Trump and Putin Pledge Cooperation on Global Affairs, But Offer Few Details
Michael R. Gordon and Ann M. Simmons | Wall Street Journal
After the Helsinki conference, President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin announced no major breakthroughs on issues of mutual concern ranging from Ukraine to Syria. Nor was there any hint that bold action would be taken to address a danger Mr. Trump has repeatedly underscored in recent days: the sizable arsenals each side possesses of nuclear arms.
Exclusive: Revealing Kangson, North Korea’s First Covert Uranium Enrichment Site
Ankit Panda | Diplomat
Beginning in the early 2000s, North Korea began building a discrete, largely unnoticed, cluster of buildings a few kilometers south-southeast of Pyongyang. The Diplomat, along with a team of open source researchers at the Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey was able to locate the Kangson covert enrichment site.
N.K. Media Denies U.S. Allegations of Secret Nuke Facilities
Yonhap
North Korea’s media outlets on Monday dismissed the latest allegations of secret uranium enrichment facility in the North as groundless and asked the U.S. administration not to pay attention to any false rumor started by those opposed to the North-U.S. dialogue.
Efforts to Isolate Russia Have Failed – Putin
Sputnik News
Vladimir Putin said in an interview with Fox News on Monday that Russia is prepared to extend START nuclear treaty that expires in 2021. Moreover, Moscow is hopeful that Russia and the United States will be able to find an acceptable solution for both countries with regards to strategic stability, including the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) treaty.
Iran Nuclear Deal: U.S. Rejects EU Plea for Sanctions Exemption
BBC
The U.S. has rejected pleas from the EU to grant exemptions to European firms from the sanctions on Iran that will start to be reinstated next month. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin wrote in a letter that they wanted to exert “unprecedented” pressure on Tehran. Waivers will only be given on national security or humanitarian grounds.
Trump Shares ‘Very Nice Note’ From Kim Jong Un
Brett Samuels | Hill
President Trump on Thursday shared a letter he received from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, framing it as an example of progress between the two countries, even as multiple reports have indicated that North Korea hasn’t slowed its nuclear development.