Russia Blocks Renewal of North Korea Sanctions Monitors
Michelle Nichols | Reuters
Russia on Thursday vetoed the annual renewal of a panel of experts monitoring enforcement of longstanding United Nations sanctions against North Korea over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. The move comes amid U.S.-led accusations that North Korea has transferred weapons to Russia for use in its war in Ukraine. Both Moscow and Pyongyang have denied the accusations, but vowed last year to deepen military relations.
Chinese Scientists Plan Surface-to-air Missile with 2,000km Kill Range
Stephen Chen | SCMP
Chinese researchers say they have designed a surface-to-air missile that will vastly outstrip its rivals, with a kill range of more than 2,000km (1,240 miles), according to a peer-reviewed paper published by the Chinese language Journal of Graphics. Ultra-long-range air defence is considered infeasible, with surface-to-air missiles typically having a flight range of tens of kilometres and the fastest few reaching several hundred kilometres.
US, ROK Sanction Russia and China-based Targets Funding North Korean Nukes
Shreyas Reddy | NK News
The U.S. and South Korea have imposed coordinated sanctions on individuals and entities linked to money laundering in support of North Korea’s nuclear and missile development, the allies announced Wednesday. The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned six individuals and two entities based in Russia, China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to a press release. Alongside Washington’s announcement, South Korea’s foreign ministry on Thursday designated the same two companies and four of the six individuals sanctioned by the U.S. “Today’s joint action reflects our commitment to disrupt the DPRK’s efforts to generate revenue for its illicit and destabilizing activities,” Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson said, according to the Treasury press release.
Biden Administration will Lend $1.5B to Restart Michigan Nuclear Power Plant, a First in the US
ED WHITE | Associated Press
The federal government will provide a $1.5 billion loan to restart a nuclear power plant in southwestern Michigan, officials announced Wednesday. Holtec International acquired the 800-megawatt Palisades plant in 2022 with plans to dismantle it. But now the emphasis is on restarting it by late 2025, following support from the state of Michigan and the Biden administration. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said it would be the first nuclear power plant to be reopened in the U.S. It still faces hurdles, including inspections, testing and the blessing of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, known as the NRC.
Construction at North Korea’s Kangson Facility: Probable Storage or Offices
PETER MAKOWSKY, OLLI HEINONEN, JACK LIU AND JENNY TOWN | 38 North
Commercial satellite imagery over the past few weeks indicates construction is underway at North Korea’s Kangson facility. While a recent report by NK News has suggested that this “could increase floor space for centrifuges” at what is suspected to be a clandestine uranium enrichment facility, the design of floor plans observed suggests otherwise. Given how the extension has been partitioned, these new spaces are not suitable for a centrifuge hall, but rather provide small storage rooms, workshops or offices.
Putin Says Russia will Not Attack NATO, but F-16s Will be Shot Down in Ukraine
Reuters
Russia has no designs on any NATO country and will not attack Poland, the Baltic states or the Czech Republic but if the West supplies F-16 fighters to Ukraine then they will be shot down by Russian forces, President Vladimir Putin said late on Wednesday… "We have no aggressive intentions towards these states," Putin said, according to a Kremlin transcript released on Thursday "The idea that we will attack some other country - Poland, the Baltic States, and the Czechs are also being scared - is complete nonsense. It's just drivel."