Wagging the Plutonium Dog: Japanese Domestic Politics and Its International Security Implications
James Acton | Carnegie Endowment
Japan is the only non-nuclear-weapon state with a program to extract plutonium from the spent fuel produced in nuclear reactors—a process termed reprocessing—to fabricate more fuel. Because plutonium can be used directly in the manufacturing of nuclear weapons, Japan has, in keeping with internationally recognized best practice, pledged not to produce more plutonium than it can consume. Serious questions are emerging, however, about whether it can uphold this commitment.
How to Calm Today's Nuclear Hysteria
Vladimir Dvorkin | Carnegie Endowment
It's practically impossible to overlook the recent drumbeat of inflammatory Russian and Western statements about nuclear policy. In June 2015, when Russian President Vladimir Putin played up a long-planned deployment of 40 new intercontinental ballistic missiles, he drew an immediate reaction from NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who said, "This nuclear sabre rattling of Russia is unjustified. It's destabilizing and it's dangerous."
A U.S.-Russian Arms Treaty Could Be in Trouble
Stratfor
Russia is feeling increasingly limited by the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty as the United States continues to modernize its nuclear arsenal and develop its ballistic missile defenses. The United States also finds the treaty constraining, but neither Moscow nor Washington wants to be the first to withdraw from the pact.
Parties in Iran Nuclear Deal Aim for Implementation in Early 2016
Laurence Norman | Wall Street Journal
Foreign ministers from Iran and the six powers that negotiated July's nuclear agreement met Monday evening to discuss the implementation of the deal, with European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini saying they hope to complete that work in early 2016.
Iran's President Says His Country Will Stick To Nuclear Deal
Steve Inskeep | NPR
In an interview with Steve Inskeep, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani says his country will abide by the recent nuclear deal, but he acknowledges there are opponents of the agreement in his country.
Satellites, Warheads and Rockets: Is North Korea's Space Program Really about Missile Development?
John Schilling | 38 North
When the Soviet Union shocked the world and opened the Space Age on October 4, 1957, it was not a coincidence that its first satellite was launched into orbit on a modified R-7 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). For many observers, that was the message of Sputnik—the rocket that did this, can deliver hydrogen bombs to your cities. Nor was the message sent only once. The first 96 Soviet satellite launches were conducted using modified ICBMs, before Russian engineers bothered to design a rocket specifically for space missions.