With Uncertainties Roiling Washington and Seoul, What Next for North Korea?
Motoko Rich | New York Times
Since October, when the corruption scandal involving President Park Geun-hye of South Korea first erupted, North Korea has been uncharacteristically restrained. While the North, which had been accelerating the development of its nuclear program, has maintained a steady stream of sarcastic criticism of Ms. Park, it has not conducted ballistic missile or nuclear tests, even as the United Nations has tightened sanctions.
Europeans Debate Nuclear Self-Defense After Trump Win
Der Spiegel
For decades, American nuclear weapons have served as a guarantor of European security. But what happens if Donald Trump casts doubt on that atomic shield? A debate has already opened in Berlin and Brussels over alternatives to the U.S. deterrent.
Russia Seen Moving New Missiles To Eastern Europe
Geoff Brumfiel | NPR
In what could mark an escalation of tensions with the West, commercial satellite images suggest that Russia is moving a new generation of nuclear-capable missiles into Eastern Europe. Russia appears to be preparing to permanently base its Iskander missile system in Kaliningrad, a sliver of territory it controls along the Baltic coast between Lithuania and Poland. Arms control experts shared fresh satellite imagery with NPR, which they say provides evidence that the Iskander will soon be housed in the Russian-controlled enclave.
Defense Ministry to Quicken THAAD Deployment Amid Post-Impeachment Row
Yonhap News
South Korea is moving to hasten the deployment of an advanced U.S. missile defense system and finish its installation by May at the latest in the face of political uncertainty caused by the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye, government sources said Sunday.
Iran to Work on Nuclear-Powered Marine Vessels After U.S. 'Violation' of Deal
Bozorgmehr Sharafedin and Shadia Nasralla | Reuters
Iran ordered its scientists on Tuesday to start developing systems for nuclear-powered marine vessels in response to what it calls a U.S. violation of its landmark 2015 atomic deal with world powers. President Hassan Rouhani's announcement marked Tehran's first concrete reaction to a decision by the U.S. Congress last month to extend some sanctions on Tehran that would also make it easier to reimpose others lifted under the nuclear pact.
Boeing Agrees $16.6bn Deal to Sell 80 Jets to Iran As Sanction Ease
Alan Tovey | Telegraph
Boeing has agreed to sell a fleet of jets to Iran in a $16.6bn (£13.2m) deal that marks a new departure in attempts by the Islamic Republic to rejoin the global economy. The US plane-maker will sell 50 of its workhorse 737 single-aisle airliners, along with 30 of its “mini-jumbo” 777 aircraft to carrier Iran Air.