global Ties

Ian Talley | Wall Street Journal

The U.S. sanctioned a multibillion-dollar network of Iranian companies, banks and funds accused of financing the country’s elite paramilitary unit, ratcheting up global pressure on Tehran and sending a warning to governments and companies considering continued engagement with Iran.

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