North Korea Warns U.S. Against Intercepting its Test Missiles
Hyunsu Yim and Josh Smith | Reuters
North Korea said any move to shoot down one of its test missiles would be considered a declaration of war and blamed a joint military exercise between the United States and South Korea for growing tensions, state media KCNA said on Tuesday. Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of leader Kim Jong Un, warned in a statement that Pyongyang would see it as a "declaration of war" if the U.S. took military action against the North's strategic weapon tests.
IAEA Chief Qualifies Claim that Iran Will Restore Nuclear Site Monitoring
Patrick Wintour | The Guardian
Head of UN nuclear watchdog had said Tehran agreed to restore equipment and hand over data At his first press conference on his return from Tehran on Saturday, Rafael Grossi said “yes” when asked if Iran had pledged to restore all the cameras and other surveillance equipment that it had removed from its nuclear-related sites. But at Monday’s press conference he qualified this, saying it required further discussion. He said there was no agreement at this point on Iran handing over older footage and data taken by cameras and other equipment at the nuclear-related sites, or on future provision of that footage and data. “There are certain things we need to clarify,” he said.
UK and Australia Urge Washington to Ease Secrecy Rules in Security Pact
Demetri Sevastopulo | Financial Times
Australia and the UK are urging the Biden administration to relax restrictions on the sharing of technology and information that they say risk undercutting the trilateral Aukus security pact. Several people familiar with the discussions said Canberra and London wanted to ensure the second pillar of Aukus — which includes co-operation in areas such as hypersonic weapons — does not fall behind the first, which is the landmark deal to help Australia procure nuclear-powered submarines. President Joe Biden, Australia’s prime minister Anthony Albanese and UK PM Rishi Sunak are expected to reveal how and where the submarines will be built at a joint event in the US on March 13.
Nuclear Power Revival Reaches Japan, Home of the Last Meltdown
SHOKO ODA | The Japan Times
Twelve years after one of the worst nuclear disasters in history shook Japan and turned the public against atomic power, a global energy crisis is encouraging the country to switch its reactors back on. Faced with rising heating bills this winter after a sweltering summer spent worrying about blackouts, more people are now reappraising the benefits of cheaper and more stable energy. Even some of those living near nuclear plants are looking beyond their fears of another radioactive disaster.
China Says U.S. Relations have Left ‘Rational Path,’ Warns of Conflict Unless They ‘Hit the Brake’
Evelyn Cheng | CNBC
China’s new foreign minister, Qin Gang, said relations with the U.S. have left a “rational path” and warned of conflict if Washington doesn’t “hit the brake.”Qin, who was until recently China’s ambassador to the U.S., said China would “pursue a sound and stable relationship with the U.S.” However, he said the Biden administration’s call for “establishing guardrails and not seeking conflict simply means that China should not respond in word or in action when attacked.” “That’s not possible,” Qin said.
Spain Asks U.S. to Begin Cleanup of Nuclear Accident Site
CIARÁN GILES | ABC News
Spain said Monday it has asked the United States to begin procedures to remove soil contaminated with radioactivity after a mid-air collision dumped four U.S. hydrogen bombs near a southern Spanish village nearly 60 years ago. None of the bombs had exploded, but the plutonium-filled detonators on two went off, spreading several kilograms (pounds) of highly radioactive plutonium 239 across the landscape around Palomares.