Vol.11 No 24 December 31, 2019 - Pugwash India 11 No 24 Dec 31... · 2020-01-02 · 4 Volume 11,...

Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest1 Nuclear, Missile&

Space Digest

Indian Pugwash Society

No.1, Development Enclave,Rao Tula Ram Marg, Near USI , Delhi-110010

Email: [email protected]

Tel. No (91-11) 2671-7983 Fax No. (91-11)2615-4192

Volume 11, Number 24 A Fortnightly Newsletter from the Indian Pugwash Society December 31, 2019

Convenor

Amb. Sujan R. Chinoy

Executive Council

Cdr. (Dr.) Probal K. Ghosh

Air Marshal S. G. Inamdar(Retd.)

Dr. Roshan Khanijo

Amb. R. Rajagopalan

Dr. Rajesh Rajagopalan

Shri Dinesh KumarYadvendra

Contents

A. India

� Welfare of People affected by TAPS Project� Power Allocation from Atomic Plants� Neutrino Observatory in Tamil Nadu� Proper Safety Apparatus in Nuclear Power Plants� Commercialising R&D of ISRO� Satellites Launched by India� Agreement with Kazakhstan for supply of Uranium� PSLV successfully launches RISAT-2BR1 and nine commercial satellites in

its fiftieth flight� HSL poised to deliver India's first missile tracking ship in New Year� Chandrayaan-2: Indian helps Nasa find Moon probe debris� India conducts another night trial of Prithvi-II missile� Interactive: How many satellites has India launched?� Exoworlds to take off in 2025: Kasturirangan� A Billion Pixels and the Search for India's Crashed Moon Lander� Kudankulam unit 3 core catcher installed� India to lease third Akula-class nuclear attack submarine from Russia� Isro begins countdown for 50th PSLV launch, rocket to carry spy satellite� PSLV-C48/RISAT-2BR1: Everything You Should Know About RISAT-

2BR1 and the Nine Commercial Payloads Part of Today's Launch� India's foreign satellite launch count touches 319

B. China

� DF-17 may not sole hypersonic missile program: media� China to build space-based solar power station by 2035� Xingkong-2: China's new missile threat?� China, Iran hold consultation on Iran nuclear issue� Country making strides toward Mars mission� China's sanctions a timely warning to US� China praises Europe's efforts in Iran barter mechanism� China's lunar rover travels over 345 meters on moon's far side� Arms firm makes artificial diamonds that could be used in laser weapons

Volume 11, Number 24 December 31, 20192

� China's Amb. calls on certain state party to stop blocking BWC negotiations� Chinese private rocket complete the third phase engine thermo ground test� China's new PCL191 multiple launch rocket system casts shadow over Taiwan Strait� China launches new optical remote sensing satellite� Chinese rocket 1st to make 2 flights in a day� China confirms satellite launch after military rocket's 'dragon's tail' stirs online

speculation� China publishes military book series� China improves space-based observation of Earth� China releases first 3D images based on Earth observation satellite� China urges US to fulfill duties on nuclear disarmament� Chinese delegation arrives for ICG-14� Keeping pace with application of AI to defense sector� China's lunar rover sets record for longest operation� Rare earths become the newest 'decoupling' frontier� Chinese envoy calls for peace talks to ease tensions on Korean Peninsula� Yutu 2 is now longest working rover on moon

C. Pakistan

� Fawad Ch urges world to take notice of irresponsible Indian space missions� New IAEA Collaborating Centre in Pakistan to assist in Applications of Nuclear

Technologies� IAEA commends nuclear security measures taken by Pakistan� Cold testing completed at Pakistan's Karachi 2� Acknowledgement of nuclear security� KANUPP takes CSR to the next level

D. USA

� Sanctions May Have Fueled Iran Protests, but Have Yet to Further U.S. Goals� Keeping up with China: US Navy orders $22 billion worth of submarines� Oklo unveils its vision of Aurora plant� Nuclear for Climate speaks at COP25� US and Canadian regulators select SMR for joint review� Trump, South Korea's Moon discuss trying to maintain talks with North Korea� North Korea's U.N. envoy says denuclearization off negotiating table with United

States� Cheney Warns Disengagement in Mideast Benefits Iran, Russia� U.S. defense policy bill requires nuclear power inspections for Saudi Arabia: sources� U.S. lawmakers reach deal on massive defense bill, eye Russia, Turkey, China� Pompeo says hopeful North Korea will keep commitments as Pyongyang deadline

looms� U.S. imposes new sanctions on Iran airline over proliferation� After North Korea Hints at New Policy, U.S. Warns Against More Missile Tests� U.S. tells U.N. it is ready to be flexible in North Korea talks, warns against provocations� Roof placed over first Vogtle unit� U.S. warns North Korea against 'ill-advised behavior' as deadline looms� US: NKorea missile tests are 'deeply counterproductive'� Pentagon Tests Long-Banned Ballistic Missile Over Pacific

Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest3

� SMR design review enters final phases� U.S. envoy arrives in South Korea as Pyongyang ramps up pressure� U.S. envoy Biegun to North Korea: 'We're here, you know how to reach us'

E. Europe

� Iran to continue ballistic missile program despite EU warning� Europeans rap Iran for working on nuclear-capable missiles� Europeans again condemn North Korea's missile launches� Europeans Step Up Pressure on Iran Over Nuclear Violations� Europeans, Iran to clash at nuclear talks as deal nears collapse� Europe Cannot Afford to Cross Iran's Redline on Nuclear Issue� Austria seeks to preserve nuclear deal: diplomat

F. Russia

� Putin sets task to build up Russian Navy's combat potential in coming years� Kremlin: NATO on Moscow's radar only when alliance threatens Russia� Leningrad II plant begins providing district heating� Russia awards contract to build BREST reactor,� Putin says Russia ready to extend New START nuclear arms treaty� Russia suspends revamp work at Iran's Fordow nuclear plant� Putin fears the US and NATO are militarizing space and Russia is right to worry,

experts say� Three out of four icebreakers for Northern Sea Route may be decommissioned by 2030� Russia suspends Fordow project in Iran� Russia says will respond to U.S. on missile deployment� Russian Foreign Minister Likely to Discuss Nuclear Arms With Trump and Pompeo� Russia to test robot for radioactive waste disposal in early 2020� Russia ready to consider US nuclear disarmament proposals - source� Russia and Turkey plan grid connection for Akkuyu plant� Orano to supply second Russian deconversion facility� Press review: Lavrov, Trump hash over boosting business ties and arms control

proposals� Zaporozhe 5 loaded exclusively with Westinghouse fuel� Russia raises concerns over new U.S. ballistic missile test: RIA� Russia Developing Nuclear Arms Beyond U.S. Arsenal, U.S. Military Says� US missile test confirms INF Treaty was ruined at Washington's initiative - Kremlin

West Asia

G. Iran

� Setting Iran deadlines 'might not be the best idea': new IAEA chief� Iran says still ready for talks if US lifts sanctions� Russia suspends revamp work at Iran's Fordow nuclear plant� Iran working on nuclear-capable missiles: European powers� Iran nuclear deal parties meet as accord nears collapse� Iran President Rouhani may visit Japan on December 19 - Jiji� IAEA chief vows to act fairly towards Tehran� EU chief urges united stance to preserve nuclear deal� US hopeful for Iran prisoner talks but imposes new sanctions


� Guterres says UN is unable to verify weapons used in Saudi oil attack were from Iran� IRGC chief: It is wrong to think Iranians will surrender under increasing economic

pressure� Iran can give response if attacked: Nasrallah� Resolution 2231 imposes no ban on Iran's missile tests: spokesman� Malaysian PM calls U.S. sanctions on Iran a 'form of dictatorship'

H. Saudi Arabia

� Saudi Arabia opens doors to 'naturalize' outstanding talents� Iran's threat to the region can no longer be tolerated: Al-Jubeir

I. Israel

� Netanyahu presses Pompeo for more pressure on 'tottering' Iran

J. Turkey

� Turkey veto clouds Nato party in London� Turkey Point licensed for 80 years of operation� Turkey flexes muscle as Greece and EU stick to international law� Turkey could close Incirlik air base in face of U.S. threats: Erdogan

East Asia

K. Japan

� METI eyes 2031 end to Fukushima No. 1 cleanup� Arrangements in works for Iran's president to visit Japan this month� U.S. signals approval for Tokyo visit by Iran's Rouhani amid nuclear impasse� Nuclear no-no: 17-year-old nabbed for uranium trade� Nuclear watchdog OKs decommissioning plan for two reactors at Kepco's Oi plant

in Fukui� Japan-Iran summit being finalized for Dec. 20 as Abe looks to play mediator

L. North Korea

� Experts expect North Korea to ratchet up provocations� N. Korea steps up tensions with new missile launch platforms� NK-set expiration of nuclear talks approaching� North Korea threatens to resume calling Trump 'dotard'� N. Korea says it carried out 'very important test' at satellite launch site� North Korea says denuclearization not on negotiating table� North Korea says denuclearization 'gone out of negotiation table' with US� N. Korea conducts 'important test' at once-dismantled site� N. Korea believed to test new rocket engine to provoke US� N. Korea conducts 'another crucial test'� Chief of KPA General Staff urges US to watch its mouth

M. South Korea

� Holding nuke talks this month will affect N. Korea's policymaking for next year:Minister

� Moon calls for Chinese role in denuclearizing North Korea� S. Korea to promote exports of its designed nuke reactors� Moon, Trump agree on need to maintain dialogue momentum over N. Korea


� South Korea's Moon to visit China for trilateral with Japan amid North Korea tension� South Korea says North's recent test was of rocket engine

N. Op-Ed

India

� Story of father of Indian space programme in photos� Policy Paralysis Cannot Be India's Response to the US-Iran Impasse� India is in the second space age with one hand tied at the back� ISRO Needs to Reflect on How It Can Encourage, Not Dismiss, Those Who Can Help� Why India's Arihant-Class Missile Submarine Is a Serious Problem for China� Twenty Years Ago, Nuclear-Armed India and Pakistan Fought a Chilly, High-Altitude

War in the Himalayas� This Means Drama: Indian Missile Defense Is Raising Tensions With PakistanChina

� Why Does China Say It Won't Use Nuclear Weapons First in War?� Here's China's Plan To Fight A Nuclear War Against America: Nuke U.S. Cities

Millions would die.� Why China's next Long March 5 rocket mission will be about restoring national pride� Pentagon head says China has become top US military priority, moving past RussiaPakistan

� Is Nuclear Non-Proliferation still a realistic goal?� Pakistan's case stronger than India's for elite N-club membership: ex-envoyUSA

� Donald Trump's Greatest National Security Threat: A China-Russia Alliance� The New Cold War? It's With China, and It Has Already BegunEurope

� Emerging Europe's nuclear option� Is Germany blocking nuclear because of gas?Russia

� Russia Is Not The Soviet Union. So Why Can't Europe Help Pay More for NATO?� The Story of the 4 Nuclear Torpedoes Russia Left Behind� Say What? Why Russia Keeps Practicing Nuclear War� The Russian Navy Has Some Problems� Russia Could Kill American Carriers Without the "Poseidon" Nuclear TorpedoWest Asia

Iran

� Iran's ballistic missiles 'can carry nuclear weapons'� Is Iran's missile program inconsistent with Resolution 2231?� Iran vs. Israel: A (Nuclear?) War That Should Never Be Fought:Turkey

� Turkey, Not Trump, Is the Biggest Threat to NATO Right Now� Don't Blame Turkey for NATO's Woes� Who benefits from a NATO without Turkey?� Who's instructing the anti-Canal Istanbul 'Montreux lobby'? Map is memory; it shows

future as much as it does history. From the Silk Road to the Bering Strait: Wealth,power map, our country's surface area all changed! After Canal Istanbul they'regoing to claim we have 'nuclear weapons.' Let's see what happens.

East Asia


North Korea

� N. Korea's shifting demands� North Korean missile aggrandizement� Rocketman vs. Dotard: war of words is back� North Korea's hardline strategy on US and 'North Wind'South Korea

� Nuclear phase-out policy will hurt economic growth: KERI� UN Security Council to meet this week to discuss North Korea's provocation report

Second Korean War 'possible'� NK could shutdown nuke talks unless US does U-turn: think tank� Pyongyang trapped in illusion of 'North Korean superiority

O. Think Tanks

� IAEA Mission Says Indonesia Strengthened Nuclear and Radiation Safety, Sees Areasfor Enhancement

� Japan Downplays Possibility of Hosting INF-Range Missiles� Decision on Autonomous Weapons Talks Eludes CCW� Three Decades of Chemical Weapons Elimination: More Challenges Ahead� And the prize for global nuclear security goes to… China� Turkey's military drones: an export product that's disrupting NATO

P. Interviews/Reports

� Nuclear No First Use Spotlight� I hope the next ISRO chief is a woman: Susmita Mohanty� Nuclear Power in India� World Energy Needs and Nuclear Power� The Purpose, Scope, and Content of Safety Cases


A. India

Welfare of People affected by TAPSProject

PIB Delhi, December 4, 2019

The Land acquisition for the project wascarried out in the first phase in 1960s andthe second phase in early 2000s. The ProjectAffected Persons (PAPs) at Tarapur havebeen rehabilitated in line with therehabilitation package formulated by theMaharashtra Government as per the thenprevalent laws/acts.

In addition, Nuclear Power Corporation ofIndia Limited (NPCIL) undertakes severalprogrammes for the welfare ofneighbourhood including PAPs, as a part ofits Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).These include providing civic amenities,Healthcare, Education & Skill Development,Infrastructure, Sanitation and SustainableDevelopment.

The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE)and NPCIL have made efforts to employ asmany eligible people from among PAPs aspossible, considering the requirements of thequalifications and skills required for variousjobs in the nuclear power plants. Diversifiedinitiatives to enable PAPs for securingemployment/livelihood are implemented.These include relaxation in age andpercentage of marks in qualifying criteria inrecruitment to Group C posts advertised byTarapur Atomic Power Station (TAPS),award of services and maintenancecontracts to PAPs and special dispensationfor allotment of shops in TAPS Township.

NPCIL as a Public Sector Enterprise of theDepartment of Atomic Energy follows all theorders/guidelines issued by the CentralGovernment for recruitment. As per theextant rules, no quota is specificallyearmarked for Local (Home District/HomeState) candidates. However, NPCIL hasprovided question papers for recruitment inthe posts to be carried out at the site (GroupB technical and all Group C) in Marathi, inaddition to English & Hindi.

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1594970

Power Allocation from AtomicPlants


The power generated by nuclear powerplants is allocated by the Ministry of Power(MoP) to the various beneficiary States/Union territories in the region. As per theextant MoP guidelines, 50% of power isallocated to the Home State, 15% isretained as unallocated power forallocation by the Government for meetingthe urgent/overall requirement and theremaining 35% is to be allocated to otherbeneficiaries (except home state) inaccordance with the pattern of centralplan assistance and energy consumptionduring the previous five years, both factorshaving equal weightage.

The tariffs of electricity generated bynuclear power are comparable to those ofthe contemporary conventional base loadpower generating units like coal basedthermal power located in the area/region.

A large nuclear power expansionprogramme is being implemented to boostnuclear power generation. The presentinstalled nuclear power capacity of 6780MW is expected to reach 22480 MW onprogressive completion of projects underconstruction and accorded sanction.


Neutrino Observatory in TamilNadu


The India based Neutrino Observatory isbeing planned in the Theni district in TamilNadu.

There has been opposition from somesections of the local populace. INO hasbeen conducting outreach programmes in& around Madurai and Theni for studentsin schools & colleges, for faculty as well asjournalists and media professionals. Alarge outreach program took place duringMay-August 2018 covering other towns inTamil Nadu and a few in Kerala. Many


students, faculty and members of the publichave visited the INO transit campus wherean 85 ton mini-ICAL detector is operationaldetecting naturally occurring cosmic raymuons. This is a much smaller version of thedetector that is planned in the cavern at theend of a 2km horizontal tunnel at the INOsite.

In June 2010, a public meeting, though notmandated by Ministry of Environment andForest (MoEF), was called by the TheniCollector. It was attended by about 1200local people, including the PanchayatPresident, who endorsed the project. All thestatutory norms and regulations are alsofollowed in implementing the INO project.The INO site is not in the Eco Sensitive Areaas identified by the High Level WorkingGroup (HL WG) chaired by Dr.Kasturirangan and referred to in the MoEFNotification F.No.1-4/2012 - RE (Pt.) dated13-11-2013.


Proper Safety Apparatus in NuclearPower Plants


Highest priority is accorded to safety in allaspects of nuclear power viz. siting, design,construction, commissioning, and operation.Nuclear power plants are designed adoptingsafety principles of redundancy, diversityand provided fail-safe design featuresfollowing a defence in depth approach. Thisensures that there are multiple barriersbetween the source of radioactivity and theenvironment.

The operations are performed adopting welllaid out procedures by highly qualified,trained and licensed personnel. AppropriatePersonal Protection Equipments andmonitoring aids are provided to all thepersonnel working in the nuclear powerplants.


Commercialising R&D of ISRO


A new company by name, “NewSpaceIndia Limited (NSIL)”, has beenincorporated on 06th March 2019, as awholly owned Government of IndiaUndertaking / Central Public SectorEnterprise (CPSE), under theadministrative control of Department ofSpace (DOS) to commercially exploit theresearch and development work of IndianSpace Research Organisation (ISRO)Centres and constituent units of DOS.

The business activities of NSIL are mainlydriven towards enabling Indian industriesto productionise space systems throughtechnology transfer mechanisms and toexploit the commercial opportunitiesemanating from the Indian spaceprogramme. NSIL has commenced itscommercial business operations since itsincorporation.


Satellites Launched by India


ISRO has launched satellites from 26countries during the last five years.Contracts with 10 countries namely; USA,United Kingdom, Germany, Canada,Singapore, The Netherlands, Japan,Malaysia, Algeria and France were signedin the last five years under commercialarrangements.


Agreement with Kazakhstan forsupply of Uranium


A Contract was signed with M/sJSC NACKazatomprom, Kazakhstan on 08.07.2015for procurement of 5000 MT of UraniumOre Concentrate (UOC) spread over aperiod of 5 years during 2015 to 2019 atan indicative total cost of Rs.3156 crore,with an option to procure additional


quantity of 500 MT of UOC per year for fouryears from 2016 to 2019, on mutuallyacceptable terms. As per the contract withM/s JSC NAC Kazatomprom, the balancequantity of 1500 MTU is scheduled to reach

India in December 2019. The status ofuranium supplies from other countriessuch as Canada, Argentina, Namibia, etc.,is furnished as below:

Sl.

No Date of

Contract Firm’s name Total Quantity to be

procured as per contract Status of Contract

1. 17.12.2008 M/s. AREVA, France

300 MT ‘U’ in the form

of UOC

Contract stands

executed

2. 11.02.2009 M/S.JSC TVEL,

Russia


of Natural UO2pellets

Contract stands

executed

3. 11.02.2009 M/S.JSC TVEL,

Russia

58 MT ‘U’ in the form of

Enriched UO2 pellets

Contract stands

executed

4. 03.03.2015 M/S.JSC TVEL,

Russia

42 MT ‘U’ in the form of

Enriched UO2 pellets

Contract stands

executed

5. 31.12.2018 M/s. JSC TVEL,

Russia

56.67 MT ‘U’ Enriched

UO2 pellets

Contract stands

executed

6. 15.04.2015 M/s. Cameco Inc.,

Canada


of UOC and additional

quantity of 2500 MT ‘U’

with mutual agreement

Balance quantity

1000MT ‘U’

scheduled to be

received in

December-2019

and 1000 MT ‘U’ to

be received in 2020

7. 18.01.2019 M/s. NMMC,

Uzbekistan


of UOC

Supplies will start

from 2022

Status of Uranium supplies from various countries

PSLV successfully launches RISAT-2BR1 and nine commercialsatellites in its fiftieth flight


India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, in itsfiftieth flight (PSLV-C48), successfullylaunched RISAT-2BR1 along with nine


commercial satellites from Satish DhawanSpace Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota,today. PSLV-C48 lifted-off at 1525 Hrs(IST) from the First Launch Pad. After 16minutes and 23 seconds, RISAT-2BR1 wassuccessfully injected into an orbit of 576km. Subsequently, nine commercialsatellites were injected into their intendedorbits. After separation, the two solar


arrays of RISAT-2BR1 were deployedautomatically and the ISRO TelemetryTracking and Command Network atBengaluru assumed control of the satellite.In the coming days, the satellite will bebrought to its final operationalconfiguration. “Today we achieved animportant milestone in the history of PSLVby successfully launching its 50th mission”Chairman, ISRO, Dr. K. Sivan declared. Abook titled ‘PSLV@ 50’ was released by Dr.Sivan on this occasion. He further added thatthis versatile launcher has lifted off 52.7tonne into space, of which 17% belongs tocustomer satellites.

RISAT-2BR1 is a radar imaging earthobservation satellite weighing about 628 kg.The satellite will provide services in the fieldof Agriculture, Forestry and DisasterManagement. The mission life of RISAT-2BR1 is 5 years. Dr. Sivan appreciated theefforts of the launch vehicle and satelliteteams forrealizing this mission in a shortspan of time. The nine customer satellites ofIsrael, Italy, Japan and USA were preciselyinjected into their designated orbits. Thesesatellites were launched under a commercialarrangement with NewSpace India Limited(NSIL). PSLV-C48 is the 2nd flight of PSLVin ‘QL’ configuration (with 4 solid strap-onmotors). Besides being the 50th launch ofPSLV, today’s launch was also the75thlaunch vehicle mission from SDSCSHAR, Sriharikota. About 7000 visitorswitnessed the launch live from the Viewer’sGallery in Sriharikota.


HSL poised to deliver India’s firstmissile tracking ship in New Year

Santosh Patnaik, The Hindy, December 2,2019

India’s first missile tracking ship being builtat Hindustan Shipyard Limited is inadvanced stage of construction. It isexpected to be New Year gift to the IndianNavy, if the indications available at the HSL,a Ministry of Defence enterprise, hold water.The project which was launched in 2014directly under the supervision of the

National Technical Research Organisation,the Prime Minister’s Office and theNational Security Advisor is beingundertaken without a name due to secrecyattached to it.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/hsl-poised-to-deliver-indias-first-missile-tracking-ship-in-new-year/article30132810.ece

Chandrayaan-2: Indian helps Nasafind Moon probe debris

BBC, December 3, 2019

Nasa says one of its satellites hasfound the debris of India’s Moonrover which crashed on the lunarsurface in September.

The space agency released a pictureshowing the site of the rover’s impact andthe “associated debris field”. Nasa hascredited an Indian engineer, ShanmugaSubramanian, with helping locate the siteof the debris. Mr Subramanian examineda Nasa picture and located the first debrisabout 750m north-west of the crash site.Chandrayaan-2 was due to touch downat the lunar South Pole on 7 September,over a month after it first took off.

It approached the Moon as normal untilan error occurred about 2.1km (1.3 miles)from the surface, moments before it wasto touch down. The rover lost contact andhad a “hard landing” about 600km (370miles) from the South Pole in a “relativelyancient terrain”. Announcing thediscovery of the Vikram lander, Nasatweeted a mosaic image of the site.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-

50639933

India conducts another night trialof Prithvi-II missile

India Today, December 4, 2019

India on Tuesday conducted a night trialof its indigenously developed, nuclear-capable surface-to-surface Prithvi-IImissile off Odisha coast.The StrategicForces Command conducted the night trial


of short-range ballistic missile Prithvi-II fromlaunch complex-3 of Integrated Test Rangein Chandipur, said defence sources.

The missile, which has a strike range of 350km, was test-fired at 7.48 p.m. on Tuesday,the sources added.The last night time test ofthe Prithvi-II was on November 20 this year.Prithvi-II, which is capable of carrying 500to 1,000 kg of warheads, is powered byliquid propulsion twin engines.

https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/india-conducts-night-trial-prithvi-ii-missile-1624900-

2019-12-04

Interactive: How many satelliteshas India launched?

Varun B. Krishnan, The Hindu, December 4,2019

RISAT-2BR1, India’s 32nd earth observationsatellite, was successfully launched on boardthe PSLV-C48 from the Satish DhawanSpace Centre in Sriharikota on December11. This also was the 50th launch of the PolarSatellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and the 75thlaunch the space port in Sriharikota. It isaccompanied by nine commercial satellitesof Israel, Italy, Japan and the United States.

India’s first earth observation satellite wasBhaskara-I, an experimental remote sensorwhich was placed in orbit in 1979. Itconsisted of two television cameras whichgathered data on hydrology and forestry. Incontrast, one of Cartosat-3’s (the launchprior to RISAT-2BR1) cameras offers aground resolution of 25 cm — this means itcan sight an object of width as low as 25cmfrom a height of around 500 km.

According to ISRO, “The imageries from[Cartosat series] satellites are useful forcartographic applications, urban and ruralapplications, infrastructure planning, coastalland use and regulation, utility managementsuch as monitoring road networks, watergrids or distribution, creation of land usemaps, among others.”

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/how-many-satellites-has-india-launched/article30107480.ece

Exoworlds to take off in 2025:Kasturirangan

Deccan Herald, December 5, 2019

Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) is embarking upon Exoworlds, anambitious exoplanet mission. The launchis set for 2025. The mission ‘Exoworlds’would find answers to the queries on thepossibility of evolution of life in exoplanetsystem, said ISRO former chairman Dr KKasturirangan. He was delivering theEndowment lecture ‘Forays Into SpaceAnd Beyond’, at St Aloysius College inMangaluru on Wednesday. “Heaviervehicles are being developed by ISRO forinterplanetary missions as India forays intosolar and interplanetary explorations.India is set to launch the solar exploration‘Aditya L1’ in 2020, Venus Orbiter in 2023,Chandrayan – 3 in 2024 and Exoworldsin 2025,” he said.

The PRS satellite launched by ISRO hasthe best characteristics compared to anysimilar satellite launched by othercountries. The Cartosat 3, which waslaunched four days ago, is enabled withthe a resolution of 28 cm, which is the bestin the world. ISRO is now able to design arecoverable system in the indigenoussatellites, which can correct their pathautomatically, he said.

https://www.deccanherald.com/state/mangaluru/exoworlds-to-take-off-in-2025-kasturirangan-782783.html

A Billion Pixels and the Search forIndia’s Crashed Moon Lander

Kenneth Chang, The New York Times,December 6, 2019

On Nov. 19, Mark S. Robinson opened anemail with the subject line, “VikramLander’s final resting place (Images withProof).” Dr. Robinson is the principalinvestigator for the sharp-eyed cameraaboard Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, aNASA spacecraft that has been mappingthe moon for a decade, and he hadreceived a lot of these emails since an


Indian robotic spacecraft disappeared inSeptember as it attempted to land on themoon. But this one turned out to be thecrucial clue in finding the missing lander,and on Monday NASA announced thelocation of the crash site, with photographsshowing the scar on the moonscape.

The accomplishment was a triumph ofcrowdsourcing in modern space research,and pointed to the value of NASA’sopenness with its data and operations. Mostof the data from American civilian spacemissions is freely available to both academicsand curious amateurs, who were able toscour pictures from a NASA orbiter for signsof the Indian spacecraft.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/06/science/india-moon-mission-vikram-found.html

Kudankulam unit 3 core catcherinstalled

World Nuclear News, December 9, 2019

A core catcher - also referred to as a coremelt localisation device, or core trap - isdesigned to catch the molten core of a reactorin the unlikely event of a meltdown,preventing it from escaping the containmentbuilding. Kudankulam 3’s core catcher is anew generation device, which is adapted tothe relevant site conditions and safetyrequirements, ASE said. It has improvedseismic resistance, hydro-dynamic andshock strength and is also equipped withflood protection and simplified installationand assembly technology.

Vladimir Angelov, ASE director for projectsin India, said the core catcher is a “uniquedevelopment by Russian nuclear experts”and one of the nuclear power plant’s mostimportant safety systems. “This is a specialsystem for beyond-design basis accidentmanagement,” he said. The case ofKudankulam 3’s core catcher weighs 147.5tonnes, and its components include block-assemblies filled with non-metallicmaterials, a maintenance platform,cantilever truss and bottom plate. The devicewas lifted by crane to a height of 27 metresfor installation in its design position, ASEadded.

Construction of unit 3 - one of two AES-92 design VVER-1000 units underconstruction as the second phase of theKudankulam plant in Tamil Nadu - beganin 2017. Kudankulam 1 and 2, both VVER-1000 units, have been in operation since2014 and 2017, respectively. A third phaseusing the AES-92 design is also planned.ASE is the engineering division of Russianstate nuclear corporation Rosatom andoperates in Europe, the Middle East, NorthAfrica and the Pacific region. Some 80%of ASE’s revenue is accounted for foreignprojects.

https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Kudankulam-3-core-catcher-installed

India to lease third Akula-classnuclear attack submarine fromRussia

Times of India, December 10, 2019

India is all set to lease a new Akula-classnuclear-powered attack submarine fromRussia. Discussions have begun over thesame and it’ll be the 3rd submarine Indiawill be leasing from Russia. India alreadyhas one nuclear-powered submarine, theChakra, which it leased from Russia in2012. The nine Russian-built Sindhughoshclass submarines India has would be about40 years old by 2020s and on their last legs,despite their refit, happening. Apart fromthat, India has four HDW Germany-designed submarines and six Scorpenesubmarines that are yet to join service.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/news/india-to-lease-third-akula-class-nuclear-attack-submarine-from-russia/videoshow/72458340.cms

Isro begins countdown for 50thPSLV launch, rocket to carry spysatellite


The Indian Space Research Organisation(Isro) began the countdown for anothersatellite launch Tuesday evening. Thecountdown, which began 4.40 pmTuesday, is for the launch of the RISAT-2BR1 Earth imaging satellite. The ”spy


satellite” will be carried onboard Isro’sworkhorse — the Polar Satellite LaunchVehicle (PSLV) rocket. The PSLV rocket’slaunch is scheduled to take place from theSatish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikotaat 3.25 pm Wednesday. This will be therocket’s 50th mission.

The RISAT-2BR1 is a radar imaging Earthobservation satellite that weighs around 628kg. It is the second in the RISAT-2B series ofsatellites. The first RISAT-2B satellite waslaunched earlier this year to replace theageing RISAT-2, which wasdecommissioned. Isro will launch two moreRISAT-2B satellites in the coming days tocomplete a quartet of these “spy satellites”.Not a lot is available in the public domainabout the capabilities of the RISAT-2Bsatellites. Wednesday’s launch of the RISAT-2BR1 comes days after the Isro successfullylaunched the CARTOSAT-3 Earth imagingsatellite. On Wednesday, along with theRISAT-2BR1 Isro will also launch ninecustomer satellites — six from the US andone each from Israel, Italy and Japan — forwhich the space agency gets paid by othercountries or companies.

https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/isro-countdown-pslv-launch-rocket-satellite-risat2br1-earth-imaging-1627153-2019-12-10

PSLV-C48/RISAT-2BR1: EverythingYou Should Know About RISAT-2BR1 and the Nine CommercialPayloads Part of Today’s Launch

First Post Tech 2, December 11, 2019

On 11 December, the Indian Space ResearchOrganisation will launch India’s newestdefense satellite RISAT-2BR1, along with astring of commercial small satellites forISRO’s international clients, through acommercial arrangement with NewSpaceIndia Limited (NSIL). The launch is plannedfor 3.25 pm on 11 December, when ISROwill launch the ten satellites on a PolarSatellite Launch Vehicle (specifically, thePSLV-C48).

This will be the 50th launch of the PSLV,and will take place from the First LaunchPad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centrein Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. It willalso be the second time that the PSLV isflown in the ‘QL’ configuration (with fourstrap-on motors). Here’s everything weknow so far about the various payloads(satellites) that will be launched on thismission.

https://www.firstpost.com/tech/science/pslv-c48risat-2br1-everything-you-should-know-about-risat-2br1-and-the-nine-commercial-payloads-part-of-todays-launch-7768021.html

India’s foreign satellite launchcount touches 319


India on Wednesday successfully placedinto orbit its latest radar imaging earthobservation satellite RISAT-2BR1 and nineforeign satellites from four countries usingits PSLV rocket. In the process, Indiatouched 319 foreign satellite launch markever since 1999. Declaring this will be thelast rocket mission of ISRO for 2019, itschief K. Sivan said in 2020, there will bethe maiden launch mission of new rocketSmall Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) andother rockets.

India’s latest radar imaging earthobservation satellite RISAT-2BR1 now upin the sky will send sharp clarity imagesfor surveillance, agriculture, forestry anddisaster management. The satellite cameracan look through the clouds and takepictures. The Indian space agency officialssaid they would supply the requiredimages for various agencies. It is for theuser agency to decide on the image use.One more such satellite RISAT-2BR2 willsoon be launched by ISRO. “I amextremely happy to declare that 50th PSLVrocket had injected the RISAT-2BR1 andnine customer satellites into precise orbit,”the ISRO Chairman said post launch.

https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/india-s-foreign-satellite-launch-count-touches-319-1627577-2019-12-12


B. China

DF-17 may not sole hypersonicmissile program: media

Liu Xuanzun, Global Times, December 1,2019

The DF-17, China’s hypersonic missile thatwas first revealed at the National Daymilitary parade on October 1, might not bethe only hypersonic aircraft program Chinapossesses, a report by the state broadcastersuggested. Analysts stressed that China willnot fall behind in related technologiescompared with the US and Russia. “Fromthe test subjects that were made availableto the public, the Xingkong-2 (Starry Sky-2)might use a different flight pattern to theDF-17,” said military expert Ma Jun onMilitary Time, a China Central Television(CCTV) program on military affairs, onSaturday, without further elaboration.

According to Ma, the Xingkong-2 is still inthe trial phase and more tests are expected.The Xingkong-2 Ma referred to is the firstChinese waverider hypersonic vehicleunveiled by the country, dating a year earlierthan the DF-17. Designed by the ChinaAcademy of Aerospace Aerodynamicsunder the China Aerospace Science andTechnology Corporation, the Xingkong-2was successfully tested at a target range inNorthwest China in August 2018, theacademy announced then. When the DF-17missile made its debut at the National Dayparade this year, some thought it might bethe final product of the Xingkong-2 project.

The DF-17 is said to be a glide-boost vehicle,but it is not known what type the Xingkong-2 might be, other than it could be differentfrom the DF-17, although it was alsopropelled by a rocket, according to Ma. TheUS and Russia are striving to develophypersonic weapons with both glide-boostand air-breathing technologies, as the twohave different strengths and shortcomings,a military expert who asked not to be namedtold the Global Times. China will not fallbehind and could develop multiple types ofhypersonic weapons using differenttechnologies in the future, the expertpredicted.

http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1171896.shtml

China to build space-based solarpower station by 2035

Xinhua, December 2, 2019

China plans to accomplish a 200-tonnemegawatt-level space-based solar powerstation by 2035, according to the ChinaAcademy of Space Technology (CAST).The space-based solar power stationwould capture the sun’s energy that nevermakes it to the planet, said Wang Li, aCAST research fellow with the program,when attending the sixth China-RussiaEngineering Forum held last week inXiamen, southeast China’s FujianProvince. The energy is converted tomicrowaves or lasers and then beamedwirelessly back to the Earth’s surface forhuman consumption, Wang said.

However, ambition has long been achallenge for current technology becauseit involves the launch and installation ofnumerous solar panel modules and theefficient wireless transmission of megaenergy. With an investment of 200 millionyuan (28.4 million U.S. dollars), China isbuilding a testing base in Bishan, southwestChina’s Chongqing Municipality, for theresearch of high-power wireless energytransmission and its impact on theenvironment. Researches in this field willspur the country’s space science andinnovation in emerging industries likecommercial space transportations, Wangsaid.

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-12/02/

c_138599015.htm

Xingkong-2: China’s new missilethreat?

Dave Makichuk, Asia Times, December 2,2019

The DF-17, China’s greatly fearedhypersonic missile that was first revealedat the National Day military parade onOctober 1, might not be the onlyhypersonic aircraft program Chinapossesses, a report by the state broadcaster


suggested. Analysts stressed that China willnot fall behind in related technologiescompared with the US and Russia, GlobalTimes reported. “From the test subjects thatwere made available to the public, theXingkong-2 (Starry Sky-2) might use adifferent flight pattern to the DF-17,” saidmilitary expert Ma Jun on Military Time, aChina Central Television (CCTV) programon military affairs, on Saturday, withoutfurther elaboration.

According to Ma, the Xingkong-2 is still inthe trial phase and more tests are expected.The Xingkong-2 Ma referred to is the firstChinese waverider hypersonic vehicleunveiled by the country, dating a year earlierthan the DF-17. Designed by the ChinaAcademy of Aerospace Aerodynamicsunder the China Aerospace Science andTechnology Corporation, the Xingkong-2was successfully tested at a target range inNorthwest China in August 2018, theacademy announced then. When the DF-17missile made its debut at the National Dayparade this year, some thought it might bethe final product of the Xingkong-2 project.

https://www.asiatimes.com/2019/12/article/xingkong-2-chinas-new-missile-threat/

China, Iran hold consultation onIran nuclear issue


China and Iran held a consultation on Irannuclear issue Sunday in Beijing. The Chineseside was led by Vice Foreign Minister MaZhaoxu, while the Iranian delegation wasled by visiting Deputy Foreign MinisterSeyed Abbas Araghchi. Both sidesexchanged in-depth views on the currentIranian nuclear situation and theimplementation of the Joint ComprehensivePlan of Action (JCPOA), and reached broadconsensus. They agreed to furtherstrengthen communication and cooperation,safeguard the common interests of bothcountries as well as the internationalcommunity.

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-12/01/c_138597844.htm

Country making strides towardMars mission

Zhao Lei China Daily Global, December 3,2019

China has been moving steadily towardits goal of fulfilling the country’s first Marsmission in the coming two years, withChinese scientists looking to send itsastronauts to the red planet. Last week,the nation’s space authority carried out akey experiment for the coming Marsmission in Hebei province’s Huailai area,in front of dozens of foreign diplomats andjournalists. The experiment, which aimedat verifying the design and capability ofthe lander of China’s robotic Mars probe,was the first of its kind in the country,according to Zhang Kejian, the director ofthe China National Space Administration.Zhang oversaw the test. The move alsomarks the first time that China opened itsMars mission to foreign visitors, Zhangsaid, adding that it was a practical step inthe nation’s exchange and cooperationwith the international space community.

“Through this event, you will be able tobetter understand our Mars mission andother deep-space exploration programsand we can discuss the feasibility of furthercooperation,” Zhang said before theexperiment. “We welcome spaceauthorities, research organizations andenthusiasts from around the worldwishing to take part in our spaceendeavors.” Zhang Rongqiao, chiefdesigner of China’s first Mars mission, saidat the test site that the seven-minutelanding process will be one of the mostdifficult and challenging parts in thenation’s Mars mission. Therefore, engineersbuilt the facility to simulate the red planet’sgravitational condition and the Martiansurface.

https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201912/03/WS5de5b0fca310cf3e3557b7b5.html


China’s sanctions a timely warningto US

People’s Daily Online, December 3, 2019

Spokesperson Hua Chunying of China’sMinistry of Foreign Affairs announced onDec. 2 that in response to unreasonable USpractice, the Chinese government willsuspend reviewing requests of US militaryvessels and aircraft to visit Hong Kongstarting the same day. In addition, Chinawill also impose sanctions on America-basedNGOs that played an egregious role in theHong Kong amendment bill disturbance,including the National Endowment forDemocracy, the National DemocraticInstitute for International Affairs, theInternational Republican Institute, HumanRights Watch and Freedom House.

The sanction imposed by China is reasonableand timely. It demonstrates the country’sfirm resolution on the Hong Kong issue.Hong Kong is an important transportationhub that links together the Asia Pacificregion, and Victoria Harbor is one of thethree largest natural seaports of the world.Considering Hong Kong as a vitalreplenishment site and an important pointon its routes, the US military expects to restand purchase in the region. After HongKong’s return to China, the Chinese and USsides agreed that the US must requestapproval from the Chinese governmentbefore its military vessels and aircraft visitHong Kong. Therefore, whether Chinaapproves the visits of US naval vessels andaircraft is within China’s sovereignty, andChina has every right to suspend reviewingrequests.

http://en.people.cn/n3/2019/1203/c90000-9637533.html

China praises Europe’s efforts inIran barter mechanism

Global Times, December 3, 2019

China on Tuesday extended praise to severalEuropean countries for ramping up effortsto establish a barter mechanism that isdesigned to circumvent the US’ unilateralsanctions on Iran, billing the move asconducive to break US financial hegemony.

However, the Chinese Foreign Ministryalso expressed hope that the Instrumentin Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX),a European initiative to facilitate non-dollar transactions with Iran, will includemore countries beyond the EU. “Wewelcome the decision of the six Europeancountries and support continuous progressof the INSTEX,” Hua Chunying, aspokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, tolda briefing on Tuesday, referring to the sixEuropean countries that have so farjumped on board on the initiative.

On Monday, Belgium, Denmark, Finland,Sweden and Norway announced thatthey would join France, Germany and theUK in the INSTEX, boosting the status ofthe mechanism and dealing a blow to theUS, which unilaterally withdrew from anagreement reached by major countries,including China, and reinstated sanctionson Iran. Hua said that the EU’s move isan effort to safeguard the Iran nuclearagreement, support multilateralism andpreserve a rules-based global order. Thisis conducive to breaking the US’ financialhegemony, Hua said. As the US continuesto crack down on Chinese companiesbased on its domestic laws and sanctions,China has been pushing for alternativesto the current US dollar-dominated globalclearing system for transactions, includingsetting up non-dollar settlement systemswith trading partners.


China’s lunar rover travels over345 meters on moon’s far side


China’s lunar rover Yutu-2 has driven345.059 meters on the far side of the moonto conduct scientific exploration of thevirgin territory. Both the lander and therover of the Chang’e-4 probe have endedtheir work for the 12th lunar day, andswitched to dormant mode for the lunarnight, the Lunar Exploration and SpaceProgram Center of the China NationalSpace Administration (CNSA) said. Dueto the complicated geological environment


and the rugged and heavily cratered terrainon the far side of the moon, Chinese spaceengineers carefully planned the drivingroutes of the rover to ensure its safety.

https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201912/04/WS5de77085a310cf3e3557bfc4.html

Arms firm makes artificialdiamonds that could be used inlaser weapons

Liu Xuanzun Global Times, December 4,2019

After a top Chinese arms firm showcasedmultiple types of artificial diamonds at arecent jewelry exhibition, military experts onWednesday said the gemstones could alsobe used in military equipment, includinglaser weapons and other precision machines.The colorful synthetic diamonds on displayat the recent 2019 China InternationalJewellery Fair in Beijing included large, highclarity samples, according to a statement byChina North Industries Group CorporationLimited (NORINCO) on its WeChat accounton Tuesday. Synthetic diamonds are madein laboratories using special materials whichare put under high pressure andtemperatures or treated with chemicalvapors.

High-energy laser weapons may needindustrial-level diamonds to ensure that theirenergy output is high enough to damagetheir targets, Wei Dongxu, a Beijing-basedmilitary analyst, told the Global Times onWednesday.


China’s Amb. calls on certain stateparty to stop blocking BWCnegotiations

China Military Online, December 5, 2019

The 2019 Meeting of States Parties toBiological Weapons Convention (BWC)kicked off on December 3 at the Palais desNations in Geneva, Switzerland. H.E. LiSong, China’s Ambassador for DisarmamentAffairs, led a delegation to the meeting.Amb. Li Song said at the meeting that a

certain State Party is exclusively blockingthe negotiation of a protocol thatcomprehensively enhances theeffectiveness of the convention, while atthe same time pointing fingers at othercountries’ compliance of the Convention.

China hopes that all parties will take theopportunity of the Meeting of States Partiesto fully demonstrate their sincerity andflexibility, strive to find consensus, andpromote the intersessional process and theNinth Review Conference in 2021 toachieve positive results. China supportsany efforts that contribute to the aboveprocess, said Amb. Li.

As the first international treaty tocompletely ban a whole class of weapons(i.e. biological weapons), the BWC wasreached in 1972 and entered into force in1975. Currently, it has 183 States Parties.BWC gives States Parties the right topeaceful use of biotechnology, andprovides for international cooperation inthis regard. In December 2015, Chinaproposed two major initiatives under theBWC—the establishment of a “BiologicalNon-Proliferation Export Control andInternational Cooperation Regime” andthe development of a “Model Code ofConduct for Bio-scientists”.

http://english.chinamil.com.cn/view/2019-12/05/content_9690160.htm

Chinese private rocket completethe third phase engine thermoground test

Global Times, December 5, 2019

Chinese private rocket company GalacticEnergy has successfully finished the thirdstage thermo ground test for its Ceres-1launch vehicle on Tuesday, according toa company statement. The Ceres-1 rocket,which is the one of the two rockets thatthe company is currently developing, isexpected to launch in March 2020. TheCeres-1 rocket is a low earth orbit (LEO)solid rocket. Its liquid rocket Pallas-1 willbe launched in December 2022.

Prior to the third phase test, the phase oneand phase two ground firing tests for


Ceres-1 have already been completed inSeptember and in early November, thestatement said. Galactic Energy, the Beijing-based budget rocket company is founded in2018 and aims to provide low-cost, high-frequency access solutions to space trips andtransportations. The company has so farsuccessfully completed the firing test of theengine gas generator for its liquid rocketPallas-1, apart from the thermo ground testfor the solid rocket Ceres-1.


China’s new PCL191 multiplelaunch rocket system casts shadowover Taiwan Strait

Minnie Chan, South China Morning Post,December 7, 2019

The multiple launch rocket system (MLRS)that made its public debut at China’sNational Day parade on October 1 has beenidentified as a state-of-the-art piece ofweaponry capable of firing both rockets andballistic missiles, according to a leadingmilitary magazine.

A report in the latest issue of Modern Shipsalso gave the new hardware a name – theType PCL191 – saying it was a modularlauncher based on the AR3 systemdeveloped by China for the export market.Unlike other weapon systems on display inBeijing, which had their names emblazonedalong their sides, the Type PCL191 rumbledthrough the streets of Beijing on the back ofheavy-duty trucks with almost completeanonymity.

A commentator for state broadcaster CCTVdescribed it simply as a “self-propelledrocket launcher with precision strikecapability”. Modern Ships went further,saying the modular rocket system can carryeight 370mm (14½ inch) rockets – each witha range of 350km (220 miles) – or two750mm Fire Dragon 480 tactical ballisticmissiles – each capable of flying up to 500km.

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3041007/chinas-new-pcl191-multiple-launch-rocket-system-casts-shadow

China launches new opticalremote sensing satellite


The Jilin-1 Gaofen 02B satellite, whichbelongs to the Jilin-1 satellite family, islaunched with Kuaizhou-1A (KZ-1A) fromthe Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center innorth China’s Shanxi Province Dec. 7,2019. The new optical remote sensingsatellite will form a network with the 14previously launched Jilin-1 satellites,providing remote sensing data and servicesfor agriculture, forestry, resources andenvironment.

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-12/07/c_138612692_2.htm

Chinese rocket 1st to make 2flights in a day

Zhao Lei, China Daily, December 7, 2019

China Aerospace Science and IndustryCorp’s Kuaizhou 1A solid-fuel carrierrocket conducted two launch missions onSaturday, becoming the first Chineserocket to make two flights in a single day.A Kuaizhou 1A blasted off at 10:55 am atthe Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center innorthern China’s Shanxi province andthen placed the Jilin-1 Gaofen 02B opticalremote-sensing satellite into space. Aboutsix hours later, another Kuaizhou 1A wasfired at 4:52 pm at the same center andsent up six small satellites developed bythree domestic private enterprises,according to CASIC, a State-owneddefense and space conglomerate.

Kuaizhou is the largest solid-propellantrocket family in China, as opposed to theLong March series that mainly relies onliquid fuel. Nine Kuaizhou-series rocketshave been used since the first Kuaizhoumission in September 2013. The 20-meterKuaizhou 1A has a liftoff weight of about30 metric tons. It is capable of sending 200kilograms of payload into a sun-synchronous orbit, or 300 kg of payloadinto a low-Earth orbit, according to CASIC.

https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201912/07/WS5deb932ea310cf3e3557c96c.html


China confirms satellite launchafter military rocket’s ‘dragon’s tail’stirs online speculation

Liu Zhen, South China Morning Post,December 8, 2019

China launched seven civilian satellites onSaturday using mobile launch vehiclesnormally used to fire military rockets, statebroadcaster CCTV reported. The first launchin the morning sent one remote sensingsatellite into orbit, while six satellites – to beused for purposes such as communicationsand navigation – were sent into orbit in theevening. The second launch from TaiyuanSatellite Launch Centre created a mysteriouszigzag shaped “dragon cloud” that, thanksto clear skies over northern China, wasvisible from Beijing – 500km to the east,which stirred speculation on social media.

These characteristics mean the rockets couldallow for the speedy launch of replacementsatellites if the country’s communication ornavigation network in space was damagedor came under attack. The KZ-1A was firstlaunched in 2017 and Saturday’s duallaunches were its fourth and fifth missionsthis year, all of which were completedsuccessfully.

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3041159/china-confirms-satellite-launch-after-military-rockets-dragons

China publishes military bookseries


A series of military books were publishedMonday by China’s Changjiang literatureand art press. Calling military literature animportant part of China’s modern andcontemporary literature, Yan Jingming, vice-president of the China Writers Association,said the book series is of great academic andartistic value. The book series, consisting of70 volumes, includes over 700 literary worksof novels, poems, essays, reportage andplays. Classic revolutionary novels, such as“Hong Yan (Red Crag)” and “Tracks in theSnowy Forest,” are included in the series.


China improves space-basedobservation of Earth


China has greatly improved its ability toobserve the Earth from space with a seriesof high-resolution remote sensing satellitessent into orbit over the past nine years,according to the China National SpaceAdministration (CNSA). The satellites,belonging to China’s high-resolution Earthobservation project (Gaofen project)initiated in 2010, have formed a stablesatellite remote sensing system, said TongXudong, chief designer of the project. Theproject has increased the resolution ofChina’s low-earth orbit remote sensingsatellites from 2.1 meters to 0.65 meter, andthe resolution of China’s geostationaryorbit remote sensing satellites improvedfrom kilometer-level to 50 meters, Tongsaid.

The satellites, covering differentobservation bands, are deployed indifferent orbits, giving China apreliminary ability for all-weather andround-the-clock observation, said Tong.Launched on April 26, 2013, Gaofen-1 cancover the globe in four days, with anobservation ability of medium resolutionand wide coverage.


China releases first 3D imagesbased on Earth observationsatellite


The China National Space AdministrationTuesday released the first batch of three-dimensional images based on the datafrom the recently launched Gaofen-7 Earthobservation satellite. The Gaofen-7, animportant part of China’s high-definitionEarth observation project, is the country’sfirst civil-use optical transmission three-dimensional surveying and mappingsatellite that reaches the sub-meterdefinition. The 22 images unveiled showthe Beijing Capital International Airport,the new Beijing Daxing International


Airport, as well as some regions in China’sAnhui, Guangdong and Shandongprovinces. Airplanes, vehicles, buildings andtrees can be clearly seen in the images.

The satellite, launched from the TaiyuanSatellite Launch Center in north China’sShanxi Province on Nov. 3, is in orbit at analtitude of 506 km and has a design life ofeight years. More than 14,000 images havebeen obtained by the satellite. It will bemainly used for 1:10,000-scale 3D mapping.Only a few countries have acquired this levelof satellite surveying and mapping, said CaoHaiyi, chief designer of the Gaofen-7 at theChina Academy of Space Technology. Itshorizontal positioning accuracy of groundobjects is within five meters, and the heightmeasurement accuracy about 1.5 meters,said Cao. “It’s like a precise ruler formeasuring the land. Before the launch ofGaofen-7, we could only precisely locatesuper-highways, but now Gaofen-7 can helpus accurately locate rural roads,” Cao said.

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-12/10/

c_138620096.htm

China urges US to fulfill duties onnuclear disarmament

China Daily, December 11, 2019

China on Wednesday urged the UnitedStates to earnestly fulfill its special duties onnuclear disarmament and further cut itslarge nuclear arsenal. “As the country withthe world’s largest and most advancednuclear arsenal, the United States shouldearnestly fulfill its special duties on nucleardisarmament, respond to Russia’s call forextending the New Strategic ArmsReduction Treaty, and further cut its largenuclear arsenal, so as to create conditionsfor other nuclear countries to join themultilateral nuclear disarmamentnegotiations,” spokeswoman Hua Chunyingsaid at a press briefing.

“China has always been committed tosafeguarding international arms control andthe non-proliferation system, advancing theprocess of international arms control anddisarmament, and safeguarding globalstrategic balance and stability,” she said.

China is willing to work with all partiesto continue to strengthen communicationand coordination and carry outdiscussions on issues concerning globalstrategic stability, so as to make positivecontributions to global peace and security,Hua added.

https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201912/11/WS5df0fb21a310cf3e3557d87c.html

Chinese delegation arrives forICG-14

Deng Xiaoci, Global Times, December 11,2019

The 14th Meeting of the InternationalCommittee on Global Navigation SatelliteSystems (ICG) of the UN kicked off inBangalore, India on Sunday and willconclude on Friday. Led by YangChangfeng, the Chief Architect of theBeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS),the Chinese delegation with more than 50representatives will participate in thesummit. A BDS system update is expectedto be presented. The meeting is hosted byIndian Space Research Organization.Before 2020, China will launch anothercluster of MEO satellites for the BDS-3system, which will the final group for thesystem and complete core constellationdeployment, it revealed.

Next year it is expected that BDS willpossess full operational capability. As animportant Chinese public service spaceinfrastructure that is open to the world,BDS will insist on following the serviceconcept of “the China’s BDS, the world’sBDS, and the top-class BDS,” for theconstruction and development for thesystem, according to the statement.


Keeping pace with application ofAI to defense sector

Li Daguang/Yang Yannan, China Daily,December 11, 2019

Russia, according to media reports, mayestablish a unit of robot soldiers by 2025,


outlining a vision of artificial intelligence-driven warfare in the future. The applicationof AI has been a focus of Russia’s militarymodernization. Way back in 2017, at ameeting with students in Yaroslavl, RussianPresident Vladimir Putin said artificialintelligence is “not only the future of Russiabut that of all mankind” as well, adding that,“there are colossal opportunities and threatsthat are difficult to predict now”. Russiareportedly plans to devise a framework forthe military unit of robots in 2020, andcomplete the scientific research, design andtests, and put robotic combat units intoservice in 2025.

https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201912/11/WS5df0341ca310cf3e3557d477.html

China’s lunar rover sets record forlongest operation

China Daily, December 12, 2019

China’s lunar rover Yutu 2 has set the recordfor operating the longest among rovers onthe moon, with over 11 months so far,according to the Lunar Exploration andSpace Program Center of the China NationalSpace Administration.The Chinese roverlanded with the Chang’e-4 probe in theSouth Pole-Aitken Basin on the far side ofthe moon on Jan 3, 2019, and carried out itspatrol missions since then.

Yutu-2 has driven 345.059 meters on the farside of the moon to conduct scientificexploration of virgin territory. Drivingslowly but steadily, Yutu 2 is expected tocontinue traveling on the moon and makingmore scientific discoveries. Both the landerand the rover of the Chang’e-4 probe haveended their work for the 12th lunar day, andswitched to dormant mode for the lunarnight on Dec 3. A lunar day equals 14 dayson Earth, a lunar night is the same length.Before Yutu 2, the former Soviet Union’sLunokhod 1 moon rover that landed onmoon in 1970 held the record for the longestoperational rover with 321 days, or 10 andhalf months. Chang’e-3, China’s first lunarlander which touched down on the moonon Dec 14, 2013, has been operating on themoon for six years, the longest time for an

active probe. It has been awakened on Dec7 to work for the 75th lunar day.

https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201912/12/WS5df1e578a310cf3e3557dbc0.html

Rare earths become the newest‘decoupling’ frontier

Tom Fowdy, China Daily, December 12,2019

Several days ago it was announced inmajor American newspapers that theUnited States Army would be seeking toinvest in new sources of “rare earths” -defined as “chemically similar metallicelements” in the construction of militaryequipment and hardware. Although thereports didn’t focus in any particularcountry or source, two days later theNational Defense Authorization Act(NDAA) was passed and in it, the name“China” appeared 69 times. A goal wasstipulated “that the United States willeliminate dependency on rare earthmaterials from China by the fiscal year2035.”

https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201912/12/WS5df1e2ffa310cf3e3557dbbc.html

Chinese envoy calls for peacetalks to ease tensions on KoreanPeninsula

Hong Xiao China Daily, December 13,2019

China’s ambassador to the United Nationson Wednesday called on the internationalcommunity to ease the tensions over theKorean Peninsula through politicalsolutions and peace talks. Zhang Jun,China’s permanent representative to theUN, said it is crucial “to maintain theinternational consensus and momentumfor a political solution” and to “supportand urge the United States and theDemocratic People’s Republic of Korea tomove toward each other, and doeverything we can to head off a dramaticreversal of the peninsula’s situation”.Zhang spoke at a Security Council meetingat UN headquarters in New York,


reiterating that China has been consistentin its commitment to denuclearization of thepeninsula, maintenance of its peace andstability, and the settlement of issues throughdialogue and consultation. “We remainready to take actions in parallel, and tosimultaneously take concrete steps towardthis agreement. We are prepared to beflexible in how we approach this matter,”said Kelly Craft, US ambassador to the UN.“And we recognize the need for a balancedagreement that addresses the concerns of allparties.”

https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201912/13/WS5df2ef24a310cf3e3557de88.html

Yutu 2 is now longest working roveron moon

Zhao Lei, China Daily, December 13, 2019

China’s Yutu 2 rover has been in operationon the lunar surface for more than 340 days,becoming the longest working rover on themoon, according to the China NationalSpace Administration. Yutu 2, China’ssecond lunar rover, is part of the ongoingChang’e 4 mission. The Chang’e 4unmanned probe was lifted atop a LongMarch 3B rocket in December 2018 at theXichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuanprovince to begin the country’s fourth lunarexploration and the world’s first expeditionto the moon’s far side, which never facesEarth. The probe made a soft landing on thefar side on Jan 3 and released the Yutu 2later that day to roam and survey thelanding site in the South Pole-Aitken basin,the largest and deepest known basin in thesolar system. Currently, the Chang’e 4’slander and the rover are in their 12thdormancy. The Yutu 2 has traveled nearly350 meters on the lunar soil, according tothe Lunar Exploration and SpaceEngineering Center.

A lunar day equals 14 days on Earth ÿalunar night, the same length. During thelunar night, the temperature falls belowminus 180 C and there is no sunlight toprovide power to the probe. In anotherdevelopment, the lander of the Chang’e 3probe, the first Chinese spacecraft to soft-land on the moon, has started its 75th lunar-

day working session, which means it hasbeen working on the moon for 2,189 Earthdays and continues to hold the record forthe longest operational stay by an artifacton the moon, the center said.

https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201912/13/WS5df2e464a310cf3e3557dd69.html

C. Pakistan

Fawad Ch urges world to takenotice of irresponsible Indianspace missions

The Nation, December 3, 2019

Federal Minister for Science andTechnology Fawad Chaudhry has onTuesday said irresponsible space missionsof India are dangerous for wholeecosystem. NASA made theannouncement on Monday, releasing animage taken by its Lunar ReconnaissanceOrbiter (LRO) that showed the site of thespacecraft’s impact (September 7 in Indiaand September 6 in the US).

A version of the picture was marked upto show the associated debris field, withparts scattered over almost two dozenlocations spanning several kilometers.

https://nation.com.pk/03-Dec-2019/irrespon-sible-space-missions-of-india-dangerous-for-whole-ecosystem-fawad-ch

New IAEA Collaborating Centre inPakistan to assist in Applicationsof Nuclear Technologies

Shant Krikorian, International AtomicEnergy Agency, December 5, 2019

With a cooperation agreement signedtoday, the IAEA has designated thePakistan Institute of Engineering andApplied Sciences (PIEAS) as an IAEACollaborating Centre to support MemberStates on research, development andcapacity building in the application ofadvanced and innovative nucleartechnologies.

Islamabad-based PIAES is one ofPakistan’s leading public researchuniversity in engineering and nuclear


technology and a major nuclear researchfacility of the Pakistan Atomic EnergyCommission. “I cannot emphasize enoughthe importance of education and training forbuilding the capacity of Member States inthis field,” said IAEA Deputy DirectorGeneral Mikhail Chudakov, Head of theDepartment of Nuclear Energy, at thesigning ceremony at the Agency’s Viennaheadquarters. “Through this network, theAgency encourages scientific studies andcooperation across Member States, makingthe centres a key IAEA cooperationmechanism.” This partnership with PIAESis based on a holistic and multidisciplinaryapproach in three key areas: modelling andsimulations with verification and validationcapabilities, experimental nuclearengineering, and education and training.Member States will strengthen theircapacities in reactor technology design,nuclear-renewable hybrid energy systems,and reactor numerical modelling andsimulations.

https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/new-iaea-collaborating-centre-in-pakistan-to-assist-in-applications-of-nuclear-technologies

IAEA commends nuclear securitymeasures taken by Pakistan

Pakistan Today, December 7, 2019

The International Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA) has commended Pakistan’s nuclearsecurity measures. IAEA’s Nuclear SecurityDivision Head Abdul Aziz Raja Adnan,during his visit to Karachi Nuclear PowerPlant, said that measures adopted byPakistan were consistent with the IAEA’srecommendations. Raja Adnan also metPakistan Nuclear Regulatory AuthorityChairman Zaheer Ayub Baig and PakistanAtomic Energy Commission ChairmanMuhammad Naeem. The delegation wasvisiting Pakistan to further strengthenongoing cooperation between Pakistan andthe nuclear watchdog.

In a statement, Foreign Office SpokespersonDr Muhammad Faisal said Pakistan hasundertaken a range of measures tostrengthen nuclear security. He said Pakistanhas been actively participating and

contributing in IAEA’s efforts to promotenuclear security. The International AtomicEnergy Agency is an internationalorganisation that seeks to promote thepeaceful use of nuclear energy, and toinhibit its use for any military purpose,including nuclear weapons.

https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2019/12/07/iaea-commends-security-measures-undertaken-by-pakistan/

Cold testing completed atPakistan’s Karachi 2

Nuclear Engineering, December 9, 2019

China National Nuclear Corporation(CNNC) has completed cold functionaltesting at unit 2 of the Karachi nuclearpower plant (Kanupp) in Pakistan. Thetwo units (2&3) under construction atKanupp are the first exports of China’sHualong One reactor design. Coldfunctional testing at Karachi 2&3 involvedchecking some 7200 welds and 800mechanical connection points within thetest boundary for leaks on seven pressureplatforms, CNNC said. All indicators metthe acceptance criteria, and installationquality and performance meet designrequirements.

Completion of the cold test on 2 Decemberwas overseen by the Pakistan NuclearRegulatory Authority and the PakistanAtomic Energy Commission. It marks thecompletion of the main work of thenuclear island installation and the start ofthe system commissioning stage, CNNCsaid. Hot testing will follow, then first fuelloading and finally grid-connected powergeneration.

Construction of Karachi 2 began in 2015and unit 3 in 2016 for commercialoperation in 2021 and 2022. Currently,four Hualong One units are being built inChina - two at Fuqing NPP in Fujianprovince, and two at Fangchenggang NPPin Guangxi – all scheduled for commercialoperation in 2019-2020.

https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newscold-testing-completed-at-pakistans-karachi-2-7551887


Acknowledgement of nuclearsecurity

Pakistan Observer, December 9, 2019

Pakistan has once again received applaudfrom the International Atomic EnergyAgency (IAEA) for its excellent nuclearsecurity and safety record which is at parwith any other nuclear powers of the globe.IAEA’s Nuclear Security Division HeadAbdul Aziz Raja Adnan, during his visit toKarachi Nuclear Power Plant, stated that themeasures adopted by Pakistan wereconsistent with the IAEA’srecommendations. In a statement, ForeignOffice spokesperson Dr. Muhammad Faisalalso said that Pakistan has been activelyparticipating and contributing in IAEA’sefforts to promote nuclear security.

There has never been any real threat toPakistan’s nuclear installations or assetsbecause of multi-layers of security and safetymeasures as well as adoption of latesttechnologies for the purpose but some vestedinterests have been engaged in consistentpropaganda campaign to create misgivingsin this regard. Their objective is nothing butto malign Pakistan and depict it as anirresponsible nuclear power as its nuclearcapability is an eye-sore to some powers.

https://pakobserver.net/acknowledgement-of-

nuclear-security/

KANUPP takes CSR to the nextlevel

Muhammad Aftab Alam, Pakistan Today,December 15, 2019

The very first word that jumps to mind whenwe have a glance at the pyramids and suchiconic landmarks is ‘wonder’ but what theseactually reflect is ‘legacy’–of some visionaryleaders who built these marvels centuriesago. Today’s leaders should also aspire toleave the legacies. They should ensure thatwhatever they do must have sustainabilityso that long after they are gone, whateverthey started continues to evolve.

To achieve this level of transformationallegacy, we have to pursue more than thetypical concept of Corporate Social

Responsibility (CSR) that entails a fewnicely-worded hollow promises on officialwebsites and some feel-goodphilanthropist initiatives. Rather, suchlegacy requires taking CSR to the next levelthat is deeply engrossed in all the activitiesof an organisation.

And that is exactly what Karachi NuclearPower Project (KANUPP) has been aimingto achieve for over four decades. On theArabian Sea coast, approximately 18kmeast of Karachi, KANUPP is Pakistan’sfirst nuclear power plant inaugurated on28 November 1972. It comprises a single-unit Canada Deuterium Uranium(CANDU) pressurised heavy-waterreactor supplied by the Canadian GeneralElectric Company with a gross output of137MWe. The plant is one of the fivenuclear power plants currently ownedand being operated by the Pakistan AtomicEnergy Commission.

https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2019/12/15/kanupp-takes-csr-to-the-next-level/

D. USA

Sanctions May Have Fueled IranProtests, but Have Yet to FurtherU.S. Goals

David E. Sanger, New York Times,December 2, 2019

President Trump likes to say that Iran is“a different country” after 18 months ofpunishing American sanctions, and theprotests sweeping Iranian cities suggest hemay be right. Even his most vociferouscritics acknowledge that Mr. Trump’s“maximum pressure” campaign helpedfuel that unrest. But it is far from clear thatwhat is unfolding on the streets today willmake Iran more likely to renegotiate itsnuclear deal or dial back its malign actionsin the region, the two major Americangoals in dealing with the country.

He was referring to a quiet Americaneffort, dating back several years, toprovide ordinary Iranians with tools toencrypt communications and other waysto communicate without government


interference — what the United States callsfree speech, and what the Iraniangovernment calls an interference with itscybersovereignty.”There is a universe inwhich the Iranian leadership, given theseverity of the crisis, seizes this moment toreach a deal with the U.S. that wouldremove these sanctions in exchange forTehran complying with the nuclear deal andstarting negotiations on a new, broaderagreement,” said Robert Malley, thepresident of the International Crisis Groupand one of the negotiators of the 2015 accordwhen he served on President BarackObama’s National Security Council.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/02/us/politics/us-sanctions-iran-protests.html

Keeping up with China: US Navyorders $22 billion worth ofsubmarines

Brad Lendon, CNN, December 3, 2019

The US Navy on Monday awarded its mostexpensive shipbuilding contract ever, morethan $22.2 billion worth of the world’s mostadvanced submarines. The massive contractfor nine nuclear-powered, Virginia classattack submarines comes just months afterthe head of the US Navy in the Pacificwarned of a massive Chinese naval buildupand his trouble in getting enough submarinesto counter it.

The deal “marks the US Navy’s latestresponse to China’s growing military powerand aggressive actions in the WesternPacific,” said Carl Schuster, a formerdirector of operations at the US PacificCommand’s Joint Intelligence Center.

“The PLAN (Chinese Navy) is getting betterand larger so the US Navy has to respond,”he said. “It doesn’t make China an enemy,but China’s actions do bear watching.”Virginia class submarines are the US Navy’skey multi-mission undersea platform. Theyare capable of fighting other submarines,surface ships and land targets, as well asconducting special operations includingintelligence gathering and reconnaissance.

https://edition.cnn.com/2019/12/03/politics/us-navy-submarines-contract-intl-hnk/index.html

Oklo unveils its vision of Auroraplant


Oklo describes Aurora as an “advancedfission clean energy plant design developedto power communities with affordable,reliable, clean power.” The Aurora“powerhouse” includes a “fission battery”which uses metallic fuel. It can produceabout 1.5 MW of electrical power and canalso produce usable heat, the companysays.

“The Aurora is built on years of technologyresearch, development, anddemonstration done at the US national labsand universities, and work done by Okloto make the Aurora possible,” Oklo CEOJacob DeWitte said. “While heat andelectrons are the product, the Aurorapowerhouse is the main point forcommunity interaction. We spent yearsthinking about how it could look, how itwould function, and how it would becomea point of pride in a community.”

The company claims Aurora offers “manyunique and beneficial attributes” includingthe ability to produce power for decadeswithout needing to refuel, its small size,the placement of the fuel underground, theability to operate without needing coolingwater, the demonstrated naturalshutdown behaviour of the fuel, and theuse of a fission spectrum which can recyclefuel and ultimately convert nuclear wasteto clean energy.

http://world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Oklo-unveils-its-vision-of-Aurora-plant

Nuclear for Climate speaks atCOP25


The panellists in the session, titled, No timeto lose - why the world needs all low-carbon energy sources to achieve itsclimate goals - were Valérie Faudon, co-founder of Nuclear for Climate and vice-president of the European Nuclear Society(ENS), Ignacio Araluce, president of theSpanish Nuclear Industry Forum, Jadwiga


Najder, vice-chair of the ENS YoungGeneration Network, and Sebastien Richet,chair of the Global Initiative to Save OurClimate (GISOC).

They noted the progress the industry hasmade in the climate debate: The NICEFuture initiative ensures that nuclear is nowproperly represented in the Clean EnergyMinisterial; recent reports from theIntergovernmental Panel on ClimateChange (IPCC), the International EnergyAgency (IEA), and the World EnergyCouncil have all highlighted nuclearpower’s role in the energy transition; theInternational Atomic Energy Agencyorganised its first ever conference on climatechange and the role of nuclear power, inwhich the IPCC, the United NationsDepartment of Economic and Social Affairs,the United Nations Economic Commissionfor Europe, and the United NationsIndustrial Development Organisation, allparticipated; and the European Parliamentrecently passed a resolution stating that alltechnologies - including nuclear - are neededto combat climate change.

http://world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Nuclear-for-Climate-speaks-at-COP-25

US and Canadian regulators selectSMR for joint review


This follows the signature by CNSCPresident Rumina Velshi and NRCChairman Christine Svinicki in August of aMemorandum of Cooperation (MOC) toexpand the agencies’ cooperation onactivities associated with advanced reactorand SMR technologies. Both regulators arealready carrying out regulatory activitiesrelated to proposed SMR projects. TheMOC’s collaborative technical reviews areintended to increase regulatory effectivenessas well as reaffirm the agencies’ commitmentto safety and security.

Terrestrial Energy CEO Simon Irish said:“We look forward to participating in jointCNSC and NRC reviews of IMSR advancedreactor technology and to supporting the

goals set by the agencies in the AugustMemorandum of Cooperation.” TerrestrialEnergy’s IMSR is the subject of ongoingregulatory engagement in both Canadaand the USA, the company said. The 195MWe reactor is the only advanced reactorso far to have progressed to the secondphase of the CNSC’s Vendor DesignReview process, and is also the subject ofNRC pre-licensing activities supported bygrant funding from the US Department ofEnergy.

http://world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/US-and-Canadian-regulators-select-SMR-for-joint-re

Trump, South Korea’s Moondiscuss trying to maintain talkswith North Korea

Josh Smith Reuters, December 7, 2019

U.S. President Donald Trump and SouthKorean President Moon Jae-in held a half-hour phone discussion on ways tomaintain diplomacy with North Korea,Seoul said on Saturday, as Pyongyangwarns of waning patience with stallednuclear talks.

The two leaders agreed that the situationhas become “severe” and that “dialoguemomentum should be maintained toachieve prompt results fromdenuclearisation negotiations,” SouthKorea’s presidential Blue House said in astatement. Tensions are rising ahead of ayear-end deadline set by North Korea,which has called on the United States tochange its policy of demanding unilateraldenuclearisation or leader Kim Jong Unmay choose an unspecified “new path”.

In a series of statements in recent weeks,senior North Korean officials have warnedthe United States not to ignore thedeadline, and called Washington’s offer ofmore talks a stalling tactic ahead of nextyear’s U.S. election.

https://in.reuters.com/article/southkorea-usa-northkorea/trump-south-koreas-moon-discuss-trying-to-maintain-talks-with-north-korea-idINKBN1YB040


North Korea’s U.N. envoy saysdenuclearization off negotiatingtable with United States

Michelle Nichols and David Brunnstrom,Reuters, December 7, 2019

North Korea’s ambassador to the UnitedNations said on Saturday thatdenuclearization is off the negotiating tablewith the United States and lengthy talkswith Washington are not needed, thestarkest statement yet emphasizing the gulfbetween the two sides ahead of a year-enddeadline set by Pyongyang.

U.S. President Donald Trump sought to playdown a recent surge in tensions with NorthKorea, stressing what he said was his goodrelationship with its leader Kim Jong Unand saying he thought Kim wanted a deal,not to interfere in next year’s U.S.presidential election.”We’ll see about NorthKorea. I’d be surprised if North Korea actedhostilely,” Trump told reporters at the WhiteHouse before leaving for Florida. “He knowsI have an election coming up. I don’t thinkhe wants to interfere with that, but we’llhave to see ... I think he’d like to seesomething happen. The relationship is verygood, but you know, there is certain hostility,there’s no question about it.”

Trump has invested considerable time tryingto persuade North Korea to give up anuclear weapons program that has grownto threaten the United States, but progresshas been scant in spite of his three meetingswith Kim Jong Un.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-usa/north-koreas-un-envoy-says-denuclearization-off-negotiating-table-with-united-states-idUSKBN1YB0FG

Cheney Warns Disengagement inMideast Benefits Iran, Russia

The New York Times, December 9, 2019

Former Vice President Dick Cheney warnedMonday that “American disengagement” inthe Middle East will benefit only Iran andRussia, indirectly criticizing PresidentDonald Trump’s pledges to pull forces outof the region. While stressing that he’s no

longer in government, Cheney’s commentsin Dubai cut to the core of several policiestaken by Trump, including the suddenwithdrawal of U.S. forces from Syria.

The former vice president mentionedTrump by name only once in praising himfor pulling out the 2015 nuclear deal withIran. But Cheney’s backing of a muscularmilitary response in the Mideast starklycontrasts Trump’s promises to pullAmerica from what he calls the Mideast’s“blood-stained sands.” “Russia is alwayson standby to fill power voids. That is howit happened that Russian troops swept inwhen the U.S. left northern Syria,” Cheneytold the Arab Strategy Forum. “To sum upthat still-unfolding story: nobody willremember it as our finest hour.”

https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2019/12/09/world/middleeast/ap-ml-emirates-cheney.html

U.S. defense policy bill requiresnuclear power inspections forSaudi Arabia: sources

Timothy Gardner, Reuters, December 10,2019

Saudi Arabia and other countries seekingto use U.S. technology to develop nuclearpower plants must agree tocomprehensive U.N. inspections underlegislation to be included in the defensepolicy bill expected to be announced assoon as early this week, two Democraticcongressional aides said on Monday.

The measure, spearheaded by DemocraticU.S. Representative Bradley Sherman,requires countries to sign the so-calledAdditional Protocol. The measure requiresthe International Atomic Energy Agency,the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog, to conductsnap inspections of nuclear power facilitiesto ensure countries are not developingmaterials for nuclear weapons. Thelanguage is included in the annualNational Defense Authorization Act, oneof the few pieces of legislation thatCongress must pass every year, the twoaides said. The $700 billion NDAA billcould be announced in coming days aftermonths of negotiations.


https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-saudi-nuclear-congress/u-s-defense-policy-bill-requires-nuclear-power-inspections-for-saudi-arabia-sources-idUSKBN1YD2D4

U.S. lawmakers reach deal onmassive defense bill, eye Russia,Turkey, China

Patricia Zengerle, Reuters, December 10,2019

U.S. lawmakers announced an agreementon Monday on a $738-billion bill settingpolicy for the Department of Defense,including new measures for competing withRussia and China, family leave for federalworkers and the creation of PresidentDonald Trump’s long-desired Space Force.It also calls for sanctions on Turkey over itspurchase of a Russian missile defense system,and a tough response to North Korea’sefforts to develop nuclear weapons.

The U.S. House of Representatives andSenate Armed Services Committees agreedon a compromise version of the NationalDefense Authorization Act, or NDAA, aftermonths of negotiations. It is expected to passbefore Congress leaves Washington later thismonth for the year-end holiday break. Thelegislation includes $658.4 billion for theDepartment of Defense and Department ofEnergy national security programs, $71.5billion to pay for ongoing foreign wars,known as “Overseas ContingencyOperations” funding, and $5.3 billion inemergency funding for repairs of damagefrom extreme weather and natural disasters.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-defense-congress/us-lawmakers-reach-deal-on-massive-defense-bill-eye-russia-turkey-china-idUSKBN1YE07K

Pompeo says hopeful North Koreawill keep commitments asPyongyang deadline looms

Matt Spetalnick and Humeyra Pamuk,Reuters, December 11, 2019

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo saidon Tuesday the Trump administration was“hopeful” North Korea will continue to

work toward denuclearization and refrainfrom long-range missile tests, asPyongyang’s deadline for Washington toreconsider its approach to talks looms.Speaking at a joint news conference withRussian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov,Pompeo also said Washington was lookingfor ways to talk to Pyongyang but offeredno signs that the two sides were any closerto returning to the negotiating table. NorthKorean leader Kim Jong Un has set a year-end deadline for the United States to bemore flexible in denuclearizationnegotiations or risk Pyongyang taking a“new path.”

What exactly that path may be is unclear,but experts say North Korea could restartintercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM)testing suspended since 2017 and put thetwo countries back on a collision course,as they were before Kim and U.S.President Donald Trump held their firstsummit last year.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-usa-pompeo/pompeo-says-hopeful-north-korea-will-keep-commitments-as-pyongyang-deadline-looms-idUSKBN1YE2EW

U.S. imposes new sanctions onIran airline over proliferation

Daphne Psaledakis and Humeyra Pamuk,Reuters, December 11, 2019

The United States on Wednesday imposednew sanctions on Iran’s biggest airline andits shipping network, accusing them oftransporting lethal aid and weapons ofmass destruction proliferation. The newsanctions come just days after a weekendprisoner swap between the historic foes, arare act of cooperation since tensionsescalated after U.S. President DonaldTrump withdrew from the 2015 Irannuclear accord.

The U.S. State Department targetedShanghai-based ESAIL ShippingCompany, which U.S. Secretary of StateMike Pompeo said “knowingly transportsillicit materials from Iran’s AerospaceIndustries Organization, which overseesall of Iran’s missile industry” and has


worked with Iranian organizations subjectto U.N. sanctions.

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-usa-iran-sanctions/u-s-imposes-new-sanctions-on-iran-airline-over-proliferation-idUKKBN1YF29P

After North Korea Hints at NewPolicy, U.S. Warns Against MoreMissile Tests

Rick Gladstone, New York Times, December11, 2019

The United States is prepared to take“simultaneous steps” with North Korea toachieve peace on the Korean Peninsula, theAmerican ambassador to the United Nationssaid Wednesday, but she also warned theNorth Koreans against conducting furthermissile tests. The ambassador, Kelly Craft,made the remarks during a meeting of theUnited Nations Security Council, which wascalled at her request over worries that NorthKorea could soon resume testing of its long-range missiles or perhaps even nuclearweapons, which it halted in 2017.

That moratorium was declared by NorthKorea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, during aperiod of optimistic-sounding diplomacy,punctuated by a summit meeting withPresident Trump in Singapore in June 2018,and two more meetings in followingmonths. But talks between the two countriesaimed at ending seven decades of hostility,and with it the elimination of Mr. Kim’snuclear arsenal, have long been stalled.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/11/world/asia/north-korea-missile-tests-united-nations.html

U.S. tells U.N. it is ready to beflexible in North Korea talks, warnsagainst provocations

Michelle Nichols, Reuters, December 12,2019

The United States is ready “tosimultaneously take concrete steps” towarda deal aimed at getting North Korea to giveup its nuclear and missile programs, but theSecurity Council must be prepared torespond to any provocations, the U.S. envoy

to the United Nations said on Wednesday.

The 15-member Security Council met onWednesday at the request of the UnitedStates as concerns grow internationallythat North Korea could resume nuclear orlong-range missile testing - suspended since2017 - because denuclearization talksbetween Pyongyang and Washingtonhave stalled. “We remain ready to takeactions in parallel, and to simultaneouslytake concrete steps toward this agreement.We are prepared to be flexible in how weapproach this matter,” U.S. AmbassadorKelly Craft said. “And we recognize theneed for a balanced agreement thataddresses the concerns of all parties.”

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-usa-un/u-s-ready-to-be-flexible-with-north-korea-warns-against-provocations-trumps-u-n-envoy-idUSKBN1YF2IR

Roof placed over first Vogtle unit


The shield building provides an additionallayer of safety around the containmentvessel and nuclear reactor to protect thestructure from any potential impacts. Theroof section is 135 feet (41 metres) indiameter, 37 feet tall and weighs twomillion pounds (over 900 tonnes). Itsplacement follows the setting of Vogtle 3’scontainment vessel top earlier this year.

The first emergency preparedness exercisefor Vogtle 3 and 4, including a review ofthe site’s plans to ensure the protection ofthe public, has also been completed. “Thefirst drill helps prepare teams ahead of theNuclear Regulatory Commission’sevaluated exercise next year and marks thecontinued transition from constructiontoward operations,” Georgia Power said.The emergency preparedness plan specifiesresponse actions if the site were ever toexperience an incident.

Construction of Vogtle unit 3 began inMarch 2013 and unit 4 in November thesame year. Southern Nuclear and GeorgiaPower, both subsidiaries of SouthernCompany, took over management of the


construction project in 2017 followingWestinghouse’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy.Vogtle 3 is scheduled to enter service byNovember 2021 and unit 4 by November2022. Major systems testing began inNovember at Vogtle 3 in preparation for coldhydro testing and hot functional testing nextyear.

http://world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Roof-placed-over-first-Vogtle-unit

U.S. warns North Korea against ‘ill-advised behavior’ as deadline looms

Matt Spetalnick and Jane Chung, Reuters,December 12, 2019

The United States warned North Korea onThursday against any resumption of“unfortunate ill-advised behavior” afterPyongyang raised international concerns bysetting an end-of-year deadline forWashington to reconsider its diplomaticapproach. Assistant Secretary of State DavidStilwell said that “we have heard threatsbefore,” when asked whether Washingtonwas concerned about a return to long-rangemissile tests by North Korea, which hasvowed to take an unspecified “new path” ifthe United States is not more flexible installed nuclear talks.

It criticized the United States for conveninga U.N. Security Council meeting onWednesday, calling it a “foolish thing” thatwould help Pyongyang make a cleardecision on which path it would take. “TheU.S. talks about dialogue, whenever it opensits mouth, but it is too natural that the U.S.has nothing to present before us thoughdialogue may open,” a North KoreanForeign Ministry representative said in astatement carried by the state news agency,KCNA.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-usa/u-s-warns-north-korea-against-ill-advised-behavior-as-deadline-looms-idUSKBN1YG10L

US: NKorea missile tests are‘deeply counterproductive’

Edith M. Lederer and Jennifer Peltz, APNews, December 12, 2019

The United States warned North Korea

Wednesday that its “deeplycounterproductive” ballistic missile testsrisk closing the door on prospects fornegotiating peace but said it is “preparedto be flexible” and take concrete, parallelsteps with Pyongyang toward anagreement. U.S. Ambassador Kelly Craftdelivered the message at a Security Councilmeeting less than three weeks beforeNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s end-of-December deadline for the Trumpadministration to come up with newproposals to revive nuclear diplomacy

Negotiations faltered after the U.S.rejected North Korean demands for broadsanctions relief in exchange for a partialsurrender of the North’s nuclearcapabilities at Kim’s second summit withU.S. President Donald Trump lastFebruary. North Korea has carried out 13ballistic missile launches since May topressure Washington, and has hinted atlifting its moratorium on nuclear and long-range missile tests if the Trumpadministration fails to make substantialconcessions before the new year.

https://apnews.com/cfea48ffcf672272e415d78f7ba8a554

Pentagon Tests Long-BannedBallistic Missile Over Pacific

VOA, December 13, 2019

The Pentagon on Thursday flight-tested amissile that had been banned under atreaty that the United States and Russiaabandoned last summer. Some U.S. armscontrol advocates said the test risks anunnecessary arms race with Moscow. Theprototype missile was configured to bearmed with a non-nuclear warhead. ThePentagon declined to disclose specificsbeyond saying the missile was launchedfrom a “static launch stand” atVandenberg Air Force Base in Californiaand landed in the open ocean. The DefenseDepartment said the ballistic missile flewmore than 500 miles.

The test comes amid growing uncertaintyabout the future of arms control. The lastremaining treaty limitation on U.S. andRussian nuclear weapons - the New


START treaty of 2010 - is scheduled to expirein February 2021. That treaty can beextended for as long as five years withoutrequiring a renegotiation of its main terms.The Trump administration has indicatedlittle interest in doing so.

https://www.voanews.com/usa/pentagon-tests-long-banned-ballistic-missile-over-pacific

SMR design review enters finalphases


“The completion of Phase 4 of the NRC’sdesign review certification process is anunprecedented step forward for ourcompany and for the advanced nuclearindustry overall,” NuScale Chairman andCEO John Hopkins said. “We appreciate thetremendous effort the US NuclearRegulatory Commission has dedicated to itsthorough and rigorous review of ourgroundbreaking technology thus far.”

NuScale’s SMR design features a fullyfabricated power module based onpressurised light water reactor technology.Each module can generate up to 60 MWe,and the scalable design can be used in powerplants of up to 12 individual modules. It isthe first - and so far only - SMR to undergoa design certification review by the NRC.This is scheduled for completion bySeptember 2020, and a 12-module NuScaleplant at a site at the Idaho NationalLaboratory is planned for deployment in themid-2020s. The project to bring the reactorinto production has received support froma public-private partnership with the USDepartment of Energy as well as fromCongress.

The NRC’s design certification process isbased on a review by NRC staff of theapplication, which addresses the varioussafety issues associated with the proposednuclear power plant design, independent ofa specific site. In granting a designcertification, the regulator approves anuclear power plant design, independent ofan application to construct or operate aplant. A design certification is valid for 15years from the date of issuance, but can berenewed for a further 10 to 15 years.

Completion of Phase 4 of the reviewrepresents completion of the advancedsafety evaluation report (SER) with noopen items, NuScale said. Phase 5 entailsa review by the NRC’s AdvisoryCommittee on Reactor Safeguards(ACRS), an independent advisor to theregulator that reviews and reports onsafety studies and reactor facility licenceand licence renewal applications. The sixthand final phase of the review is thepreparation of the final SER, which willincorporate confirmatory items from thePhase 4 advanced SER, and commentsraised by ACRS in Phase 5. The final SERis scheduled for completion in September2020.

http://world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/SMR-design-review-enters-final-phases

U.S. envoy arrives in South Koreaas Pyongyang ramps up pressure

Reuters, December 15, 2019

Stephen Biegun, the U.S. special envoy forNorth Korea, arrived in South Korea onSunday as Pyongyang stepped uppressure on Washington to makeconcessions to revive stalleddenuclearization talks ahead of a year-enddeadline.

Biegun’s arrival came a day after NorthKorea said it made another “crucial test”at a rocket launch site to develop a strategicweapon to deter U.S. nuclear threats.Analysts said such tests could help NorthKorea build more reliable intercontinentalballistic missiles (ICBMs) capable ofreaching the United States. Biegun did notmake any comments upon arrival at anairport near Seoul on Sunday afternoon.

Biegun plans to meet with South KoreanPresident Moon Jae-in on Monday, as partof his three-day stay before leaving forTokyo to consult with his Japanesecounterpart. It is unclear whether he willmeet with North Korean officials at theinter-Korean border. Biegun’s trip led tospeculation he might try to salvagenegotiations by reaching out to NorthKorea, or by publicly sending a message.


https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-usa-southkorea/u-s-envoy-arrives-in-south-korea-as-pyongyang-ramps-up-pressure-idUSKBN1YJ05W

U.S. envoy Biegun to North Korea:‘We’re here, you know how to reachus’

Hyonhee Shin and Sangmi Cha, Reuters,December 16, 2019

U.S. special envoy for North Korea, StephenBiegun, urged Pyongyang on Monday toreturn offers of talks, dismissing leader KimJong Un’s year-end deadline whilehighlighting Washington’s willingness todiscuss “all issues of interest”. Tension hasbeen rising in recent weeks as Pyongyanghas conducted a series of weapons tests andwaged a war of words with U.S. PresidentDonald Trump, stoking fears the twocountries could return to a collision coursethey had been on before launchingdiplomacy last year.

Biegun arrived in Seoul on Sunday amidspeculation he might try to salvagenegotiations by reaching out to North Korea,which has vowed to take an unspecified“new path” if Washington fails to soften itsstance before the end of the year. “TheUnited States does not have a deadline. Wehave a goal,” Biegun told a joint newsconference with his South Koreancounterpart Lee Do-hoon. “Let me speakdirectly to our counterparts in North Korea.It is time for us to do our jobs. Let’s get thisdone. We are here, and you know how toreach us,” Biegun said.

https://in.reuters.com/article/northkorea-usa-southkorea/u-s-envoy-biegun-to-north-korea-were-here-you-know-how-to-reach-us-idINKBN1YK083

E. Europe

Iran to continue ballistic missileprogram despite EU warning

DW, December 5, 2019

Tehran said in a letter to the UN that it was“determined to resolutely continue”enriching uranium. This came following an

EU letter rebuking the government and aRussian firm suspending cooperation. Thegovernment of Iran issued a letter to theUnited Nations on Thursday, announcingits intention to go ahead with itscontroversial ballistic missile program.“Iran is determined to resolutely continueits activities related to ballistic missiles andspace launch vehicles,” Iranian UN envoyMajid Takhte Ravanchi wrote in a letterto Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Earlier, Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarifhad scoffed at a letter from the UK,Germany, and France taking Tehran totask for not adhering to a 2015 landmarkdeal meant to curb Iranian nuclearambitions. The letter called on Guterres toinform the Security Council in his nextreport that Iran’s missile program is“inconsistent” with the implementation ofthe deal. In a tweet, Zarif called it a“desperate falsehood to cover up theirmiserable incompetence in fulfilling thebare minimum of their own...obligations.”Tehran has criticized the EU for not fullyimplementing a barter mechanism the blocsaid would shield Iran from some of theeffects of reimposed US sanctions.

https://www.dw.com/en/iran-to-continue-ballistic-missile-program-despite-eu-warning/a-51548273

Europeans rap Iran for working onnuclear-capable missiles

Edith M. Lederer, AP News, December 5,2019

France, Germany and the United Kingdomsay “Iran’s developments of nuclear-capable ballistic missiles” go against aU.N. Security Council resolution calling onTehran not to undertake any activityrelated to such missiles. Ambassadorsfrom the three European nations urgedU.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterresin a letter circulated Wednesday to informthe council in his next report that Iran’sballistic missile activity is “inconsistent”with the call in a council resolutionendorsing the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran.

The letter cites footage released on socialmedia April 22, 2019, of a previously


unseen flight test of a new Shahab-3medium-range ballistic missile variant“equipped with a maneuverable re-entryvehicle.” It says: “The Shahab-3 booster usedin the test is a Missile Technology ControlRegime category-1 system and as such istechnically capable of delivering a nuclearweapon.” The Europeans noted that a 2015report by the International Atomic EnergyAgency on possible military dimensions ofIran’s nuclear program concluded “thatextensive evidence indicated detailed Iranianresearch in 2002-2003 on arming theShahab-3 with a nuclear warhead.”

https://apnews.com/9931c160da5f49e89f9ae7a78c6a4337

Europeans again condemn NorthKorea’s missile launches

Taiwan Times, December 5, 2019

European countries are again condemningNorth Korea’s 13 sets of ballistic missilelaunches since May, saying they violate U.N.Security Council resolutions and undermineinternational security. The statement wasissued Wednesday by the five Europeancouncil members — Belgium, France,Germany, United Kingdom and Poland —and Estonia, which will join the council inJanuary. It also condemns recent NorthKorean threats “to partners in the regionand beyond.” The Europeans issued thestatement after closed Security Councilconsultations on North Korea’s latest missilelaunches on Nov. 28. The 15-member councildidn’t issue any statement.

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3830557

Europeans Step Up Pressure on IranOver Nuclear Violations

Laurence Norman, The Wall Street Journal,December 6, 2019

France, Britain and Germany will trigger adispute mechanism if Tehran continues itsprohibited moves away from the nucleardeal, diplomats say. What Iran’s Breachesof the Nuclear Deal Mean for the U.S. andEurope. Tehran said it would beginenriching uranium beyond the 3.67% limit

set in a 2015 nuclear deal. The WSJexplains the significance of the violationand what’s next. European powers willtake the first step towards re-imposinginternational sanctions on Iran in thecoming weeks if Tehran further violatesthe 2015 nuclear deal, diplomats said. Thewarning, an escalation of Europeanpressure on Iran, puts the two sides on acollision course.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/europe-poised-to-increase-pressure-on-iran-over-nuclear-deal-violations-11575625191

Europeans, Iran to clash at nucleartalks as deal nears collapse

Aljazeera, December 6, 2019

Europeans will urge Iran to stop violatingnuclear deal, but Tehran remains angeredby sanctions imposed by Washington.European powers will demand at talks onFriday that Iran stop violating theirnuclear deal or risk renewed UNsanctions, but with Tehran angry over alack of European protection from USsanctions, there appeared to be scant scopefor compromise. The afternoon meetingcomes amid heightened friction betweenIran and the West.

The Europeans and Iran clashed onThursday over the Iranian ballistic missileprogramme before senior diplomats fromthe remaining parties to the deal - Britain,France, Germany, China and Russia - metIranian officials in Vienna on Friday toassess the state of the nuclear agreement.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/europeans-iran-clash-nuclear-talks-deal-nears-collapse-191206130035150.html

Europe Cannot Afford to CrossIran’s Redline on Nuclear Issue

Financial Tribune, December 8, 2019

The European signatories to the 2015nuclear deal cannot afford to triggersanctions snapback because it is Iran’s“redline” and would cause a collapse ofthe agreement and undermine security inEurope, a political analyst says. “Referring


Iran’s nuclear dossier to the United NationsSecurity Council would spell the end ofJCPOA, which would not serve Europe’ssecurity interests and will prevent them fromexercising influence on regional andinternational developments,” Morteza Makialso told IRNA in a recent interview.

US President Donald Trump last year pulledout of the nuclear accord between Iran andmajor powers, officially known as the JointComprehensive Plan of Action, under whichTehran undertook to curb its nuclearprogram in exchange for the lifting ofsanctions.

https://financialtribune.com/articles/national/101117/europe-cannot-afford-to-cross-irans-redline-on-nuclear-issue

Austria seeks to preserve nucleardeal: diplomat

Tehran Times, December 11, 2019

Stefan Scholz, the Austrian ambassador toTehran, said on Wednesday that Austriaseeks to preserve the 2015 nuclear deal,formally known as the JCPOA. “TheAustrian government is interested inpreserving the JCPOA and we believe thatEuropeans must fulfil their promises anduphold Iran’s economic benefits,” he saidduring a meeting with members ofSanandaj’s city council.

He noted that Austria, as a member of theEuropean Union, is making efforts to savethe JCPOA. Austria and Geneva hosted thenuclear talks between Iran, the 5+1 group,and the European Union, which led to theconclusion of the JCPOA in July 2015. JosepBorrell, the new EU foreign policy chief, saidon Monday that the signatories to thenuclear deal should adopt a united stanceto preserve the deal. He also said onSaturday that “collective responsibility” isneeded to stop the JCPOA from breakingapart. “We have a collective responsibilityto preserve #IranDeal,” Borrell tweeted. Ameeting of the JCPOA Joint Commissionwas held in Vienna on December 6. Borrelladded, “Following the Joint Commission, asa coordinator, I support the call for fullimplementation & to reverse the recent

negative trend.”

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/442932/Austria-seeks-to-preserve-nuclear-deal-diplomat

F. Russia

Putin sets task to build up RussianNavy’s combat potential in comingyears

TASS News Agency, December 2, 2019

The Russian Navy should build up itscombat potential in coming years,President Vladimir Putin said on Monday.“In the coming years, it is necessary toactively build up the Navy’s combatcapabilities. This largely depends on theplanned delivery of frigates andsubmarines upgraded for employingTsirkon hypersonic missiles to the Navy’scombat structure,” the Russian leader saidwhile opening the 14th series of meetingson defense. This task requires achievingcoordinated work of the government, themilitary command, the defense industryand research organizations, the presidentstressed. The hypersonic weapons in theFleet are becoming extremely important tomaintain strategic stability, Putin noted.

https://tass.com/defense/1094735

Kremlin: NATO on Moscow’sradar only when alliance threatensRussia


The Kremlin is keeping a close eye ondevelopments in NATO but considers theevents to be the alliance’s internal affairs,Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov saidon Tuesday. “This is none of our business,”the Kremlin spokesman said, respondingto a question about internal contradictionsin NATO. “It is our business when thealliance threatens the security of theRussian Federation,” Peskov stressed. Asthe Kremlin spokesman said, “this allianceis the product of the Cold War era.” “TheRussian Federation never wanted thisepoch to make a comeback but the alliance,which was birthed based on the ideology


of confrontation cannot, of course, offeranything else, conceptually,” the Kremlinspokesman pointed out.

“In this regard, we, of course, are attentivelyfollowing the processes inside the allianceand, as far as the dying away or not of anybody parts are concerned, well, this is notour business,” Peskov said. The Kremlinhinted at a recent statement by FrenchPresident Emmanuel Macron that NATOwas “brain dead” due to the absence ofcoordination between the United States andits European allies.

https://tass.com/politics/1095075

Leningrad II plant begins providingdistrict heating


Unit 1 of Russia’s Leningrad II nuclearpower plant has been integrated into theheat supply system of the city of SosnovyBor, operator Rosenergoatom hasannounced. The VVER-1200 reactor willreplace electricity and heating capacity lostwith the closure last December of the firstof four RBMK-1000 units at the nearbyLeningrad plant. All major manufacturingand production companies located on theindustrial park in Sosnovy Bor were the firstto receive the heat produced by LeningradII-1, Rosenergoatom said. The next stage willbe to integrate the reactor’s heat supply intothe city’s residential heating system.

The net cost of heat generated at theLeningrad nuclear plant is far lower thanthat produced by boiler rooms run on organicfuel, the company said. In addition, the useof nuclear-generated heat avoids theemission of carbon dioxide and has a lesserimpact on the environment. “The VVER-1200 power block is a replacement for bothelectricity and heat capacities, and it willstart delivering those as a replacement forthe shutdown RBMK-1000 power block,”said Dmitry Tsygankov, head of the turbinehall of Leningrad II unit 1. “The LeningradNPP turbine hall and district heat supplyboiler room teams have fully ensured reliableand trouble-free heat supply to the city and

the industrial park using a high-capacitypower block that can output twice asmuch as an RBMK block.”

https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Leningrad-II-plant-begins-providing-district-heati

Russia awards contract to buildBREST reactor,


Siberian Chemical Combine (SCC) hasawarded a RUB26.3 billion (USD412million) contract to Titan-2 for theconstruction and installation works for theBREST-OD-300 lead-cooled fast neutronreactor facility at its site in Seversk, Russia.Siberian Chemical Plant is a subsidiary ofTVEL, the nuclear fuel manufacturingsubsidiary of Russian state nuclearcorporation Rosatom.

BREST-OD-300 is part of Russian statenuclear corporation Rosatom’s Proryv, orBreakthrough, project to enable a closednuclear fuel cycle. The 300 MWe unit willbe the main facility of the PilotDemonstration Energy Complex (PDEC),which is in the process of construction atthe Siberian Chemical Plant site. Inaddition, the PDEC demonstrate an on-site closed nuclear fuel cycle with a facilityfor the fabrication/re-fabrication of mixeduranium-plutonium nitride nuclear fuel,as well as a used fuel reprocessing facility.

According to the newly announcedcontract, Titan-2 will build the reactorbuilding, turbine hall and relatedinfrastructure facilities for the power unit,with completion scheduled before the endof 2026. Vitaly Khadeev, vice president forthe development of closed nuclear fuelcycle technologies and industrial facilitiesat TVEL, said the project will create morethan 800 new jobs in Seversk. Titan-2Holding, a Russian group of engineeringcompanies, is the general contractor forconstruction of new nuclear power unitsat the Leningrad nuclear power plant inRussia, and its subsidiaries are alsoengaged in the Hanhikivi and Akkuyu


nuclear power plant construction projectsin Finland and Turkey, respectively.

https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Russia-awards-contract-to-build-BREST-reactor

Putin says Russia ready to extendNew START nuclear arms treaty


Russia is ready to extend the New STARTnuclear arms control treaty by the end ofthis year without any more conditions ordiscussion, President Vladimir Putin said onThursday, appearing to drop Moscow’searlier defiant tone. The New STARTaccord, signed in 2010, limits the number ofstrategic nuclear warheads that Washingtonand Moscow can deploy. Its fate has beenin the spotlight since Washington pulled outof another key arms accord in August, citingviolations by Russia that Moscow denies.

“Russia is not interested in starting an armsrace and deploying missiles where they arenot present now,” Putin told officials in ameeting. “Russia is ready to immediately, assoon as possible, by the end of this year,without any preconditions, extend theSTART Treaty so that there would be nofurther double or triple interpretation of ourposition,” Putin said.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-usa-missiles/putin-says-russia-ready-to-extend-new-start-nuclear-arms-treaty-idUSKBN1Y923K

Russia suspends revamp work atIran’s Fordow nuclear plant


Russian state nuclear company Rosatom hassuspended work on revamping a factory atIran’s Fordow nuclear complex due to anissue with uranium compatibility, Rosatom’snuclear fuel cycle unit TVEL said onThursday. “Uranium enrichment and theproduction of stable isotopes cannot becarried out in the same room,” TVEL saidin a statement, adding that it was“technologically impossible” to implementthe project at this time.

TVEL said specialists have been working on

a project since 2017 to modify centrifugecascades to produce two stable isotopesthat can be used for medicinal purposes.But it said their efforts have been thwartedby traces of uranium in the air and on theequipment. “To resume this work, wemust stop and dismantle the cascades,where uranium enrichment takes placeand thoroughly clean the premises andequipment,” said TVEL, which specializesin uranium mining and production ofnuclear fuel. “Until these conditions aremet, works on the project from the Russianside are suspended. “TVEL said theIranian side had been informed of itsdecision.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-nuclear-russia/russia-suspends-revamp-work-at-irans-fordow-nuclear-plant-idUSKBN1Y91WU

Putin fears the US and NATO aremilitarizing space and Russia isright to worry, experts say

Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, December 5, 2019

Russian President Vladimir Putin warnedWednesday that the U.S. saw space as as“theater of military operations” and thatthe development of the U.S. Space Forceposed a threat to Russia. “The U.S.military-political leadership openlyconsiders space as a military theater andplans to conduct operations there,” Putinsaid at a meeting with defense officials inSochi, according to Russian news agencyTASS. “For preserving strategicsupremacy in this field the United Statesis accelerating creation of its space forces,which are already in the process ofoperative preparations,” Putin said,adding that the world’s leading countriesare fast-tracking the development ofmodern military space systems and dualpurpose satellites and that Russia neededto do the same. “The situation requires usto pay increased attention to strengtheningthe orbital group, as well as the rocket andspace industry as a whole.”

Russia opposed the militarization of space,Putin insisted, but said “at the same timethe march of events requires greater


attention to strengthening the orbital groupand the space rocket and missile industry ingeneral.”

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/05/nato-in-space-putin-is-worried-about-the-militarization-of-space.html

Three out of four icebreakers forNorthern Sea Route may bedecommissioned by 2030


Only one of four existing nuclear-poweredicebreakers, which now take vessels alongthe Northern Sea Route, will continue serviceafter 2030 - The 50 Let Pobedy. The othericebreakers will be decommissioned, DeputyDirector General of the nuclear fleetauthority, Atomflot, Leonid Irlitsa told theArctic: Present and Future internationalforum. “The nuclear-powered icebreakerfleet is getting old, and by 2020 we shall haveto stop the old Soviet-time fleet oficebreakers,” he said.

His presentation’s slides showed the Taimyr(commissioned in 1989) and the Yamal(commissioned in 1992) may bedecommissioned by 2029, and the Vaygach(in service since 1990) - by 2028. The 50 LetPobedy icebreaker (commissioned in 2007)will continue working to 2041.

https://tass.com/economy/1096397

Russia suspends Fordow project inIran


TVEL has announced the suspension of itswork to upgrade the Fordow FuelEnrichment Plant because Iran fed uraniumhexafluoride (UF6) into two gas centrifugecascades located in the same room as thecascades meant to be reengineered for stablemedical isotope production. Iran’s actionfollowed its withdrawal from some of theobligations under the Joint ComprehensivePlan of Action (JCPOA), and TVEL’sannouncement yesterday came on the eveof the next round of talks between Iran andthe JCPOA signatories at the International

Atomic Energy Agency’s headquarters inVienna.

TVEL, the nuclear fuel manufacturersubsidiary of Russian state nuclearcorporation Rosatom, said it was“technologically impossible” to implementthe Fordow project at this time. Uraniumenrichment and stable medical isotopeproduction cannot be sustained in thesame room because air and equipment areexposed to UF6 “leftovers”, making theproduced stable medical isotopesunsuitable for medical purposes, TVELsaid. “To resume this work, it will benecessary to stop and dismantle thecascades in which uranium enrichmenttakes place and to thoroughly clean thepremises and equipment. Until theseconditions are met, work on the projectfrom the Russian side has beensuspended,” it said.

Since 2017, TVEL has been engaged inmodifying two gas centrifuge cascades atthe Fordow facility, intended for producingstable isotopes (xenon and tellurium) formedical purposes. The works were carriedout in compliance with the JCPOA dated14 July 2015. The International AtomicEnergy Agency and the JCPOA JointCommission were regularly updated onproject progress, TVEL said.

https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Russia-suspends-Fordow-project-in-Iran

Russia says will respond to U.S. onmissile deployment


Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said onFriday that Russia will not hesitate torespond to any new deployment ofmissiles by the United States. “We willhave a mirror reaction”, Lavrov said.“Every step will have a Russian reaction,”Lavrov said at a news conference in Romewith his Italian counterpart, speakingthrough an Italian interpreter. Russia hasproposed a moratorium on the deploymentof short and intermediate-range nuclearmissiles in Europe after the Intermediate-


range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) banningsuch a move formally ended in August.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-usa-missiles/russia-says-will-respond-to-u-s-on-missile-deployment-idUSKBN1YA1QC

Russian Foreign Minister Likely toDiscuss Nuclear Arms With Trumpand Pompeo

David E. Sanger, The New York Times,December 7, 2019

The last time President Trump met in theOval Office with Sergey V. Lavrov, theRussian foreign minister, it did not go sowell. Mr. Trump had just fired James B.Comey, the F.B.I. director, and exultedabout the move to Russia’s top diplomat.Then he told Mr. Lavrov and Sergey I.Kislyak, who then was finishing a tour asRussia’s ambassador to Washington, aboutthe penetration of an Islamic State groupworking to make explosives that fooledairport X-ray machines by looking likebatteries for laptop computers. Thatdisclosure blew an important intelligencesource for Israel, which had kept itsoperation to get inside ISIS a secret — andwas outraged by Mr. Trump’s indiscretion.

In any other presidency that would seemuncontroversial. Democrats andRepublicans on Capitol Hill have largelyagreed that extending the accord would begood, avoiding a nuclear arms race at a timeof heightened tension with Mr. Putin’sgovernment over Ukraine, Crimea andRussia’s efforts to manipulate Americanelections. The treaty, which is set to expirein February 2021, right after the nextpresidential inauguration, limits both sidesto around 1,550 deployed strategic nuclearweapons, though that leaves out smallertactical weapons and does not cover a rangeof other non-nuclear weaponry that canwreak havoc.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/09/world/europe/lavrov-trump-pompeo-nuclear.html

Russia to test robot for radioactivewaste disposal in early 2020


A new anthropomorphic robot that willhandle waste disposal in radioactivecanyons will be tested in Russia in early2020, said Android Technology ExecutiveDirector Evgeniy Dudorov on Monday.“Now the robot is being manufactured. Atthe beginning of next year, testing willalready take place,” Dudorov said. Therobot will be suspended on a special boom;the machine will be connected to thenetwork using wires.

The anthropomorphic robot will becontrolled with the help of a master suit,which in copy mode will transmit themovement to the android from theoperator. This control plan was previouslyworked out by the Android Technologyon the robot named Feodor, for which theoperator used a virtual reality helmet tosee through the eyes of the android. AsDudorov explained, in the future the robotwill be able to work autonomously.

https://tass.com/economy/1097063

Russia ready to consider USnuclear disarmament proposals —source


Moscow is ready to consider in detail anyspecific nuclear disarmament proposalsWashington might make, a source in theRussian Foreign Ministry told TASS. “Inthe context of threats being created by theUnited States we will do our utmost tomaintain our national security. At thesame time we systematically press for aresumption of the dialogue on the issue ofstrategic stability. Lately, Washingtondemonstrated its openness to this. IfDonald Trump’s statement of April 25about some nuclear disarmament treaty,which he also mentioned in a conversationwith Vladimir Putin on May 3, isformalized as a concrete proposal, whichhas not happened yet, we will be preparedto closely consider it,” the source said.


The diplomat recalled that back in October2018 Russia forwarded to the US a draft jointstatement on the prevention of nuclear warand on strengthening strategic stability. Italso suggested confirming that bothcountries “will behave in responsible wayand have no intention of sliding towards aconfrontation fraught with the death ofhumanity.”


Russia and Turkey plan gridconnection for Akkuyu plant


Turkish electricity transmissions systemoperator TEÝAÞ and Russian-owned JSCAkkuyu Nuklear have signed a transmissiongrid connection agreement for the nuclearpower plant under construction in Mersinprovince, in southern Turkey. Theagreement means that full-scale work canstart on creating a power distribution systemfor the Akkuyu nuclear power plant, whichwill include six high-voltage transmissionlines. The 4800 MWe plant will comprisefour VVER1200 reactors and is expected tomeet about 10% of Turkey’s electricity needs.Turkey aims to bring unit 1 online in 2023,the centenary of its foundation as a republic,while Turkish regulator TAEK granted JSCAkkuyu Nuklear a construction licence forunit 2 in September.

Within the framework of the agreement, thepower generated by Akkuyu will betransmitted from its switchgear via 400 kVpower lines to six transformer substationsthat are part of Turkey’s unified energysystem. The total length of the high-voltagelines that will be built as part of the Akkuyupower distribution scheme will exceed 1000km. TEÝAÞ, which is a company under thejurisdiction of Turkey’s Ministry of Energyand Natural Resources, maintains anetwork of 68,204-km-long transmissionlines, 736 transformer substations and 12high-voltage transmission lines that connectTurkey with the neighbouring countries.

https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Russia-and-Turkey-plan-grid-connection-for-Akkuyu

Orano to supply second Russiandeconversion facility


France’s Orano will supply a seconddepleted uranium hexafluoride (DUF6)defluorination plant to TVEL’s JSCElectrochemical Plant (ECP) inZelenogorsk in Russia’s KrasnoyarskRegion under a EUR40 million (USD44million) contract awarded by Russian statenuclear corporation Rosatom. The firstfacility has been in operation at the sitefor ten years.

The contract was signed by SergeyFilimonov, director general of ECP, andCedric Barba, vice-president for nuclearfuel cycle front end business operations atOrano Projects. Under the terms of thecontract, Orano will supply the equipmentfor the construction of the deconversionfacility, as well as providing technicalassistance in its installation andcommissioning. The project is expected tobe completed in 2022. The plant willdeconvert DUF6 - the so-called tails leftbehind after uranium enrichment - intouranium tetrafluoride, with anhydroushydrofluoric acid being produced as a by-product. Deconversion transforms thetoxic and somewhat corrosive gaseousDUF6 enrichment tailings into a stablepowdered oxide form fit for long-termstorage, transport or final disposal. Theresulting DUF6 will be used, together withplutonium oxide, in the production ofmixed-oxide (MOX) fuel for the BN-800fast neutron reactor at Beloyarsk (unit 4),which entered commercial operation inOctober 2016.

https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Orano-to-supply-second-Russian-deconversion-facili

Press review: Lavrov, Trump hashover boosting business ties andarms control proposals


US President Donald Trump said at hisrecent talks with Russian Foreign MinisterSergey Lavrov that he wished to increase


trade with Russia, Kommersant writes,citing a source close to the Russiandelegation. The White House occupant didnot explain how exactly this could be doneamid Washington’s sanctions againstMoscow. However, over the past years,Russian-US economic ties have been reallyimproving. Soon, the sides are expected toannounce launching a bilateral BusinessConsultative Council, which is aimed atgiving a new impetus to business dialoguebetween Moscow and Washington.

This autumn, Russia and the United Statesnamed persons, who will be responsible forcreating this mechanism, which RussianPresident Vladimir Putin suggested thatTrump establish back in summer 2018, thepaper wrote. In particular, President of theRussian Union of Industrialists andEntrepreneurs Alexander Shokhin and Headof the US-Russia Business Council DanielRussell will deal with this issue. They willbe tasked with arranging the group’s firstmeeting during the St. PetersburgInternational Economic Forum in June 2020.The launch of the council has not beenofficially announced.

https://tass.com/pressreview/1098577

Zaporozhe 5 loaded exclusivelywith Westinghouse fuel


The core of unit 5 at the Zaporozhe nuclearpower plant in Ukraine has been fullyloaded with VVER-1000 fuel produced byWestinghouse, operator Energoatomannounced yesterday. In July 2018, unit 3of the South Ukraine plant became the firstVVER-1000 reactor anywhere to operatewith a full core of fuel not supplied byRussia. Energoatom said a total of 163Westinghouse-produced fuel assemblieshave been loaded into the core of Zaporozheunit 5. Three other units at the site are alsooperating with Westinghouse fuel. Units 3and 4 are both operating with 84Westinghouse assemblies within their cores,while unit 1 (currently in a scheduledmaintenance outage) has 126 assembliesloaded.

“Using various sources of fuel supply, wefirst of all ensure the energy security ofUkraine,” said Alexander Ignatchenko,deputy chief engineer for nuclear andradiation safety at the Zaporozhe plant.“With regard to the reliability ofalternative fuels, the [Westinghouse] TVZ-WR shows good mechanical stabilityresults.” Energoatom said that Unit 5 willbegin operating exclusively withWestinghouse-supplied fuel next year,while unit 1 will also be loaded entirelywith Westinghouse fuel. Units 3 and 4 willbe fully loaded with Westinghouse fuel in2021. “A year after, subject to successfulpilot operation, the use of alternative fuelwill become industrial,” it said.

https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Zaporozhe-5-loaded-exclusively-with-Westinghouse-f

Russia raises concerns over newU.S. ballistic missile test: RIA


Russia said on Friday it was alarmed afterthe United States tested a ground-launched ballistic missile that would havebeen banned under the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty, the RIA newsagency reported. “It alarms us. Of course,we will take this into account,” saidVladimir Ermakov, head of the foreignministry’s arms control and non-proliferation department. It was thesecond test by the United States thatwould have been prohibited under the INFtreaty and too place as the future ofanother major nuclear arms control treatybetween Russia and the United States isunder question.

New START, the last remaining majornuclear arms control treaty between thetwo countries, is due to expire in February2021 and Moscow has warned there isalready not enough time left to negotiatea full-fledged replacement.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-mili-tary-russia/russia-raises-concerns-over-new-us-ballistic-missile-test-ria-idUSKBN1YH0S8


Russia Developing Nuclear ArmsBeyond U.S. Arsenal, U.S. MilitarySays

The Moscow Times, December 13, 2019

Russia is developing nuclear weapons thatthe United States does not yet have, a seniorofficer of the force that oversees the U.S.nuclear arsenal was cited by the state-runTASS news agency as saying Friday. U.S.Strategic Command deputy commanderVice Adm. Dave Kriete spoke to reportersas the U.S. tested a missile that would havebeen banned under a bilateral treaty itwithdrew from this year. Russia said it wasalarmed about the U.S. test of a ground-launched ballistic missile Thursday. “Russiacontinues to develop nuclear weapons thatthe United States does not possess,” TASSquoted Kriete as saying in a Russian-language report from Washington. “Ourgoal isn’t to keep up with Russia and engagein an arms race [but to engage] in properdeterrence,” Kriete reportedly said.

The U.S. test was its second such exerciseafter withdrawing this August from the1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces(INF) Treaty that would have banned themissile. Washington withdrew from the INFafter accusing Moscow of violating thetreaty, a claim the Kremlin has denied.

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2019/12/13/russia-developing-nuclear-arms-beyond-us-arsenal-us-military-says-a68615

US missile test confirms INF Treatywas ruined at Washington’sinitiative — Kremlin


Thursday’s test of a ballistic missile carriedout by the United States was evidence thatWashington intended to ruin theIntermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty, RussianPresidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.“We’ve said more than once that the UnitedStates has been making preparations forviolating the INF Treaty. This [missile test]clearly confirms that the treaty was ruinedat the initiative of the United States,” Peskovtold the media on Friday.

“I’m not in the position to make anycomments [on the missile test] from thetechnical standpoint and the missile’sparameters and characteristics,” headded. On December 12, the USDepartment of Defense carried out a flighttest of the ground-based ballistic missile(non-nuclear configuration) at the US AirForce base Vandenberg, California. Untiljust recently Russia and the United Stateshad been prohibited from developing suchweapons in accordance with the INFTreaty. This agreement lost force onAugust 2 following the United States’unilateral pullout.


West Asia

G. Iran

Setting Iran deadlines ‘might notbe the best idea’: new IAEA chief

Francois Murphy, Reuters. December 3,2019

Setting Iran deadlines to explain howuranium particles were found in anundeclared Tehran warehouse could becounter-productive, the new U.N. nuclearwatchdog chief said on Tuesday, hopingfresh dialogue will resolve the months-longstandoff. Rafael Grossi, a 58-year-oldcareer diplomat from Argentina, took overas director general of the InternationalAtomic Energy Agency on Tuesday.Arguably the biggest challenge he and hisagency face is policing Iran’s nuclear dealwith major powers. Tehran has so farfailed to provide a satisfactory explanationfor the uranium traces found by IAEAinspectors at a site that Israeli PrimeMinister Benjamin Netanyahu pointedthem to, calling it a “secret atomicwarehouse”. In September the IAEA’sacting chief told Iran that “time is of theessence”, but there has been no sign ofimproved cooperation by Tehran sincethen.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-un-nuclear-chief/setting-iran-deadlines-might-not-be-the-best-idea-new-iaea-chief-idUSKBN1Y729X


Iran says still ready for talks if USlifts sanctions

Saudi Gazette, December 4, 2019

Iran is willing to return to the negotiatingtable if the United States first dropssanctions, President Hassan Rohani said onWednesday, after a fuel price hike sparkeddeadly violence ahead of elections. Europeancountries have been pushing for talks withIran to salvage a 2015 nuclear deal that hasall but collapsed since the United Stateswithdrew and reimposed sanctions lastyear. Rohani has long demanded the liftingof US sanctions for Iran’s return to talksunder the auspices of the so-called P5+1 thatreached the deal — the five veto-wieldingpermanent members of the UN SecurityCouncil plus Germany.

His latest statement comes after a shockannouncement in mid-November that theprice of petrol was going up by as much as200 percent triggered demonstrations acrossIran that turned deadly. The decision cameat a sensitive time ahead of a Februaryparliamentary election. It is a rise manyIranians can ill afford in a country whosesanctions-hit economy is expected tocontract by 9.5 percent this year.

http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/584168/World/Mena/Iran-says-still-ready-for-talks-if-US-lifts-sanctions

Russia suspends revamp work atIran’s Fordow nuclear plant


Russian state nuclear company Rosatom hassuspended work on revamping a factory atIran’s Fordow nuclear complex due to anissue with uranium compatibility, Rosatom’snuclear fuel cycle unit TVEL said onThursday. “Uranium enrichment and theproduction of stable isotopes cannot becarried out in the same room,” TVEL saidin a statement, adding that it was“technologically impossible” to implementthe project at this time.

In November, the United States said it wouldcease waiving punitive sanctions related tothe Fordow plant from Dec. 15 - a move

Russia condemned - after Tehran resumeduranium enrichment at the undergroundsite in contravention of a nuclear deal itsigned with world powers in 2015.European countries have tried to salvagethe nonproliferation agreement, whichrequires Iran to restrain its enrichmentprogram, but Tehran has increasinglydistanced itself from the accord since theUnited States withdrew last year.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-nuclear-russia/russia-suspends-revamp-work-at-irans-fordow-nuclear-plant-idUSKBN1Y91WU

Iran working on nuclear-capablemissiles: European powers


Britain, France and Germany haveaccused Iran of developing nuclear-capable ballistic missiles in a letterdismissed by Iranian Foreign MinisterJavad Zarif on Thursday as “a desperatefalsehood”.

UN ambassadors for the three countriessaid in the letter to UN Secretary GeneralAntonio Guterres that Iran’s actions were“inconsistent” with the UN resolutionenshrining a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran.But Zarif on Twitter said the Europeanswere covering up their own “miserableincompetence” at abiding by the nucleardeal and were “bowing to US bullying”.

The letter referred to footage shared onsocial media in April this year of the testflight of a new Shabab-3 medium rangeballistic missile variant that was“technically capable of delivering anuclear weapon”. The European powersalso pointed to three other launches thisyear, including that of the Borkan-3, a newmedium-range ballistic missile tested byIranian-backed Houthi militia in Yemen onAug.2, 2019. The letter, dated Nov.21,2019 said these flights were “the latest ina long series of advances in Iranian ballisticmissile technology”.

http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/584294/World/Europe/Iran-working-on-nuclear-capable-missiles-European-powers


Iran nuclear deal parties meet asaccord nears collapse

The Independent, December 6, 2019

The remaining signatories to the falteringIran nuclear deal began crunch talks inVienna Friday with questions over thesurvival of the landmark agreement afterTehran vowed to continue to breach thedeal’s limits on its nuclear programme.Envoys from Britain, France, Germany,China, Russia and Iran are taking part inthe meeting, which is the first time the sixparties gather in this format since July. SinceMay, Iran has taken a series of measures,including stepping up uranium enrichment,in breach of the 2015 deal, with anothersuch move likely in early January.

Iran insists that under the agreement it hasthe right to take these measures in retaliationfor the US’s withdrawal from the deal in2018 and reimposition of crippling sanctions.Since last month, European members havein turn begun raising the possibility oftriggering the so-called “dispute resolutionmechanism” foreseen in the accord, whichcould lead to the resumption of UN sanctionson Iran. On the eve of what was alreadylikely to be a strained meeting, Britain,France and Germany accused Iran ofdeveloping nuclear-capable ballistic missiles,in a letter to the UN on Thursday. IranianForeign Minister Javad Zarif dismissed theallegation as “desperate falsehood”. Despitethe mounting tension observers say Britain,France and Germany are unlikely to triggerthe dispute resolution mechanism on Friday.

http://www.theindependentbd.com/post/226835

Iran President Rouhani may visitJapan on December 19 - Jiji


Iranian President Hassan Rouhani may visitJapan on Dec. 19 for talks with JapanesePrime Minister Shinzo Abe, Jiji Newsreported on Tuesday. Abe said on Mondaythat Tokyo is in discussions about the visitin an attempt to try to resolve Iran’s nuclearimpasse with the United States.

https://in.reuters.com/article/iran-china/iran-

president-rouhani-may-visit-japan-on-december-19-jiji-idINKBN1YE0WR

IAEA chief vows to act fairlytowards Tehran


Rafael Grossi, the new director general ofthe International Atomic Energy Agency,has promised to act fairly andindependently towards Tehran. Grossisaid on Monday that he would not allowdiscrimination in any case and would liketo rely on cooperation with Iran, Press TVreported. “We will not allowdiscrimination and bias against Iran,” hesaid. “I will be very determined and veryfair. I will not be undecided as to theimplementation of liabilities.”

Grossi added that he would rely on theinformation provided by the agency’sinspectors, who monitor Iran’scommitment to its obligations under the2015 nuclear deal, officially called the JointComprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).He explained that he has no intention tointroduce a new methodology, saying theagency would continue its work as before.Grossi met with Iranian Deputy ForeignMinister Abbas Araghchi in Vienna onFriday. Araghchi was in Vienna toparticipate in the joint commission of theJCPOA.

Since assuming the post, Grossi hasrepeatedly voiced his determination tocooperate with Iran. “I’m the new kid onthe block in this relationship. They’ve beenthere, now they get a new DG, so we haveto sit down together, start talking and takeit from there,” he said last week. “Let mestart my conversation with Iran. I don’tthink it would be appropriate, and itwould be unfair, to pronounce myselfabout their attitudes before I sit down withthem.” He has also said he will be “firmbut fair” on inspections generally,including in Iran, without spelling outwhat that means. He told Reuters he issatisfied with the work the IAEA’sinspections team has been doing. Grossiwas appointed as the new director-generalof the IAEA in October, following the


death of the previous chief Yukiya Amanoin July.

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/442893/IAEA-chief-vows-to-act-fairly-towards-Tehran

EU chief urges united stance topreserve nuclear deal


Josep Borrell, the new EU foreign policychief, said on Monday that the signatoriesto the 2015 nuclear deal, officially knownas the JCPOA, should adopt a united stanceto preserve the deal. “[The JCPOA JointCommission] meeting on Friday showedthat all sides support this agreement andseek to preserve it. This united stance is veryimportant to us,” IRNA quoted him assaying at a press conference after a meetingwith the EU foreign ministers in Paris.Borrell said on Saturday that “collectiveresponsibility” is needed to stop the JCPOAfrom breaking apart. “We have a collectiveresponsibility to preserve #IranDeal,” hetweeted on Saturday. Borrell added,“Following the Joint Commission, as acoordinator, I support the call for fullimplementation & to reverse the recentnegative trend.”

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/442907/EU-chief-urges-united-stance-to-preserve-nuclear-deal

US hopeful for Iran prisoner talksbut imposes new sanctions


US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said onWednesday he hoped for further dialoguewith Iran to free prisoners but announcednew sanctions as he vowed no let-up inpressure. Iran has also voiced a willingnessfor more prisoner swaps after the exchangeSaturday of Xiyue Wang, a US scholardetained since 2016, for Massoud Soleimani,an Iranian scientist detained in the UnitedStates since last year. “I do hope that theexchange that took place will lead to abroader discussion on consular affairs. Westill have Americans held in Iran — toomany, for sure.” Pompeo told reporters.

Pompeo said the United States will “followevery even tiny opening” to free the atleast handful of Americans known to bein Iranian custody. “I hope it portendswell for this. We have had some indicationthat may be the case, but I don’t want tooverstate that and I don’t want to give falseoptimism about that pathway,” Pompeosaid. Pompeo, however, said the UnitedStates would not deviate from itscampaign of trying to strangle Iran’seconomy through sanctions.

http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/584751/World/Mena/US-hopeful-for-Iran-prisoner-talks-but-imposes-new-sanctions

Guterres says UN is unable toverify weapons used in Saudi oilattack were from Iran


United Nations Secretary GeneralAntonio Guterres said on Tuesday that theUN is “unable to independentlycorroborate” that missiles and dronesused in attacks on Saudi oil facilities inSeptember “are of Iranian origin”. “At thistime, it is unable to independentlycorroborate that the cruise missiles andunmanned aerial vehicles used in theseattacks are of Iranian origin,” he wrote inthe report, seen by Reuters. Yemenislaunched drone attacks on Saudi Arabia’soil installations on September 14,disrupting half of the country’s oil supply.

Washington and Riyadh claimed Iran wasbehind the attacks. Tehran has saidblaming Iran for the attack is part of alarger game against Iran in line withTrump’s “maximum pressure” campaignagainst Tehran. Iranian Foreign MinisterMohammad Javad Zarif said in Septemberthat “even the Saudis themselves don’tbelieve the fiction of Iranian involvement”in the attacks on the Aramco oil facilities,citing Saudi Arabia’s retaliation attack onHodaideh in Yemen as a reason. In a poston his Twitter account, Zarif said it was“curious” that the Saudis, who hadblamed Iran for the September 14 air raidson two major Saudi oil facilities, had


retaliated against Hodaideh in violation ofa UN-brokered ceasefire agreement signedin Stockholm in December 2018.

“Since the Saudi regime has blamed Iran—baseless as that is—for the attacks on its oilfacilities, curious that they retaliated againstHodaideh in Yemen today—breaking a UNceasefire. It is clear that even the Saudisthemselves don’t believe the fiction of Iranianinvolvement.” In a letter to the UN SecurityCouncil, Iranian Ambassador to the UnitedNations Majid Takht Ravanchi said, “It hasbecome a standard practice of certainofficials of the United States who, followingany incident — no matter where and bywhom – without exception, immediatelyand without any investigation and evidence,declare Iran as the culprit.” Takht Ravanchiadded, “This ‘maximum deception’campaign is in line with and a living exampleof the so-called ‘maximum pressure’ policyof the United States against Iran.”

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/442913/Guterres-says-UN-is-unable-to-verify-weapons-used-in-Saudi-oil

IRGC chief: It is wrong to thinkIranians will surrender underincreasing economic pressure


Chief of the Islamic Revolution GuardsCorps (IRGC) has warned the enemies to putan end to their anti-Iran plots or faceconsequences. “We tell you that if you donot abandon (your hostile acts), we will setfire to your interests,” Tasnim quoted MajorGeneral Hossein Salami as saying onThursday. He also warned that Iran willtake revenge against any hostile act. Salamisaid the enemy is wrong to think it cancoerce Iranians to surrender by increasingeconomic pressure.

The more the pressure, he said, the strongerthe people’s determination will become toresist the enemy. The more the pressure,Salami says, the stronger the people’sdetermination will become to resist theenemy.

U.S. President Donald Trump has adopteda maximum pressure policy against Iransince he walked away from the JCPOA.The policy includes sanctions on Iran’seconomy, especially its oil exports, andbans on top Iranian figures andorganizations. At the same time, the U.S.president has pushed for talks withTehran.

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/442969/IRGC-chief-It-is-wrong-to-think-Iranians-will-surrender-under

Iran can give response if attacked:Nasrallah


The Secretary-General of the LebaneseHezbollah Resistance Movement HassanNasrallah warned of US plots forLebanon, Iran and the region. Addressingthe Lebanese people on Friday about thelatest developments in the country, he said“I call on the Lebanese to be conscious andnot have trust in US promises and claims.”“US is extorting the Lebanese people byputting them in front of two choices eithersurrender to its goals or financialcollapse,” Almanar quoted him as saying.

Israel knows that if Hezbollah wants totake the role of the government it wouldhave taken action against its violation ofthe wall-building on the border and theviolation in the sea, he said. “US is tryingto show Hezbollah as a threat toLebanon,” he said, adding thatWashington “is defending its own interestsand Israel’s interests not the interests ofthe Lebanese people.” He highlightedblunt US intervention in any reformationcalls as attempts to implement its ownagenda. Elsewhere, he added that “Manymedia outlets, specifically Gulf ones wereclaiming that Hezbollah and Amalmovement members are attacking hereand there. I assure you that this is falseand our leaderships have not taken anydecision to take action against anyoffenses.”

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/442985/Iran-can-give-response-if-attacked-Nasrallah


Resolution 2231 imposes no ban onIran’s missile tests: spokesman


Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavihas argued that the United Nations SecurityCouncil Resolution 2231 imposes no ban onIran’s missile tests. During a presser in thenorthwestern city of Tabriz on Saturday,Mousavi criticized some Western countries’position on Iran’s missile tests, Tasnimreported. He said the 2015 Iran nuclear deal,also known as the Joint Comprehensive Planof Action (JCPOA), has nothing to do withmissile tests.

The JCPOA was struck between Iran andsix world powers, including the U.S., Russia,China, France, Britain, and Germany, onJuly 14, 2015. However, Donald Trumpunilaterally withdrew the U.S. from the dealin May 2018 and adopted what hisadministration called the policy of“maximum pressure” to force Tehran intowriting another deal.

Only nuclear issues were discussed with theworld powers during the negotiations thatled to the JCPOA, Mousavi stated. Notingthat they unsuccessfully tried to raise theissue of missiles in the negotiations, heunderlined that Resolution 2231 has notbanned Iran from missile tests and they arewell aware of it. “We regard statementsabout Iran’s missile tests as meddlesome andreject them,” the spokesman added.Resolution 2231, adopted unanimously bythe UN Security Council in July 2015,endorsed the Iran nuclear agreement. Whilethe resolution “calls upon” Iran not to testnuclear-capable missiles, it does not ban Iranto conduct missile tests. Back in December2018, Iranian Foreign Minister MohammadJavad Zarif said Resolution 2231 and theJCPOA do not restrict Iran’s missileprogram.

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/443012/Resolution-2231-imposes-no-ban-on-Iran-s-missile-tests-spokesman

Malaysian PM calls U.S. sanctionson Iran a ‘form of dictatorship’


Malaysian Prime Minister MahathirMohamad has said that Washington’ssanctions against Iran are a “form ofdictatorship”. “We don’t believe inapplying sanctions to force countries toaccept certain ideologies and to changegovernments. It is not only the particularcountry that will suffer, but all the tradingpartners also will suffer economically. Ina way, it is a form of dictatorship. Adictatorship that is worse than that in acountry, it is international,” he toldAljazeera in an interview published onSunday.

He added that Malaysia lost out on a bigmarket when the U.S. applied sanctionsagainst Iran. He also discussed the stateof the global economy and itsinterconnectedness. He argued the U.S. isleading the world in the wrong directionwhen it comes to multilateralism.“Becoming very nationalist is good. But notat the expense of other people. Everycountry should care about itself but thatneeding to be protective or secure doesn’tmean confronting others. It’s better if welearn to work together,” he said.

“We were going a long way towardsmultilateralism. But now nationalismseems to affect many countries,” he added.According to Reuters, Mahathir saidduring a speech at the Doha Forum onSaturday that the U.S. sanctions on Iranviolate the United Nations charter andinternational law. “Malaysia does notsupport the reimposition of the unilateralsanctions by the U.S. against Iran,” hesaid. “Such sanctions clearly violate theUnited Nations charter and internationallaw; sanctions can only be applied by theUnited Nations in accordance with thecharter,” he added.

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/443056/Malaysian-PM-calls-U-S-sanctions-on-Iran-a-form-of-dictatorship


H. Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia opens doors to‘naturalize’ outstanding talents


In a step aimed at attracting creative peoplefrom all over the world to live in SaudiArabia, Custodian of the Two Holy MosquesKing Salman has ordered the facilitation ofprocess for the naturalization of outstandingtalented people, Sabq daily has reported. TheKing’s order includes giving Saudicitizenship for talented people who excel inShariah, medical, scientific, cultural, sports,technical and technological fields such thatthey will be productive and contributingcitizen. They will also be instrumental inpushing forward the wheel of developmentand benefit the nation in different fields..

The royal order stipulates naturalizingoutstanding, distinguished and creativepeople in various fields, including forensicscience, medical science, pharmacology,mathematics, computers, technology,agriculture, nuclear and renewable energy,industry, oil and gas, artificial intelligence,Internet of Things, applications, big data,software engineering, robotics, highperformance computers, nanotechnology,environment, geology, aerospace andaviation.

http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/584278/SAUDI-ARABIA/Saudi-Arabia-opens-doors-to-naturalize-outstanding-talents

Iran’s threat to the region can nolonger be tolerated: Al-Jubeir


Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir said, “Iran is a threat to the entireregion and its aggression can no longer betolerated.” Al-Jubeir made these commentsduring a discussion at the MediterraneanDialogues Conference on the future of theMediterranean here on Friday. Tehranbelieves in exporting revolution, Al-Jubeiradded, saying it does not respect othercountries’ sovereignty. Al-Jubeir called onother countries to be tough on Iran, addingthat it must be deprived of the tools it uses

to threaten the region and the world. Iranis spending hundreds of thousands ofdollars to build its nuclear weapons, but itdoesn’t take care of its people, he added.

“Nobody is talking about a regime changein Iran. The solution is to have anegotiating table and agree on a betterJCPOA, stop of interference into othercountries and behaviors towardsterrorism,” Al-Jubeir said. Tehran believesin exporting revolution, Al-Jubeir added,saying it does not respect other countries’sovereignty. Al-Jubeir called on othercountries to be tough on Iran, adding thatit must be deprived of the tools it uses tothreaten the region and the world. Iran isspending hundreds of thousands of dollarsto build its nuclear weapons, but it doesn’ttake care of its people, he added. “Nobodyis talking about a regime change in Iran.The solution is to have a negotiating tableand agree on a better JCPOA, stop ofinterference into other countries andbehaviors towards terrorism,” Al-Jubeirsaid.

http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/584356/SAUDI-ARABIA/Irans-threat-to-the-region-can-no-longer-be-tolerated-Al-Jubeir

I .Israel

Netanyahu presses Pompeo formore pressure on ‘tottering’ Iran

December 5, 2019

Israeli Prime Minister BenjaminNetanyahu met with US Secretary of StateMike Pompeo in Portugal on Wednesdayand called for increased pressure on the“tottering” Iranian government. “I thinkwe have been fortunate that PresidentTrump has led a consistent policy ofpressure against Iran. Iran’s aggression isgrowing, but its empire is tottering,”Netanyahu said in Lisbon. “And I say, let’smake it totter even further,” he added.

Netanyahu stressed that Iran was the mainsubject of his meeting with Pompeo,adding “the second subject is Iran, and sois the third”. Pompeo, in a tweet, said ithad been a “productive meeting”.


“We discussed efforts to counter Iran’sdestabilizing influence in the region, theimportance of economic cooperation withregional partners and other issues related toIsrael’s security,” he added. The question ofhow to create Middle East stability when“there are anti-Iran protests taking place inBaghdad, anti-Iranian protests taking placein Beirut,” was a key issue in talks held onthe margins of a NATO summit which endedin London earlier Wednesday, Pompeo toldreporters before leaving Lisbon. Israel,which is widely believed to have the MiddleEast’s sole but undeclared nuclear arsenal,has for years accused Iran of seeking toobtain nuclear weapons and stronglyopposed a 2015 agreement designed toaddress the concerns of major powers.

http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/584221/World/Mena/Netanyahu-presses-Pompeo-for-more-pressure-on-tottering-Iran

J. Turkey

Turkey veto clouds Nato party inLondon

Andrew Rettman and Andrius Balèiûnas, EuObserver, December 3, 2019

Turkey’s veto of a Nato defence plan is justnormal pre-summit games, Lithuania hassaid, as Western leaders meet in the UK. “Idon’t believe they [Turkey] are blockinganything against the Baltic states. They havetheir own security concerns ... it’s moreabout the interests of Turkey,” Lithuanianforeign minister Linas Linkevicius toldEUobserver from London on Monday (2December).

“As usual, countries are trying to discuss[summit declarations], trying to get maybesomething less, or something more,” he said.“We’ll find a solution,” he added. “Frankly,I think military authorities already knowwhat they need to do in preparation [on theground], so they [Turkey] are not infringingon that ... but it is very important that theseplans are kept updated,” the Lithuanianminister also said.

https://euobserver.com/foreign/146797

Turkey Point licensed for 80 yearsof operation


The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission(NRC) has approved Florida Power &Light’s (FPL) application for a 20-yearsubsequent licence extension for TurkeyPoint units 3 and 4, the first time theregulator has issued licences authorisingreactors to operate for up to 80 years. Thetwo pressurised water reactors, which arelocated about 20 miles south of Miami,have been in commercial operation since1972 (unit 3) and 1973 (unit 4), when theywere initially licensed to operate for up to40 years. The NRC in 2002 issued renewedlicences for a further 20 years of operationfor each unit. FPL submitted a subsequentlicence renewal application for a further20 years of operation on 30 January 2018.The NRC notified FPL of the issuance ofthe subsequent renewed licences in a letterdated 4 December. Turkey Point 3’ssubsequent renewed licence expires on 19July 2052, and unit 4’s on 10 April 2053,the NRC said.

“The rationale for the NRC’s decision isdocumented in the staff’s July 2019 finalSafety Evaluation Report on theapplication, as well as the staff’s October2019 final Supplemental EnvironmentalImpact Statement. The NRC’s AdvisoryCommittee on Reactor Safeguards alsoreviewed the safety aspects of renewingthe licences,” the regulator said. The NRCis authorised under the US Atomic EnergyAct to issue licences for commercial powerreactors to operate for up to 40 years - atime period which it says was based oneconomic and antitrust considerations,rather than limitations of nucleartechnology. Licences can be renewed foran additional 20 years for an operatinglifetime of 60 years in a process thatrequires applicants to address the technicalaspects of plant aging and describe howthose effects will be managed, as well asevaluating potential environmentalimpacts of the plant’s continuedoperation.

https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Turkey-Point-licensed-for-80-years-of-operation


Turkey flexes muscle as Greece andEU stick to international law

John Psaropoulos Aljazeera, December 14,2019

Relations between Greece and Turkey havebeen thrown into diplomatic crisis sinceNovember 28, when Turkey announced ithad signed a memorandum ofunderstanding with Libya outlining theirmaritime boundaries. The memorandumtraces a corridor of water between theTurkish and Libyan coasts that cuts acrosswhat Greece views as its islands’ maritimeterritory. At stake is national prestige - andthe lucrative prospect of hydrocarbonresources. Greece and Turkey have notdelimited their Exclusive Economic Zones,which allow countries to exploit underseawealth.

Cyprus, Israel and Egypt, who havedelineated their EEZs, have all discoveredoffshore gas fields that can power theireconomies for decades. Alarmed by Turkishstatements that Ankara would send shipsto look for oil and gas in its newly claimeddominions, Greece reinforced its militarygarrison on Crete, and told Turkey that itsdrillships would be sunk.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/turkey-flexes-muscle-greece-eu-stick-international-law-191213175146069.html

Turkey could close Incirlik air basein face of U.S. threats: Erdogan


Turkey could shut down its Incirlik air base,which hosts U.S. nuclear warheads, inresponse to threats of U.S. sanctions and aseparate U.S. Senate resolution thatrecognized mass killings of Armenians acentury ago as genocide, President TayyipErdogan said on Sunday.

“If it is necessary for us to take such a step,of course we have the authority ... If this isnecessary, together with our delegations, wewill close down Incirlik if necessary,”Erdogan said on A Haber TV. Turkey canalso close down the Kurecik radar base ifnecessary, he added. “If they are threatening

us with the implementation of thesesanctions, of course we will be retaliating,”he said.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-usa-sanctions-incirlik/turkey-could-close-incirlik-air-base-in-face-of-u-s-threats-erdogan-idUSKBN1YJ0LL

East Asia

K. Japan

METI eyes 2031 end to FukushimaNo. 1 cleanup

Mari Yamaguchi

Japan Times, December 2, 2019

The industry ministry on Monday unveileda revised plan to remove molten nuclearfuel debris from the meltdown-hitFukushima No. 1 power plant in 2021 —a process said to be the biggest hurdle todecommissioning the six-reactor facility.Work to remove the debris should startwith the No. 2 reactor, according to themid- to long-term road map released bythe government. Designating a specifictime frame for the first time, the plan alsocalls for completing the removal of 4,741fuel rods left inside the cooling pools forreactor Nos. 1 to 6 by 2031.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/12/02/national/road-map-fukushima-nuclear-cleanup/#.XgB2ba8zbIU

Arrangements in works for Iran’spresident to visit Japan this month

The Asahi Shimbun, December 4, 2019

Tokyo and Tehran are coordinating apossible visit to Japan this month byIranian President Hassan Rouhani todiscuss how to defuse tensions in theMiddle East, sources from the twogovernments said. The possible trip wasapparently raised in a meeting betweenPrime Minister Shinzo Abe and IranianDeputy Foreign Minister Seyyed AbbasAraghchi in Tokyo on Dec. 3. If Rouhanidoes visit Japan, he would be the firstIranian president to do so since


Mohammad Khatami traveled to theJapanese capital in October 2000.

Abe in June became the first Japanese primeminister in 41 years to visit Iran. He met withRouhani and Iranian supreme leaderAyatollah Ali Khamenei at a time whenfriction was rapidly increasing between Iranand the United States.

http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201912040029.html

U.S. signals approval for Tokyo visitby Iran’s Rouhani amid nuclearimpasse


The United States has shown approvaltoward Japan’s plan to have IranianPresident Hassan Rouhani visit the country,according to diplomatic sources, as Tehranis seeking to break a deadlock over a nucleardeal with world powers. Washington hasalso urged Tokyo to share the outcome of asummit between Prime Minister Shinzo Abeand Rouhani, the sources said. A senior U.S.official has relayed the message to Japan.

Japanese and Iranian officials are arrangingfor Rouhani to visit around Dec. 20,according to the sources. If realized, it willbe the first visit to the country by an Iranianpresident since Mohammad Khatami inOctober 2000.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/12/09/national/politics-diplomacy/u-s-oks-plan-iranian-president-visit-tokyo-tehran-seeks-break-impasse-nuclear-issue/#.XgBsd68zbIU

Nuclear no-no: 17-year-old nabbedfor uranium trade

The Asahi Shimbun, December 11, 2019

An interest in chemistry taken too far haslanded a high school student in Tokyo in hotwater with the police. The MetropolitanPolice Department said Dec. 10 it sent toprosecutors a report on a 17-year-old boy,along with a temporary worker and anotherindividual, on suspicion of trading uraniumwithout permission from nuclear regulators.As the substance can be used to create

dangerous materials, uranium is keptunder strict control by authorities, thoughit is difficult to stop illegal distribution.

The high school student, who lives inKoganei city, is believed to have boughtdepleted uranium online without properdocumentation from the secretariat of theNuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) inJanuary 2018, according to police. He thentransferred soluble uranium compound tofour people in May and June of that year.He was quoted by investigators as sayingthat he bought uranium ore from a websiteoverseas and refined it himself, adding, “Iwanted to have it in my collection.” Theamounts of uranium, which were smalland kept in containers, posed little healthrisk. Although the youth was deemed tohave a genuine interest in chemistry, policealso handed papers to prosecutors alleginghe violated a law on hazardoussubstances.


Nuclear watchdog OKsdecommissioning plan for tworeactors at Kepco’s Oi plant inFukui


The nation’s nuclear watchdog approveda plan Wednesday to decommission tworeactors in Fukui Prefecture, a move theiroperator decided to take rather thanshoulder the high cost of implementingsafety upgrades. Kansai Electric Power Co.will spend ¥118.7 billion to dismantle theNos. 1 and 2 units at the Oi nuclear powerplant, with work expected to wrap up inthe fiscal year ending March 2049.

The units, which each have an outputcapacity of more than 1 million kilowatts,are the most powerful reactors to beapproved for decommissioning by theNuclear Regulation Authority since amagnitude 9.0 earthquake and subsequenttsunami caused a meltdown at theFukushima No. 1 plant in March 2011.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/12/11/


national/nuclear-watchdog-oks-decommissioning-kepco-fukui/#.XgBslK8zbIU

Japan-Iran summit being finalizedfor Dec. 20 as Abe looks to playmediator


Japan and Iran are making finalarrangements for their leaders to hold talkson Dec. 20, a source close to bilateralrelations said Wednesday. Iranian PresidentHassan Rouhani is planning to arrive inJapan on the evening of Dec. 19 for a three-day visit after stopping in Malaysia, wherehe is expected to attend a conference, thesource said. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hassaid his government — through its owndiplomatic initiative — wants to help easetensions in the Middle East. He confirmedthat Rouhani’s visit was being arrangedduring a news conference in Tokyo onMonday but did not give a date.

Tehran is seen as seeking to break theimpasse over a 2015 nuclear deal, as thereinstatement of U.S. sanctions followingWashington’s withdrawal from the accordhas hurt Iran’s economy. As Iran has movedaway from the landmark deal in recentmonths, Abe is likely to urge Rouhani tokeep to its commitments. The deal wasintended to curb Tehran’s nuclear programin exchange for the lifting of sanctions.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/12/12/national/politics-diplomacy/japan-iran-summit-finalized-dec-20-abe-looks-play-mediator/#.XgBsjK8zbIU

L. North Korea

Experts expect North Korea toratchet up provocations

Takeshi Kamiya, The Asahi Shimbun,December 1, 2019

North Korea will likely increase its missilelaunches toward the end of December as theyear-end deadline approaches for a newdenuclearization proposal from the UnitedStates, according to defense experts here.Pyongyang test-fired two short-range

ballistic missiles from what it called a“super-large multiple rocket launcher” onNov. 28. The projectiles landed in watersbetween North Korea and Japan. NorthKorea also test-fired missiles in October.According to South Korea’s NationalIntelligence Service (NIS), North Korea’sfiring of a series of projectiles over the pastmonths is intended to put pressure on theUnited States to break the deadlock in theirdenuclearization talks.

“The missile launches signal thatPyongyang is willing to return toprovocations that it had used in the pastif its demands were not met,” the NIS said.“Toward the deadline, Pyongyang willcontinue its provocations in variousforms.” The launches are also designed tokeep the North Korean military in checkand prevent any possible defiance againstthe regime of Kim Jong Un, the NIS said.The NIS noted advances in North Korea’smissile technology with the Nov. 28 test,citing the fact that the interval betweenthe two launches was cut to only 30seconds. North Korea is believed to havebeen developing four types of new missilessince May, according to defense experts.


N. Korea steps up tensions withnew missile launch platforms

Yoshihiro Makino, The Asahi Shimbun,December 2, 2019

North Korea is busy constructing dozensof concrete platforms for mobile missilelaunchers as it raises the ante indenuclearization talks with Washington,according to defense sources in the UnitedStates and South Korea. The sources saidthe work got under way this summer atdozens of sites. Japanese and SouthKorean authorities expressed concernabout Pyongyang’s latest attempt toheighten military tensions in the region towrest concessions from Washington instalemated denuclearization talks.Construction of the platforms apparentlyreflects fears that launchers could become


dysfunctional or missile trajectories veer offtrack due to the soft ground on which theyare installed.

The program is also intended to preventother countries from detecting wheremissiles will be launched. The platforms,each dozens of meters in width and length,are large enough for mobile launchers to fireintercontinental ballistic missiles, accordingto the sources. An analysis of satellite imagesof the sites and photos of previous missilelaunches released by Pyongyang suggest thatsome launch sites have becomecompromised and some mobile launchvehicles were damaged in past launches dueto strong vibrations, according to anintelligence assessment by Japan, the UnitedStates and South Korea.


NK-set expiration of nuclear talksapproaching

Do Je-hae, Korea Times, December 4, 2019

Tension between U.S. President DonaldTrump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is escalating ahead of the “year-enddeadline” proposed by Kim for abreakthrough in the two countries’denuclearization talks. With the deadlineswiftly approaching, Washington andPyongyang are urging each other to makeconcessions to resume bilateral negotiations.Trump, who has often boasted of his “greatrelations” with the North Korean leader, hasmentioned the possibility of “use of force,”in an apparent threat to get Pyongyang toshow more concrete actions towarddismantling its nuclear program.

Trump’s latest strong warning to Kim hastriggered concerns about renewed tensionbetween the two foes of the Korean War inthe absence of a real breakthrough by theend of the year. The U.S. leader also usedthe term “rocket man,” which was usedwhen bilateral relations were strained afterNorth Korea fired an intercontinentalballistic missile (ICMB) in 2017. Trumprefrained from using the derogatory term in2018 after he launched summit diplomacy

with the North Korean leader. Analystssaid that bringing back the term reflectsWashington’s frustrations towardPyongyang’s rigid position that there willbe no progress in denuclearization stepswithout the easing of sanctions against theimpoverished country. Kim has beenstressing the need for independentmeasures to salvage its economy amid theprolonged economic isolation.

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2019/12/113_279803.html

North Korea threatens to resumecalling Trump ‘dotard’

Hyung-jin Kim, AP News, December 6,2019

North Korea threatened Thursday toresume insults of U.S. President DonaldTrump and consider him a “dotard” if hekeeps using provocative language, such asreferring to its leader as “rocket man.”Choe Son Hui, the first vice foreignminister, issued the warning via statemedia days after Trump spoke of possiblemilitary action toward the North andrevived his “rocket man” nickname forNorth Korean ruler Kim Jong Un.

The comments came as prospects dim fora resumption of nuclear diplomacybetween the two countries. In recentmonths, North Korea has hinted at liftingits moratorium on nuclear and long-rangemissile tests if the Trump administrationfails to make substantial concessions innuclear diplomacy before the end of theyear. Choe said Trump’s remarks“prompted the waves of hatred of ourpeople against the U.S.” because theyshowed “no courtesy when referring tothe supreme leadership of dignity” ofNorth Korea. She said North Korea willrespond with its own harsh language ifTrump again uses similar phrases andshows that he is intentionally provokingNorth Korea.

https://apnews.com/c3f58108244e4c6097222ac372307598


N. Korea says it carried out ‘veryimportant test’ at satellite launchsite

Korea Times, December 8, 2019

North Korea has conducted a “veryimportant test” at its Sohae satellite launchsite, state media reported Sunday, as nuclearnegotiations between Pyongyang andWashington remain deadlocked. “A veryimportant test was carried out at the SohaeSatellite Launch Site on December 7th,2019,” a spokesman for the North’s NationalAcademy of Science said. The result of thelatest test will have an “important effect”on changing the “strategic status” of NorthKorea, the spokesman said in a statementcarried by the KCNA news agency. Thestatement did not provide further details onthe test. North Korean leader Kim Jong Unhad agreed to shutter the Sohae site duringa summit last year with South KoreanPresident Moon Jae-in in Pyongyang as partof trust-building measures.


North Korea says denuclearizationnot on negotiating table

Edith M. Lederer, AP News, December 7,2019

North Korea said Saturday thatdenuclearization has “already gone out ofthe negotiation table” and it does not needto have lengthy talks with the United Statesas the end-of-year deadline set by its leaderKim Jong Un for substantial U.S. concessionsin nuclear diplomacy looms. A statementreleased by North Korea’s U.N. ambassador,Kim Song, accused the Trumpadministration of persistently pursuing a“hostile policy” toward the country “in itsattempt to stifle it.” He also saidWashington’s claims it is engaged in a“sustained and substantial dialogue” withPyongyang solely for “its domestic politicalagenda.”

“We do not need to have lengthy talks withthe U.S. now and the denuclearization isalready gone out of the negotiation table,”he said. Song’s statement was a response to

Wednesday’s condemnation by sixEuropean countries of North Korea’s 13ballistic missile launches since May. Heaccused the Europeans — France,Germany, Britain, Belgium, Poland andEstonia — of playing “the role of pet dogof the United States in recent months.” Hecalled their statement “yet another seriousprovocation” against North Korea’s“righteous measures of strengtheningnational defense capabilities.”

“We regard their behavior as nothing morethan a despicable act of intentionallyflattering the United States,” Song said.His comments follow other recent NorthKorean statements indicating thatprospects are dim for a resumption ofnuclear diplomacy between the UnitedStates and North Korea. On Thursday,North Korea’s first vice foreign minister,Choe Son Hui, issued a warningthreatening to resume insults of U.S.President Donald Trump and considerhim a “dotard” if he keeps usingprovocative language, such as referring toNorth Korea’s leader as “rocket man.” Hisstatement via state media came days afterTrump spoke of possible military actiontoward the North and revived his “rocketman” nickname for North Korean rulerKim Jong Un.

https://apnews.com/bdf3d4e46a823a3cc69776da962001f7

North Korea says denuclearization‘gone out of negotiation table’ withUS


North Korea said Saturday thatdenuclearization has ‘’already gone out ofthe negotiation table’’ and it does not needto have lengthy talks with the UnitedStates as the end-of-year deadline set byits leader Kim Jong Un for substantial U.S.concessions in nuclear diplomacy looms.A statement released by North Korea’sU.N. ambassador, Kim Song, accused theTrump administration of persistentlypursuing a ‘’hostile policy’’ toward thecountry ‘’in its attempt to stifle it.’’ He alsosaid Washington’s claims it is engaged in


a ‘’sustained and substantial dialogue’’ withPyongyang solely for ‘’its domestic politicalagenda.’’ ‘’We do not need to have lengthytalks with the U.S. now and thedenuclearization is already gone out of thenegotiation table,’’ he said.

Song’s statement was a response toWednesday’s condemnation by sixEuropean countries of North Korea’s 13ballistic missile launches since May. Heaccused the Europeans _ France, Germany,Britain, Belgium, Poland and Estonia _ ofplaying ‘’the role of pet dog of the UnitedStates in recent months.’’ He called theirstatement ‘’yet another serious provocation’’against North Korea’s ‘’righteous measuresof strengthening national defensecapabilities.’’ ‘’We regard their behavior asnothing more than a despicable act ofintentionally flattering the United States,’’Song said. His comments follow other recentNorth Korean statements indicating thatprospects are dim for a resumption ofnuclear diplomacy between the UnitedStates and North Korea.


N. Korea conducts ‘important test’at once-dismantled site

Hyung-jin Kim, AP News, December 8, 2019

North Korea said Sunday that it carried outa “very important test” at its long-rangerocket launch site that it reportedly rebuiltafter having partially dismantled it at thestart of denuclearization talks with theUnited States last year. The announcementcomes amid dimming prospects for aresumption of negotiations, with the Norththreatening to seek “a new way” if it fails toget major U.S. concessions by year’s end.North Korea has said its resumption ofnuclear and long-range missile tests dependson the United States.

Saturday’s test at the Sohae SatelliteLaunching Ground will have “an importanteffect on changing the strategic position of(North Korea) once again in the nearfuture,” an unidentified spokesman from theNorth’s Academy of National Defense

Science said in a statement, carried by thecountry’s official Korean Central NewsAgency. North Korea didn’t say what thetest included. Kim Dong-yub, an analystat Seoul’s Institute for Far Eastern Studies,said that North Korea likely tested for thefirst time a solid-fuel engine for anintercontinental ballistic missile.

The use of solid fuel increases a weapon’smobility and reduces the amount of launchpreparation time. The long-range rocketsthat North Korea used in either ICBMlaunches or satellite liftoffs in recent yearsall used liquid propellants. CNN reportedFriday that a new satellite image indicatedNorth Korea may be preparing to resumetesting engines used to power satellitelaunchers and intercontinental ballisticmissiles at the site. Seoul’s DefenseMinistry said in a brief statement laterSunday that South Korea and the UnitedStates are closely monitoring activities atthe Sohae site and other key North Koreanareas. President Donald Trump reacted tothe development by saying that NorthKorea “must denuclearize.”

https://apnews.com/771a2235054d115a526ee8dcc2bd6295

N. Korea believed to test newrocket engine to provoke US

Hyung-jin Kim And Kim Tong-hyung, APNews, December 9, 2019

A day after North Korea said it hadperformed a “very important test” at itslong-range rocket launch site, there is widespeculation that it involved a new enginefor either a space launch vehicle or a long-range missile. Whatever it was, the NorthKorean announcement suggests that thecountry is preparing to do something toprovoke the United States if Washingtondoesn’t back down and make concessionsin deadlocked nuclear negotiations. A lookat the North Korean test, which comes asa year-end deadline set by North Koreafor the U.S. to salvage the nuclear talks isapproaching.

https://apnews.com/73b6635438481b6fbe9451dfea49699d


N. Korea conducts ‘another crucialtest’


North Korea said Saturday it hassuccessfully carried out “another crucialtest” at its satellite launch site in a possiblesign of further provocations unless its year-end deadline is met. North Korea haspressed the U.S. to come up with a newproposal by the year’s end, warning thatotherwise, it could give up on negotiationswith the U.S. and take a “new way.” NorthKorea did not elaborate on its seven-minutetest on Friday night at the Sohae SatelliteLaunching Ground, better known as theDongchang-ri site on the west coast.

The test came six days after North Koreaconducted what it called a “very importanttest” at Dongchang-ri. South Korea hasconfirmed that the North tested a rocketengine last week. “The research successesbeing registered by us in defense science oneafter another recently will be applied tofurther bolstering up the reliable strategicnuclear deterrent of the Democratic People’sRepublic of Korea,” the North’s officialKorean Central News Agency said, referringto the North by its official name. NorthKorea has increased pressure on the U.S. tocome up with a new proposal in their stallednuclear talks, strongly suggesting that itcould restart testing nuclear weapons andintercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) ifnone is forthcoming.

The North has recently said that it is entirelyup to Washington what “Christmas gift” itwants to get. An ICBM launch or a nucleartest would represent a blow to U.S.President Donald Trump ahead of nextyear’s presidential election as he has boastedof the North’s suspension of such weaponstests as one of his key diplomaticachievements. Trump has warned NorthKorean leader Kim Jong-un not to interferewith his re-election bid, saying thecommunist nation could lose “everything.”The North said in response that the countryhas nothing more to lose.


Chief of KPA General Staff urgesUS to watch its mouth

Pyongyang Times, December 16, 2019

“I am very glad that the DPRK Academyof Defence Sciences is attaining greatsuccesses in building up defencecapabilities of the country as it successfullycarries out a series of tests of greatsignificance,” Pak Jong Chon, chief of theGeneral Staff of the Korean People’sArmy, said last Saturday. He said that thepriceless data, experience and newtechnologies gained through the recenttests will be applied to another strategicweapon programme of the DPRK aimedat restraining and overpowering the US’nuclear threat in a definite and reliablemanner.

Only when the balance of power is fullyensured, can genuine peace besafeguarded and our development andfuture be guaranteed, he added. “We havestored up tremendous force. “We shouldbe ready to cope with both political andmilitary provocations by hostile forces andbe familiar with both dialogue andconfrontation.” The KPA, he noted, is fullypoised to carry through any decision of theSupreme Leader with action. Everyone isfree to evaluate the entity of our force, hesaid, but he or she needs to see it squarelybefore judgment. Given the acutesituation, he advised the US and otherhostile forces to refrain from provoking theDPRK in order to spend the year-end inpeace.

http://www.pyongyangtimes.com.kp/?bbs=32453

M. South Korea

Holding nuke talks this monthwill affect N. Korea’spolicymaking for next year:Minister

Park Han-na, Korea Times, December 2,2019

Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul onMonday urged the US and North Koreato hold a working-level meeting before the


end of the month, as such a meeting couldhave far-reaching influence on Pyongyang’sstrategic direction for next year. How NorthKorea will spend this month will be reflectedin regime leader Kim Jong-un’s 2020 NewYear’s address, a key indicator of the North’spolicies. Once a new strategic direction isset by the ruler, it cannot be altered by lower-level officials, given the North’s inflexiblestructural characteristics.

“It is very important that the North Korea’snuclear issue enters into the process ofresolution through working-levelnegotiation in December,” said Kim at aforum hosted by the Kwanhoon Club, agroup of senior journalists. Talks betweenWashington and Pyongyang have beenstalled for two months with the year-enddeadline set by the North for the US to takea flexible approach toward denuclearizationof the Korean Peninsula drawing near. Inmid-November, US Special Representativefor North Korea Stephen Biegun called thedeadline artificial. “Unfortunately it’s adeadline that they’ve set upon themselves,”he said.

http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20191202000771&ACE_SEARCH=1

Moon calls for Chinese role indenuclearizing North Korea

Kim Tong-hyung, AP News, December 5,2019

South Korean President Moon Jae-in saidThursday the global diplomatic push todefuse the nuclear standoff with NorthKorea is at a “critical crossroads” and calledfor China to continue serving a “positiverole” in denuclearizing the Korean Peninsulaand stabilizing peace. Moon made thecomments during a meeting with ChineseForeign Minister Wang Yi at Seoul’spresidential Blue House. Wang made his firstvisit in four years amid efforts to patch uprelations damaged by South Korea’sdeployment of a U.S. anti-missile systemChina perceives as a security threat.

“The process for the completedenuclearizing of the Korean Peninsula and

permanently stabilizing peace is at acritical crossroads,” Moon said. “I wouldlike to ask for continuous support from theChinese government until the new era ofa peaceful and denuclearized KoreanPeninsula opens.”

https://apnews.com/d1c408088d5b459593d042f504e28179

S. Korea to promote exports of itsdesigned nuke reactors

Yonhap, Korea Herald, December 6, 2019

South Korea will seek to export more itsendogenously designed nuclear reactors,the country’s state-run nuclear plantoperator said Friday, as it has successfullycompleted the construction of two newnuclear reactors in the southern port cityof Ulsan. The Korea Hydro & NuclearPower Co. held a ceremony to mark thecompletion of the reactors, called ShinKori-3 and Shin Kori-4. The Shin Kori-4started commercial operation in August,after completing its two-month pilot runwithout any glitch. The Shin Kori-3 wasput into operation in December 2016.“South Korea’s nuclear energy industryadvanced to another level through thecompletion of two reactors,” KHNPPresident Chung Jae-hoon said at theceremony.

The construction of the two Korean-designed APR-1400 pressurized waterreactors started in 2007. The budgetallocated to build the two reactors was 7.5trillion won ($6.3 billion), according to theKHNP. The APR-1400 is an advancedpressurized water nuclear reactordesigned by the Korea Electric PowerCorp., the country’s sole electricityprovider. South Korea has been pushingto sell the APR-1400 model to othercountries by winning certificates fromEuropean and US organizations, afterselling four units of the reactors to theUnited Arab Emirates.



Moon, Trump agree on need tomaintain dialogue momentum overN. Korea

Yonhap, Korea Herald, December 7, 2019

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and USPresident Donald Trump agreed Saturdaythat it‘s necessary to maintain dialoguemomentum between Washington andPyongyang, Cheong Wa Dae said, amidgrowing worries about the future of theKorea peace process. During half-hourphone talks, they also agreed that the recentsituations on the Korean Peninsula are“severe” and “dialogue momentum shouldbe maintained to achieve prompt resultsfrom denuclearization negotiations,”according to Cheong Wa Dae spokespersonKo Min-jung.

Moon and Trump had “in-depthconsultations” on ways to move forward thepeace process and agreed to have a phoneconversation whenever it’s needed, Koadded. Earlier this week, North Korearesumed its verbal attacks against Trump inresponse to his apparent warning messagemade during his trip to Britain for a NATOsummit.


South Korea’s Moon to visit Chinafor trilateral with Japan amid NorthKorea tension

Hyonhee Shin, Reuters, December 10, 2019

South Korean President Moon Jae-in willvisit China next week for a trilateral summitwith Japan amid rising tension over stalleddenuclearization talks between North Koreaand the United States, Moon’s office said onTuesday. Moon is scheduled to arrive inChina on Dec. 23, one day before theplanned trilateral meeting in thesouthwestern city of Chengdu with ChinesePremier Li Keqiang and Japanese PrimeMinister Shinzo Abe, his spokeswoman KoMin-jung told a briefing.

The leaders would review the recentsituation on the peninsula and discuss waysto boost three-way cooperation to achieve

denuclearization and permanent peace,Ko said. Moon is also expected to holdseparate talks with Abe and also ChinesePresident Xi Jinping during that trip.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-southkorea-china/south-koreas-moon-to-visit-china-for-trilateral-with-japan-amid-north-korea-tension-idUSKBN1YE0SX

South Korea says North’s recenttest was of rocket engine

Hyung-jin Kim, AP News, December 10,2019

South Korea’s defense minister saidTuesday that North Korea’s recentunspecified test at a rocket liftoff site wasof a rocket engine, amid speculation theNorth was making preliminary stepstoward a prohibited long-range rocketlaunch. Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo said during a visit to Sydney that Seoulexpressed its “deep concerns” over theengine test and North Korea’s recentballistic missile launches into the sea,according to his office in Seoul.

It was the first official outside assessmentof what North Korea called “a veryimportant test” at its Tongchang-ri rocketlaunch site. The North’s Academy ofNational Defense Science said Sunday thetest will have “an important effect onchanging the strategic position” of NorthKorea.

https://apnews.com/6687004b15af8efacc881da94445816a

N. Op-Ed

India

Story of father of Indian spaceprogramme in photos

The Hindu, December 4, 2019

The story of the Indian space programmeis closely entwined with the story ofVikram Ambalal Sarabhai. A slimcommemorative volume published by theIndian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) offers, through a clutch of black-and-white photographs, valuable glimpses


into the life and times of the remarkable manand the evolution of the ISRO. Dr. VikramA. Sarabhai (1919-1971) has been publishedto mark the 100th birth anniversary ofSarabhai, the father of the Indian spaceprogramme.

It tells us that “on 12th August, 1919,Vikram was born with (a) large head andbig ears,” and that Rabindranath Tagorewho “intently looked at the physiognomyand expression and shape of the head quietlyremarked to the parents that he wouldbecome a celebrity”.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/story-of-father-of-indian-space-programme-in-photos/article30170443.ece

Policy Paralysis Cannot Be India’sResponse to the US–Iran Impasse

Vaishali Basu Sharma, The Wire, December5, 2019

Observing the entire imbroglio play out inthe Middle East, one gets the impression ofa replay of events in Iraq or Libya, followedby a sensation of dread. Just like the bogeyof WMDs, the accusation against Iran, ledby the US for attacks on Saudi Arabia’sAbqaiq oil refinery and Khurais oil fields,appears to be based more on prejudice andless on evidence.

Veritably the spark for the current crisis wasprovided by the attack on the Saudi Arabianoil company, Aramco, the tinderbox is theenduring animosity between the US andIran. Relations between the US and Iranhave ranged from limited to non-existentover the past 40 years. However, the strategyto connect Iran with Al Qaeda and justifyingthe application of presidential authorizationfor use of military force has not had buyerswithin the US. Parenthetically with pastAmerican behaviour in the region as aprecedent, comments from a fabricatingPresident Trump are already casting doubtson allegations of Iran’s involvement in theattack.

https://thewire.in/external-affairs/india-iran-us-sanctions

India is in the second space agewith one hand tied at the back

Nitin Pai, Livemint, December 8, 2019

Last week, Lloyd’s of London launched a$25 million insurance facility for theprivate space industry. It will cover sub-300kg satellites from pre-launch to in-orbitoperations. The insurer estimates thecurrent private space market to be worth$300 billion and expects it to grow to $1trillion by 2040. Neither Lloyd’s nor theCity of London are strangers tounderwriting exploration. Along withtheir Dutch and later Americancounterparts, over the past few centuriesthey helped shape the history and politicalgeography of the modern world.

One important lesson from the story ofexploration, colonial expansion andempire is that even small legal innovationscan have profound consequences. Theinvention of the joint stock company andthe ecosystem that arose to support itallowed the Dutch and British East Indiacompanies to take massive risks and reapunprecedented rewards for theirshareholders and sovereigns. A similarbusiness environment on the Americancontinent helped the US grow into whatit is today. The moral cost of colonialism isunconscionable. The inescapable point,though, is that societies that createconditions that allow privateentrepreneurs to take big risks often endup as successful, prosperous ones. That isa lesson from history that is relevant to thespace business today.

Luxembourg has followed the US inenacting a law that allows privateinvestors to own the resources they bringback from space. Singapore is offering itselfas a hub for space entrepreneurship basedon its legal environment, availability ofskilled manpower and equatorial location.New Zealand is positioning itself as alocation for private rocket launches.China, too, has changed its rules to allowprivate commercial space activity. In July,Beijing Interstellar Glory Space


Technology Ltd became the first privatecompany (with Chinese characteristics, ofcourse) to launch two satellites into spaceusing its own Hyperbola-1 rocket from afacility in the Gobi desert.

https://www.livemint.com/opinion/columns/india-is-in-the-second-space-age-with-one-hand-tied-at-the-back-11575814985255.html

ISRO Needs to Reflect on How ItCan Encourage, Not Dismiss, ThoseWho Can Help

Arup Dasgupta The Wire, December 8, 2019

Chandrayaan 2 was India’s third attemptto operate a satellite outside of Earth’s orbit.The first two attempts of similar feats,Chandrayaan 1 and the Mars OrbiterMission (MOM), were both significantlysuccessful. In fact, MOM advertised ISRO’sand India’s prowess in space explorationbeyond the organisation’s highestexpectations. It reached Mars and got intoorbit around it with textbook precision. Itcontinues to go strong to this day. So ISRO,brimming with confidence, decided to gopublic with Chandrayaan 2 with avengeance – and rightly so. It was time thatthe country and indeed the world shared inyet another spectacle put on by ISRO.

The GSLV Mk III turned ‘Bad Boy’ turned‘Bahubali’ launched the Chandrayaan 2mission on July 22 (in a performance thatexceeded expectations). After a series ofintricate manoeuvres in orbits around Earthand the Moon, the Chandrayaan 2 satellitestack, consisting of an orbiter and the lander,Vikram, completed its initial manoeuvres,and then it was finally time for the big event.Vikram separated from the orbiter andbegan a controlled descent towards theMoon’s surface, preparing to soft-land onlunar soil. Vikram carried a rover namedPragyan in its belly plus a payload of sixinstruments.

https://thewire.in/space/isro-k-sivan-shanmuga-subramanian-vikram-lander-chandrayaan-2-ohrc-lroc

Why India’s Arihant-Class MissileSubmarine Is a Serious Problemfor China

Kyle Mizokami, National Interest Blog,December 12, 2019

New Dehli’s submarines can firepowerful nuclear missiles. A newsubmarine promises to give the world’smost populous democratic nation apowerful second-strike nuclear capability.The INS Arihant, India’s first nuclearballistic-missile submarine, will finally givethe country nuclear weapons that couldsurvive a surprise first strike and go on todeal a crushing retaliatory blow to theenemy. The new sub will complete India’striad of air, land and sea nuclear forces.

India tested its first weapon, an eight-kiloton device nicknamed SmilingBuddha, in 1974. Although small in yield,the device was a remarkable technologicalachievement that thrust the young countryinto the exclusive, so-called “nuclear club”that had until then consisted of the UnitedStates, Soviet Union, United Kingdom,France and China.

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/why-indias-arihant-class-missile-submarine-serious-problem-china-104232

Twenty Years Ago, Nuclear-ArmedIndia and Pakistan Fought aChilly, High-Altitude War in theHimalayas

Sebastien Roblin, National Interest Blog,December 14, 2019

For years, there was a conceit that no twostates with nuclear weapons have everdirectly fought each other. That conceithas at times been thin. For example, duringthe Korean War, Soviet air force regimentsbattled U.S. jet fighters in support of NorthKorea. But Washington as much asMoscow refrained from pointing out thatthinly-veiled fact, lest it escalate tensions.


But when thousands of Pakistani troopsinfiltrated across the Line of Control in 1999,separating the Indian and Pakistani-controlled territories, disguised as localinsurgents, the pretense proved impossibleto maintain before the prying eyes of globalmedia.

Just a year earlier on May 28, 1998, Pakistanconducted a series of underground nucleartests known as Chagai-I. Islamabad’sascension as a nuclear power was met withjubilation in Pakistani streets andcondemnations and sanctions across theglobe. Though Pakistan’s rival India hadconducted its Smiling Buddha nuclear testin 1974, Chagai came in response to asecond India test held just two weeks later.

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/twenty-years-ago-nuclear-armed-india-and-pakistan-fought-chilly-high-altitude-war

This Means Drama: Indian MissileDefense Is Raising Tensions WithPakistan

Michael Peck, National Interest Blog,December 15, 2019

India has a long way to go until its defensesare ready, but Pakistan will not wait. Indiasays it has successfully tested an interceptorcapable of shooting down ballistic missiles.But could this trigger a nuclear war withPakistan?

On August 2, the Defense ResearchDevelopment Organization (DRDO) —India’s equivalent of the Pentagon’s DARPAresearch agency — launched an AdvancedArea Defense (AAD) missile from AbdulKalam island off India’s eastern coast. “Theendo-atmospheric missile, capable ofintercepting incoming targets at an altitudeof 15 to 25 kilometers [9 to 16 miles] waslaunched against multiple simulated targetsof 1,500 kilometer [932 mile]-class ballisticmissiles,” according to the DRDOannouncement.

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/means-drama-indian-missile-defense-raising-tensions-pakistan-104992

China

Why Does China Say It Won’t UseNuclear Weapons First in War?

David Axe, National Interest, December10, 2019

China has reaffirmed its policy of neverbeing the first in a conflict to use nuclearweapons. Experts refer to this policy as“no first use,” or NFU. The NFU policyreaffirmation, contained in Beijing’s July2019 strategic white paper, surprisedsome observers who expected a moreexpansive and aggressive nuclear posturefrom the rising power.

Notably, the United States does not havea no-first-use policy. “Retaining a degreeof ambiguity and refraining from a no firstuse policy creates uncertainty in the mindof potential adversaries and reinforcesdeterrence of aggression by ensuringadversaries cannot predict what specificactions will lead to a U.S. nuclearresponse,” the Pentagon stated. Chinesestate media posted the government’s whitepaper in its entirety. “Nuclear capabilityis the strategic cornerstone to safeguardingnational sovereignty and security,” thepaper asserts. “This is standard language,”explained David Santoro, a nuclear expertwith the nonprofit Pacific Forum. “China’snukes serve to prevent nuclear coercionand deter nuclear attack.” Then thesurprise. “China is always committed to anuclear policy of no first use of nuclearweapons at any time and under anycircumstances, and not using orthreatening to use nuclear weaponsagainst non-nuclear-weapon states ornuclear-weapon-free zonesunconditionally,” the white paper adds.

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/why-does-china-say-it-wont-use-nuclear-weapons-first-

war-103542


Here’s China’s Plan To Fight ANuclear War Against America:Nuke U.S. Cities Millions woulddie.

Lyle J. Goldstein, National Interest, December10, 2019

When one reads enough Chinese navalliterature, diagrams of multi-axial cruisemissile saturation attacks against aircraftcarrier groups may begin to seem normal.However, one particular graphic from theOctober 2015 issue (p. 32) of the navaljournal Naval & Merchant Ships stands outas both unusual and singularly disturbing.It purports to map the impact of a Chineseintercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM)strike by twenty nuclear-armed rocketsagainst the United States. Targets includethe biggest cities on the East and WestCoasts, as well as in the Midwest, as onewould expect. Giant radiation plumes covermuch of the country and the estimate in thecaption holds that the strike “would yieldperhaps 50 million people killed” . The mapbelow that graphic on the same pageillustrates the optimal aim point for a hit onNew York City with a “blast wave thatvaporizes all of Manhattan and well beyond.

That makes the North Korean “threat” lookfairly insignificant by comparison, doesn’tit? But what’s really disturbing is that thescenario described above envisions a strikeby China’s largely antiquated DF-5 firstgeneration ICBM. In other words, theillustration is perhaps a decade or more outof date. As China has deployed first theroad-mobile DF-31, then DF-31A and nowJL-2 (a submarine-launched nuclearweapon), China’s nuclear strategy hasmoved from “assured retaliation” to whatone may term “completely assuredretaliation.” Indeed, the actual theme of thearticle featuring those graphics concernsrecent reports regarding testing of the DF-41 mobile ICBM.

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/heres-chinas-plan-fight-nuclear-war-against-america-nuke-us-cities-103422

Why China’s next Long March 5rocket mission will be aboutrestoring national pride

Stephen Chen, South China Morning Post,December 14, 2019

A Long March 5 rocket is expected to blastoff from a site in southern China this monthcarrying not only a next-generationcommunications satellite, but the hope thatthe mission will restore pride in theprogramme after a series of setbacks.Oneof the sources who confirmed the plan saidthat the atmosphere at Wenchang SpaceLaunch Centre on the northern tip ofHainan Island was “so tense there seemsto be a shortage of oxygen”. The LongMarch 5 – also known as the CZ-5 – is thelargest launch vehicle in China’s spacefleet. It can carry 25 tonnes into low Earthorbit, typically 645-1,610km (400-1,000miles) from the surface. Engineersdesigned the CZ-5 to carry up to 32tonnes, but it has not been tested with sucha payload. If it could lift off with 32 tonnes,the CZ-5 would carry more than the US’Delta IV Heavy, Russia’s Proton, andEurope’s Ariane 5. But the CZ-5 is also theleast reliable, as earlier missions showed.

On its maiden mission in November 2016,the rocket failed to reach the speedrequired for the early phase of the flight;still, extra booster fuel burned in the finalstage lifted its satellite cargo into orbit andallowed China to declare the trip asuccess.In the second flight a few monthslater, though, the main engine diedminutes after take-off, and the rocketplunged into the sea. In comparison, theDelta IV Heavy – first launched in 2002 –has made nine successful flights and onepartial failure.

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3041408/why-chinas-next-long-march-5-rocket-mission-will-be-about


Pentagon head says China hasbecome top US military priority,moving past Russia

Lee Jeong-ho, South China Morning Post,December 14, 2019

Even as US and Chinese officials werereducing global economic tensions on Fridayby confirming they had reached a “phaseone” trade deal, the top US military officialsaid that the Pentagon has put China on thetop of its priorities – ahead of Russia – owingto Beijing’s “brazen efforts” to underminethe territorial claims of its neighbours.Speaking at the Council on Foreign Relationsin New York, US Defence Secretary MarkEsper condemned China for undermininginternational laws and violating thesovereignty of smaller states. “Today, theinternational rules-based order that Americaand its allies have worked hard to establishis being tested … China first and Russiasecond are now the department’s toppriorities,” Esper said.

“Both nations are rapidly modernising theirarmed forces and expanding theircapabilities into the space and cyberdomains, emboldened by the growingstrength of their militaries. Beijing andMoscow are not only violating thesovereignty of smaller states, they are alsoattempting to undermine international lawsand norms that advantage themselves,”Esper said. In 2017, laying out ambitiousplans for the People’s Liberation Army,Chinese President Xi Jinping said that thePLA must modernise by 2035 and become atop-ranked military by 2050. Beijing has alsoinvoked its “nine-dash line” claim to whatit says are its historic rights in the SouthChina Sea, and has built artificial islands,reclaimed land and installed airstrips andmilitary equipment in the waters. It isinvolved in acrimonious disputes withseveral Southeast Asian nations, includingthe Philippines and Vietnam, over theterritory.

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3042083/pentagon-head-says-china-has-become-top-us-military-priority

Pakistan

Is Nuclear Non-Proliferation stilla realistic goal?

Nusrat Ali, Daily Times, December 3, 2019

Recently, the Moscow NonproliferationConference (MNC) was held in Russiawhere delegates from around 40 countriesmet to discuss the rising threat of usingnuclear weapons in the potential interstateconflicts. Currently, there are around14,500 active nuclear weapons round theworld, according to the UN, in the handsof nine countries. Five of them are de jurenuclear states and signatories of thenuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT).They are the US, UK, China, Russia andFrance. While the other four, India,Pakistan, Israel and North Korea, are defacto nuclear states and not the membersof the NPT.

Besides, the US-North Korea nuclear talkshave also stalled. Since the stalemate NorthKorea has continued its trajectory oftesting new missiles; the latest being itssuper large multiple launch rocket system.Apart from that, the US unilateralwithdrawal from the 2015 Iran nucleardeal and subsequently imposing severecrippling sanctions have hurt the Iranianeconomy adversely. With no strongmeasure to back the 2015 Iran nucleardeal by the rest of the members, Iran is alsosliding towards a point where it couldrenew enriching its uranium. Not to forgetthat India and Pakistan have come neckto neck threatening the other with nuclearweapons over Kashmir’s problem.

https://dailytimes.com.pk/512414/is-nuclear-non-proliferation-still-a-realistic-goal/

Pakistan’s case stronger thanIndia’s for elite N-clubmembership: ex-envoy

Dawn, December 6, 2019

Pakistan can consider accepting additionalnon-proliferation obligations, which aredemanded by Western countries, only ifthere is an appropriate quid pro quo, saidformer senior diplomat Zamir Akram.


Mr Akram, who has served as Pakistan’sambassador to the United Nations inGeneva and Conference on Disarmament,was speaking at a conference on ‘PeacefulUses of Nuclear Technology — Pakistan’sAchievements’, which had been organisedby the Strategic Vision Institute (SVI).Talking about the discriminatory attitude ofthe West towards Pakistan on giving it accessto civil nuclear cooperation, he said thatwhile India has been enjoyingexceptionalism in the shape of NuclearSupplier Group’s waiver, Pakistan’s quest forthe membership of the elite nuclear club isopposed.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1520711/pakistans-case-stronger-than-indias-for-elite-n-club-membership-ex-envoy

USA

Donald Trump’s Greatest NationalSecurity Threat: A China-RussiaAlliance

Paul Dibb, National Interest Blog, December1, 2019

We are in an era when the risks of major-power conflict are growing. The most likelycontenders are commonly seen to be China,the rising power, and the US, the formerlydominant power that’s now in relativedecline. The other worrying contingency isconflict between Russia and US-led NATO.

But what about the third possibility: theprospect of China and Russia collaboratingto challenge American power? ZbigniewBrzezinski warned that the most dangerousscenario for America would be a grandcoalition of China and Russia united not byideology, but by complementary grievances.

My new ASPI special report, released today,examines Russian and Chinese concepts ofgreat-power war in the 21st century, theirviews of the West and its militarycapabilities, and the risks they might take toregain what they see as their lost territoriesin places such as Taiwan and Ukraine. Italso looks at how America might react, the

implications of all this for the West,including Australia, and what sort of armedconflict might be involved.

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/donald-trumps-greatest-national-security-threat-china-russia-alliance-100977

The New Cold War? It’s WithChina, and It Has Already Begun

Niall Ferguson, New York Times, December2, 2019

When did Cold War II begin? Futurehistorians will say it was in 2019. Some willinsist that a new Cold War had alreadybegun — with Russia — in 2014, whenMoscow sent its troops into Ukraine. But thedeterioration of Russian-American relationspales in comparison to the rise in Sino-American antagonism that has unfoldedover the past couple of years. And thoughthe United States and China can probablyavoid a hot war, a second Cold War is still adaunting prospect.

Older readers will probably regard anotherCold War as a bad idea. Their memories ofthe original might include near-Armageddon experiences, such the 1962Cuban missile crisis, and multipleconventional wars fought in countries fromVietnam to El Salvador. But there is noobvious reason Cold War II should featurenuclear brinkmanship or proxy wars.

For one thing, China is so inferior to theUnited States in nuclear weaponry that anyconfrontation is much more likely to occurin cyberspace, or in space itself, than withintercontinental ballistic missiles. ThePeople’s Republic does not have the sameapproach to global expansionism as theSoviet Union either. Chinese money goesinto infrastructure projects and politicians’pockets, not foreign guerrilla movements.The “One Belt, One Road” initiative —Chinese President Xi Jinping’s signatureoverseas investment program — does notaim for world revolution.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/02/opinion/china-cold-war.html


Europe

Emerging Europe’s nuclear option

Claudia Patricolo, Emerging Europe,December 3, 2019

No matter how many emission targets weput on ourselves, the quantity of carbondioxide in the atmosphere keeps growing.According to the European Project for IceCoring in Antarctica (EPICA), the globalaverage of atmospheric carbon dioxide in2018 was 407.4 parts per million, a levelhigher than at any point in at least the past800,000 years. While some governments arelooking at natural gas as a potential bridgeto a sustainable future, many emergingEuropean countries are instead focusing onnuclear to both reach the emission targetsand diversify their energy supplies. Of the449 nuclear power plants worldwide, 41 arelocated in Central and Eastern Europe.Ukraine tops the list with 15 operationalreactors and two more under construction.

“The need for the reliable, predictable andclean electricity generated by nuclear hasnever been greater and, worldwide, that isreflected in the growing number of newbuild programmes underway,” says AgnetaRising, director general of the WorldNuclear Association. “However, a numberof factors – both internal and external – arecreating profound challenges for nuclearpower in some of its most mature markets.”Slovakia is the country that relies the moston nuclear: it provides 55 per cent of thecountry’s total electricity. It is followed byHungary (50 per cent), Ukraine (49 per cent)and Slovenia (37 percent).

“Nuclear energy is inevitable in theHungarian energy mix,” explains AttilaAszodi, professor at the Budapest Universityof Technology and Economics. “Paksnuclear power plant is not only a carbon-free source of electricity but also the largestpower plant in the country. And thisprovides baseload power.”

https://emerging-europe.com/intelligence/the-nuclear-option/

Is Germany blocking nuclearbecause of gas?

Financial Times, December 4, 2019

Europe’s taxonomy for sustainableactivities is meant to make sustainableinvestment easier, providing the financingsector with an easy go-to place for definingactivities that both significantly aid us withenvironmental goals, such as mitigatingclimate change, and which do nosignificant harm to other sustainabilitycriteria. It was commissioned by theEuropean Commission in July 2018 whenit established a Technical Expert Group(TEG) to aid Europe’s decarbonisationtransition. The group’s first report onsustainable activities came out just a yearlater on June 18, 2019 and featured amixed analysis of nuclear. While the reportsaid nuclear does have the climatecredentials, it also stressed the need forempirical evidence on its sustainabilityover the fuel cycle — namely with regardto the storage of nuclear waste.

https://ftalphaville.ft.com/2019/12/02/1575325247000/Is-Germany-blocking-nuclear-because-of-gas—/

Russia

Russia Is Not The Soviet Union. SoWhy Can’t Europe Help Pay Morefor NATO?

Daniel L. Davis, National Interest Blog,December 3, 2019

French President Macron claims NATO is“brain dead.” Turkey’s President Erdoganthreatened to flood Europe with a waveof refugees if Europe opposed the Turkishincursion into Syria. And Trump hasannounced he is going to curtail U.S.support to NATO headquarters. OnNATO’s 70th anniversary, the allianceseems to be growing weaker and its futurecalled into increasing doubt. The questionfor American policymakers: is thatnecessarily a bad thing?


Without question, the North Atlantic TreatyOrganization was one of the 20th Century’sgreatest success stories and largelyresponsible for securing the peace forWestern Europe following World War II. Inthe late 1940s Stalin’s Soviet Union posedan existential threat to the war-wearydemocracies of Western Europe.

At the time, Soviet military power couldhave overwhelmed the combined efforts ofFrance, West Germany, and the UK, andthus put American security at risk. TheUSSR no longer exists, however, and it istime to admit that Cold War structures arejarringly out of place in a post-Cold War.

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/skeptics/russia-not-soviet-union-so-why-cant-europe-help-pay-more-nato-101507

The Story of the 4 NuclearTorpedoes Russia Left Behind

Robert Farley National Interest Blog,December 4, 2019

The sinking of the K-8 submarine taught theRussians important lessons about safety andhandling emergencies. The Bay of Biscay isone of the world’s great submarinegraveyards. In late World War II, British andAmerican aircraft sank nearly seventyGerman U-boats in the Bay, which joined ahandful of Allied and German subs sunk inthe region during World War I. On April12, 1970, a Soviet submarine found the sameresting place. Unlike the others, however,K-8 was propelled by two nuclear reactors,and carried four torpedoes tipped by nuclearwarheads.

The November (Type 627) class was theSoviet Union’s first effort at developingnuclear attack submarines. The 627s wererough contemporaries of the Skate andSkipjack class attack boats of the U.S. Navy(USN), although they were somewhat largerand generally less well-arranged. Displacing4750 tons submerged, the thirteen 627s couldmake thirty knots and carry twentytorpedoes (launched from eight forwardtubes). Visually, the 627s resembled a largerversion of the Foxtrot class diesel-electricsubs; the Soviets would not adopt a teardrop

hull until the later Victor class. TheNovembers were renowned in thesubmarine community for their noise; louderthan any contemporary nuclear sub, andeven preceding diesel-electric designs.

The Novembers were initially designed witha strategic purpose in mind. The Sovietsworked on a long-range nuclear armedtorpedo (dubbed T-15), which could strikeNATO naval bases from ranges of up to40km. The torpedo was so large that eachsubmarine could only carry a singleweapon. However, increasingly effectiveWestern anti-submarine technology quicklyscotched the first mission. The Novemberswere too loud to plausibly find their wayinto close enough proximity to a NATOport to ever actually fire a nuclear torpedoin wartime conditions.

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/story-4-nuclear-torpedoes-russia-left-behind-102012

Say What? Why Russia KeepsPracticing Nuclear War

Mark B. Schneider, National Interest Blog,December 6, 2019

In October 2019, Russia engaged in whatwas apparently its largest announcedstrategic nuclear strike exercise in its history,Thunder (Grom)–2019. The exercise hadmany of the usual features of Russian largestrategic nuclear exercises: personalinvolvement by the President of RussiaVladimir Putin in authorizing simulatednuclear strikes; a reported escalationscenario with Russian first use of nuclearweapons; large numbers of live nuclearmissile launches; and a reported ending ofa massive Russian nuclear strike.[1] Asusual, Russian strategic air defenses alsoplayed a role in Thunder-2019

The Russian Defense Ministry said that “Theexercise was designed to test “thedeployment and use of strategic forcesagainst a threat of aggression.” (Emphasisadded). This is probably the most candiddescription of the content of a nuclearexercise since the Zapid-1999 exercise inwhich Russia, for the first time, announcednuclear first use. The literal meaning of the


statement “the deployment and use ofstrategic forces against a threat ofaggression” is strategic nuclear preemption.Nuclear weapons’ use in an exercise againstthe “threat of aggression” is not deterrenceor retaliation but pre-emptive first use.Russian Defense Minister General of theArmy Sergei Shoigu stated that the exerciseemployed high-precision nuclear weapons.These were probably low-yield since fewtargets require high-precision, high-yieldnuclear weapons.

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/say-what-why-russia-keeps-practicing-nuclear-war-102722

The Russian Navy Has SomeProblems

David Axe, National Interest Blog, December9, 2019

The Russia fleet in 2019 will take delivery of23 new surface vessels, two new submarinesand three new aircraft, Russian presidentVladimir Putin announced. The numbers ontheir face are impressive. But in fact, mostof the surface ships are small warships andsupport vessels. As such, 2019 continues theRussian fleet’s long-term trend toward fewerand smaller ships. “We have paid and willpay the closest attention to the technical re-equipment of the armed forces, including,of course, the modernization of the Russiannavy,” Putin said at a Dec. 3, 2019 meetingof top military and industry officials.

“As part of the state defense order this year,the navy will receive more than 480 basictypes of weapons and equipment,” Putinadded. “Among them, two submarines, 23surface ships and support vessels, threeaircraft, four coastal missile systems andmore than 400 units of various missile andtorpedo weapons.” Putin highlighted thesubmarine acquisition. The Russian fleet isbuilding new ballistic-missile and attacksubmarines as part of a broader effort tomaintain a force of around 50 subs.

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/russian-navy-has-some-problems-103217

Russia Could Kill AmericanCarriers Without the “Poseidon”Nuclear Torpedo

Michael Peck, National Interest Blog,December 12, 2019

Moscow likes scary weapons, even thoughthey might not be practically usable.Russia has begun underwater tests of itsPoseidon thermonuclear torpedo. ThePoseidon is an 80-foot-long nuclear-powered submersible robot that isessentially an underwater ICBM. It isdesigned to travel autonomously acrossthousands of miles, detonate outside anenemy coastal city, and destroy it bygenerating a tsunami.

“In the sea area protected from a potentialenemy’s reconnaissance means, theunderwater trials of the nuclearpropulsion unit of the Poseidon drone areunderway,” an unnamed Russian defenseofficial told the TASS news agency. Thesource also said the “the reactor is installedin the hull of the operating drone but thetests are being held as part of experimentaldesign work rather than full-fledged seatrials at this stage.”

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/russia-could-kill-american-carriers-without-poseidon-nuclear-torpedo-104352

West Asia

Iran

Iran’s ballistic missiles ‘can carrynuclear weapons’

Arab News, December 05, 2019

UK, France, Germany say Tehran’s actionsinconsistent with UN resolution

JEDDAH: Britain, France and Germany onThursday accused Iran of developingballistic missiles capable of carryingnuclear warheads. In a letter to UNSecretary General Antonio Guterres, UNambassadors for the three countries saidTehran’s actions were inconsistent withthe UN resolution enshrining the Joint


Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the2015 agreement to curb Iran’s nuclearprogram in exchange for the easing ofinternational sanctions.

The envoys’ letter referred to video footageon social media in April of the test flight ofa new Shabab-3 medium range ballisticmissile variant that was “technically capableof delivering a nuclear weapon.”

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1594586/middle-east

Is Iran’s missile programinconsistent with Resolution 2231?

Javad Heirannia, Tehran Times, December10, 2019

France, Britain, and Germany sent a letterto the UN Secretary-General AntonioGuterres on December 4 in which theyclaimed that some of Iran’s ballistic missileactivities are inconsistent with the UNSecurity Council Resolution 2231. In theletter circulated among the Security Councilmembers, the three European countries,which are signatory to the JCPOA, urgedGuterres to describe Iran’s ballistic missilesas inconsistent with Resolution 2231 in thenext report on the country’s missile program.Such claims are also made by certainWestern think tanks. They argue that Iranintends to develop missiles capable ofdelivering nuclear weapons. Their argumentis based on the shape and the nose cone ofsome missiles and also Iran’s satellitelaunches which they claim is in tandem withlaunching long-range missiles. What doesResolution 2231 state about Iran’s missileprogram?

Resolution 2231 calls on Iran to restrain thedevelopment of a specific type of missile. Therequest is not legally binding. However, theResolution 1929, which was canceled whenthe Resolution 2231 was adopted in July2015, stated: “the UN Security CouncilDecides that Iran shall not undertake anyactivity related to ballistic missiles capableof delivering nuclear weapons”. Theimportant question is which organization issupposed to verify countries’ missileprograms? That is, based on which rule, the

European countries have considered Iran’smissile program in contravention withResolution 2231 and believed that Iran hasnuclear-capable missiles?

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/442866/Is-Iran-s-missile-program-inconsistent-with-Resolution-2231

Iran vs. Israel: A (Nuclear?) WarThat Should Never Be Fought:

Robert Farley, National Interest, December

14, 2019

Who would win? How many peoplewould be impacted? Would America getdragged in? Worries over war in theMiddle East have largely shifted awayfrom the tense relationship between Iranand Israel. Turkey’s ongoing conflict withthe Kurds and Iran’s own jousting withSaudi Arabia have taken center stage,although Israel’s concern over growingIranian influence has not abated. In suchan unpredictable security environment,however, war remains a possibility. Howmight a hot war between Israel and Iranplay out?

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/iran-vs-israel-nuclear-war-should-never-be-fought-105167

Turkey

Turkey, Not Trump, Is the BiggestThreat to NATO Right Now

Simon A. Waldman, Haaretz, December 1,2019

Tuesday’s NATO summit in Londonmarks 70 years of the world’s longest andmost successful military alliance. However,behind the smiles and handshakes, therewill be serious concerns about NATO’sfuture. U.S. President Donald Trump hasNATO in his sights, recently moving tosubstantially cut its contribution to theNATO budget; France’s PresidentEmmanuel Macron recently declared thatNATO is becoming “brain-dead.”

Today, however, the main securityconcerns of NATO are Russian


belligerency, the spread of weapons of massdestruction, the deteriorating securitysituation in the Middle East and theassociated threats of migration andterrorism. If anything, Turkey hascontributed to the proliferation of thesesecurity threats.

With Turkey appearing more of a hindranceto NATO than an asset, it begs the questionwhat can be done? There is no mechanismor precedent for expelling a NATO member.

One possibility is to try to amend the NorthAtlantic Treaty to allow for the sanctioningor expulsion of a member state. However,this is unlikely to succeed: it would needunanimous support - and Turkey could justveto it. Other NATO members might alsoresist out of concern that they may one daybe sanctioned.

https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/.premium-turkey-not-trump-is-the-biggest-threat-to-nato-right-now-1.8201531

Don’t Blame Turkey for NATO’sWoes

Sinan Ulgen, Foreign Policy, December 3,2019

In an interview with the Economist a fewweeks ago, French President EmmanuelMacron said the alliance was experiencing“brain death.” His argument was that underU.S. President Donald Trump, the UnitedStates was no longer interested in the defenseof Europe. He also cited Turkey’s cross-border operation into Syria as evidence ofthe political dysfunction of the alliance.

Last week, Ankara was criticized forblocking a NATO defense plan for the Balticstates and Poland. All of this prompts thequestion: Has Turkey really become a threatto NATO’s political cohesion?

The answer is not simple. NATO is currentlyadapting to changes in the global securityenvironment. Despite claims to the contrary,NATO is a dynamic alliance. It has takenstock of the changing landscape since theend of the Cold War and is striving to adaptits doctrine and strategy to new conditions.

The political momentum for thistransformation was provided by theStrategic Concept of 2010, in whichNATO reenvisioned its role in defendingthe security of its members. Allianceleaders agreed to streamline NATOcapabilities to enhance their collectivedefense beyond territorial defense andimprove the alliance’s role in crisismanagement. The Strategic Conceptheralded a change in how alliancemembers viewed their national securityand the role they ascribed to NATO.

https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/12/03/dont-blame-turkey-for-natos-woes/

Who benefits from a NATOwithout Turkey?

Merve ªebnem Oruç, Daily Sabah,December 4, 2019

Some Russian military experts anddiplomatic sources admit that it was ahuge mistake cornering Turkey at the endof the 1940s as that pressure made itbecome a member of NATO. How differentthe situation is today. In the future, wemight hear such words from NATO assome NATO countries are making thesame mistake that the Soviets made before.

Relations of Western countries such as theU.S and France with Turkey have hit a lowpoint recently, despite the closerelationship between President RecepTayyip Erdoðan and U.S. President DonaldTrump. As it is impossible to isolateproblems between, for instance, Turkeyand the U.S. or Turkey and France, theTurkey-NATO relationship is also introubled waters. Moreover, this ongoingsituation paves the way for hot debates,not only within NATO’s inner sanctum butalso in front of the microphones.

As a matter of fact, the so-called “values”of democracy, freedom and the rule oflaw, which are used as a stick towardTurkey, are not the main concerns of theNATO allies. When you check, you cansee other NATO members with badrecords regarding these values, but theleading allies chose to stay silent about


that. Then what is the allies’ problem withTurkey?

Let’s make a list: Turkey purchased the S-400 defense missile system from Russia afterits fruitless efforts to buy such defensesystems from Western countries.

Turkey unilaterally launched its thirdground operation in Syria against thePeople’s Protection Units (YPG), which isvery well known as the Syrian branch of theoutlawed PKK, a terror organization listednot only by Turkey but also the U.S. and theEU.

https://www.dailysabah.com/columns/merve-sebnem-oruc/2019/12/06/who-benefits-from-a-nato-without-turkey

Who’s instructing the anti-CanalIstanbul ‘Montreux lobby’? Map ismemory; it shows future as much asit does history. From the Silk Roadto the Bering Strait: Wealth, powermap, our country’s surface area allchanged! After Canal Istanbulthey’re going to claim we have‘nuclear weapons.’ Let’s see whathappens.

Ibrahim Karagül, Yeni Safak, December 13,2019

Map is memory, experience, power; it isnations’ line of destiny. When you look atthe map, you not only see the past but alsothe future. The map is a source of the mostvaluable information.

The map will show you nations’ rise andfalls, the strengthening and division of states,the reasons underlying past wars and crises,whose star will shine and whose will fall inthe future. The map presents politicaltheories, security theories, the reason behindalliances and major disintegrations, whycivilization basins and certain regions havebecome barren.

After Canal Istanbul they’re going to taketo the streets claiming we have ‘nuclearweapons.’ This is a series of opposition thathas been ongoing ever since the start. Theyhave now been steered towards the Canal

Istanbul project. In the very near future,they are going to wreak havoc saying“Turkey is working on nuclear weapons.”A process that started in Israel and iscontinuing in the U.S. has already beenlaunched. It will not be long before itcomes to Turkey. Certain groups withinwill be activated. They have already beenhanded their next agenda following CanalIstanbul.

https://www.yenisafak.com/en/columns/ibrahimkaragul/whos-instructing-the-anti-canal-istanbul-montreux-lobby-map-is-memory-it-shows-future-as-much-as-it-does-history-from-the-silk-road-to-the-bering-strait-wealth-power-map-our-countrys-surface-area-all-changed-after-canal-istanbul-theyre-going-to-claim-we-have-nuclear-weapons-lets-see-what-

happens-2047262

East Asia

North Korea

N. Korea’s shifting demands

Tong Kim, Korea Times, December 2, 2019

Last April North Korean leader Kim Jong-un set a year-end deadline for U.S.flexibility to accept Pyongyang’s demands.Last week Stephen Biegun, top U.S.nuclear negotiator and a nominee fordeputy secretary of state, said the deadlinewas “an artificial one” ¯ an implicationthat the U.S. won’t make a major policyadjustment to meet the deadline and thatthe current stalemate may pass over theyear-end. Announcing the deadline, Kimsaid he would take a “new path” if thedeadline is missed. North Korean officialshave suggested, as foreign observersspeculated, that a “new path” points toresuming nuclear and ICBM tests,terminating negotiations and returning toconfrontation and tension.

The North conducted another test of “asuper-large multiple rocket launchsystem” Nov. 28 ¯ the fourth one sinceAugust ¯ firing two projectiles 30 secondsapart toward the East Sea. The system isknown as a hybrid of ballistic missiletechnology that carries four large rockets.Some news outlets called the firing a


Thanksgiving reminder to Washington ofKim’s deadline.

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2019/12/137_279633.html

North Korean missileaggrandizement

Liang Tuang Nah Korea Times, December 4,2019

The recent barrage of missile and multiplerocket launcher tests by North Korea can beanalyzed using political, military andeconomic lenses. However, whichever wayone examines Pyongyang’s motivations, itis clear that the proverbial leopard neverchanges its spots. With North Korea’s 13thmissile test to date since May, a fair case canbe made that the launch of two projectilesfrom what is presumed to be a super-largemultiple rocket launcher Nov. 28 is apolitical attempt to signal displeasure withthe crushing economic sanctions that havebeen placed on the North by the UnitedNations Security Council (UNSC) since2016.

As the DPRK’s mercurial leader, Kim Jong-un, has publicly given their prime nationaladversary, the U.S., until the end of this yearto introduce new and substantialconcessions involving sanctions lifting inreturn for denuclearization steps onPyongyang’s part, destabilizing missile testsserve as political signaling to remindWashington to take this ultimatum seriously.But inasmuch as Kim’s political motivationsare relevant, the military and economicimplications of the recent short-range missileand multiple rocket launcher tests alsodeserve attention, for they highlight theNorth’s constraints and indicate furtherantagonism. Military, economicconsiderations behind recent missiles


Rocketman vs. Dotard: war of wordsis back


Tensions are quickly rising between the

United States and North Korea, which hasramped up pressure as it demandsconcessions by President Donald Trump’sadministration by the end of the year. TheUnited States called a UN Security Councilmeeting for Wednesday on North Korea’sseries of rocket launches, the latest returnto antagonism as diplomacy languishes.Monday’s announcement came two daysafter North Korea claimed to have carriedout a “very important” but otherwiseunspecified test, in a hint that it may havefurther actions in store.

Trump has met three times with NorthKorean leader Kim Jong Un to discussPyongyang’s nuclear program, describinghim a friend and hailing the comparativecalm achieved since 2017 when fears weregrowing of all-out war. But North Koreais seeking a comprehensive deal thatincludes sanctions relief, especially withTrump heading next year into a potentiallydifficult re-election fight.


North Korea’s hardline strategy onUS and ‘North Wind’

Jang Sung-min, Korea Times, December 11,2019

The game of nuclear chicken has resumedbetween the U.S. and North Korea. NorthKorea’s state media announced Sundaythat it carried out a “very important test”at the Tongchang-ri Rocket Testing Stationon Saturday. The North’s Korean CentralNews Agency (KCNA) said the results“will have an important effect on changingthe strategic position of the DPRK onceagain in the near future.” It suggests theNorth will likely conduct a ground-basedtest of a new high-thrust engine for anintercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

With the continued development of itsnuclear capability, Pyongyang is turningup the pressure on the U.S. forconcessions. North Korea has continuedto emphasize its end-of-year deadline forthe United States to change its approachto their stalled nuclear disarmament talks.


The North’s hardline stance is gettingstronger. North Korean Ambassador to theUnited Nations Kim Sung said the same dayof the “very important test” thatdenuclearization had been taken off thenegotiating table. President Donald Trumphas already grasped the intention of theNorth Korea’s missile engine test. He said atthe White House before leaving for Florida,Saturday, “I’d be surprised if North Koreaacted hostilely. He (Kim Jong-un) knows Ihave an election coming up. I don’t thinkhe wants to interfere with that, but we’llhave to see.” Trump was sending Kim awarning message not to intervene in theupcoming U.S. presidential election.


South Korea

Nuclear phase-out policy will hurteconomic growth: KERI

Kwak Yeon-soo, Korea Times, December 8,2019

President Moon Jae-in’s nuclear powerphase-out policy will raise the country’selectricity rates significantly in the comingdecades, gradually hurting the country’seconomic growth, a local research institutesaid Sunday. In a report released Sunday,the Korea Economic Research Institute(KERI) expects that the government’snuclear phase-out policy will increase theelectricity rates by 25.8 percent in 2030 and33 percent in 2040 compared with those in2017.

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/tech/2019/12/

129_279982.html

UN Security Council to meet thisweek to discuss North Korea’sprovocation report


The United Nations Security Council willmeet this week to discuss North Korea’srecent missile launches and the possibilityof an escalatory provocation by the regime,Reuters reported Monday, citing diplomatsand a request from the United States. The

meeting will be held publicly Wednesday,according to Reuters, just days after NorthKorea announced it conducted anunspecified “very important test” at itsDongchang-ri satellite launch site. Expertshave suggested the test on Saturday mayhave involved an engine for a new long-range missile.

That the request was made by the U.S.,which serves as president of the councilthis month, may indicate that Washingtonwill not tolerate the latest escalation ofthreats by the North.


Second Korean War ‘possible’

Park Si-soo Korea Times, December 13,2019

Are the two Koreas headed for war again?

Graham T. Allison, a famed Americanpolitical scientist at Harvard Universityand former U.S. Assistant Secretary ofDefense for Policy and Plans, says it’s“possible.” He told a recent academicforum in Japan that the chance of a secondKorean War is “increasing” as the impassein denuclearization negotiations betweenNorth Korea and the U.S. continues,especially with the year-end deadline fortalks rising on the horizon.

According to the Japanese daily SankeiShimbun that covered the forum onThursday, Allison said the probability ofthe two Koreas going to war was “lowerthan 50 percent, but it’s quite possible.”Depicting the current situation as “verydangerous,” Allison called on Japan andChina to play their roles “immediately” toavoid war, according to Sankei.


NK could shutdown nuke talksunless US does U-turn: think tank


North Korea could announce an end todenuclearization talks with the United


States when it convenes a meeting of theruling Workers’ Party later this month, astate-run think tank said Friday. The Northsaid last week it will convene a plenarymeeting of the Central Committee of theWPK later this month to address “crucialissues in line with the needs of thedevelopment of the Korean revolution andthe changed situation at home and abroad.”

The announcement came as Pyongyang hasramped up pressure on Washington to comeup with a new proposal by the end of thisyear to move deadlocked denuclearizationnegotiations forward.


Pyongyang trapped in illusion of‘North Korean superiority

Cha Du-hyeon, Korea Times, December 14,2019

Unlike the reconciliatory and cooperativeinter-Korean mood last year, 2019 was theyear that North Korea continued itsaggressive action toward the South. In 2019,Pyongyang clearly condemned SouthKorea’s role as a mediator and facilitatorthrough Kim Jong-un’s speech at the 14thSupreme People’s Assembly on April 12. Thisattitude remained even after the ROK-DPRK-U.S. Summit at Panmunjeom on June30.

North Korea tested eight short-rangeprojectiles between July and September,denouncing ROK-U.S. joint military drills.This was in conflict with Kim mentioningthat he was “not opposing the annual ROK-U.S. joint military exercise or training”during a South Korean delegation’s visit tothe North in 2018.


O. Think Tank

IAEA Mission Says IndonesiaStrengthened Nuclear andRadiation Safety, Sees Areas forEnhancement

International Atomic Energy Agency,December 4, 2019

An International Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA) team of experts said Indonesia hasmade progress in strengthening itsregulatory framework for nuclear andradiation safety, addressing most of therecommendations made during an initialreview in 2015. The team also noted areasfor further enhancement, including theneed to maintain and expand qualifiedstaff to meet future needs.

The Integrated Regulatory Review Service(IRRS) team today concluded an 11-dayfollow-up mission to review Indonesia’simplementation of recommendations andsuggestions made during an IRRS missionin August 2015. The mission wasconducted at the request of the IndonesianGovernment and hosted by the country’sNuclear Energy Regulatory Agency(BAPETEN). IRRS missions are designedto strengthen the effectiveness of thenational nuclear and radiation safetyregulatory infrastructure, based on IAEAsafety standards and international goodpractices, while recognizing theresponsibility of each country to ensurenuclear and radiation safety.

https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/pressreleases/iaea-mission-says-indonesia-strengthened-nuclear-and-radiation-safety-sees-areas-for-enhancement

Japan Downplays Possibility ofHosting INF-Range Missiles

Arms Control Association, December 4,2019

Japan’s new defense minister downplayedthe prospect that Japan might host U.S.intermediate-range missiles formerly


banned by the Intermediate-Range NuclearForces (INF) Treaty. In an Oct. 31 interviewwith The Financial Times, Defense MinisterTaro Kono said, “The U.S. doesn’t have non-nuclear missiles that can be deployed yet.Maybe they’re in the phase of development.We have not been discussing any of it.”

U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said inAugust after the demise of the INF Treatythat he would like to see the deployment ofU.S. conventional, ground-launched,intermediate-range missiles in Europe andAsia, ideally as soon as possible. South Koreaand Australia said at the time that they werenot considering such a deployment.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister SergeyLavrov in November continued to rebuke theTrump administration for “dismantling” thetreaty, saying that “our American colleagueswere only engaged in searching for pretextsto get rid of the INF Treaty.” He also statedthat Moscow will not deploy ground-launched, intermediate-range missiles untilthe United States does.

https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2019-12/news-briefs/japan-downplays-possibility-hosting-inf-range-missiles

Decision on Autonomous WeaponsTalks Eludes CCW

Arms Control Assiciation, December 4, 2019

States parties to the Convention on CertainConventional Weapons (CCW) discussed inNovember the danger of lethal autonomousweapons systems, often referred to as “killerrobots,” but could not agree to begin aformal process of creating a legal instrumentto govern their development and use. Thisis the fifth year in which the topic has beenaddressed by the CCW, which seeks tocontrol especially harmful or indiscriminateconventional arms.

In the final report of the CCW’s annualmeeting, adopted by consensus afterconsiderable debate, the members of theCCW endorsed guiding principles forautonomous weapons that had been draftedin August by a Group of GovernmentalExperts. These state that internationalhumanitarian law applies fully to

autonomous weapons and that “humanresponsibility for decisions on the use ofweapons systems must be retained.”

Some parties, as well as civil societyrepresentatives, derided the lack ofprogress toward a more comprehensiveprohibition. Several dozen states are insupport of some form of legal frameworkbinding autonomous weaponsdevelopment and use, and 30 haveexplicitly supported banning them bytreaty, according to the Campaign to StopKiller Robots. The group, a coalition ofnongovernmental organizations, statedthat “pressure is building on states tolaunch negotiations on a new treaty onfully autonomous weapons withoutdelay.”

https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2019-12/news-briefs/decision-autonomous-weapons-talks-eludes-ccw

Three Decades of ChemicalWeapons Elimination: MoreChallenges Ahead

Paul F. Walker, Arms Control Association,December 4, 2019

As states-parties to the Chemical WeaponsConvention (CWC) convened for their24th and most recent conference inNovember in The Hague, it was clear thetreaty has accomplished a great deal, butit was also apparent that the work ofeliminating the threat of chemicalweapons is not over.

As the head of the Organisation for theProhibition of Nuclear Weapons (OPCW),Fernando Arias, noted in his openingstatement, “The complete elimination ofdeclared chemical weapons, which is akey goal of the convention, is nearing. Yet,challenges to the norms of the conventionare serious, as the use of chemical weaponsin Iraq, Malaysia, Syria, and the UnitedKingdom has proven.”1

Even as the final declared stockpiles ofbanned chemical agents are destroyed andwork continues to bring the few remainingholdout states into compliance with the


treaty, in the years ahead the OPCW willremain the main line of defense against thereemergence of chemical weapons.

https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2019-12/features/three-decades-chemical-weapons-elimina-tion-more-challenges-ahead

And the prize for global nuclearsecurity goes to… China

Sara Z. Kutchesfahani, Bulletin of AtomicScientists, December 6, 2019

In the mass media lately—and inpresidential tweets—China has often comeoff poorly, due in part to the Chinesegovernment’s authoritarian stance onhuman rights, its trade practices, its relianceon heavy-handed surveillance of itspopulation, and its recent history ofsuppressing debate. But in at least one area,the Chinese government shines: nuclearsecurity.

In fact, when it comes to nuclear securitypolicies and practices, as well as laws,regulations, management, monitoring, andthe structure of emergency response, thecountry is unusually transparent—andreadily meets international standards. As aresult, China is poised to play a leading rolein global nuclear risk reduction efforts in thecoming decades, at home and abroad. Thistrend can be seen by China’s manycommitments within the Nuclear SecuritySummit process, its cooperation in bilateralnuclear security structures with the UnitedStates, and its efforts to remove highlyenriched uranium from a Nigerian researchreactor (that China itself played a role inbuilding).

https://thebulletin.org/2019/12/and-the-prize-for-global-nuclear-security-goes-to-china/

Turkey’s military drones: an exportproduct that’s disrupting NATO

Dan Gettinger, Bulletin of Atomic Scientist,December 6, 2019

Just over a decade ago, the prototype of anunmanned aircraft that would become theBayraktar TB2 took off for its maiden flight

at Sinop Airport on the Black Sea. Therewere few signs then that the mid-sized,twin-boom aircraft would becomeTurkey’s first indigenously producedarmed drone and the backbone of itsunmanned air force. At the time, domesticdrone manufacturers struggled againsttechnical difficulties and foreigncompetition. Ten years on, however, thesituation is radically different: Ankara’sdrone program has morphed into asuccessful industry that’s alreadyexporting products. It’s also a potentmilitary force that’s further straining theNATO alliance.

Turkey is wielding its new arsenal in amilitary campaign against Kurdish fightersin Syria, part of a long-standing conflictthat has taken on new significance sinceUS President Donald Trump announceda controversial decision to withdrawtroops from northern Syria this fall,opening up allied Syrian Kurds to Turkishattacks. The president of France, anotherNATO ally of Turkey’s, recently accusedTurkey of “fighting against those whofight with us.” Turkey’s drones haveenabled a conflict in an already volatileregion; more worrisome, Ankara’ssuccessful drone program is an examplethat several other countries hope toemulate.

Drones have proliferated to militariesaround the world at a dramatic rate.According to The Drone Databook, astudy of military drone capabilities Ipublished with the Center for the Studyof the Drone in September, at least 95countries have a military drone program.These programs are growing in size andcomplexity. Nearly 60 countries haveactivated at least 267 units to operatedrones. Like many other countries, Turkeyhas prioritized the development of adomestic industry in order to reduce itsdependency on systems made by theUnited States and Israel, the traditionaldrone-production powerhouses.

https://thebulletin.org/2019/12/turkeys-mili-tary-drones-an-export-product-thats-disrupt-ing-nato/


P. Interviews/ Reports

Nuclear No First Use Spotlight

Union of Concerned Scientists, December 6,2019

UCS is starting with a simple andcommonsense principle: The United Statesmust commit to never initiate a nuclearconflict. A No First Use policy: Reduces therisk that another country will use nuclearweapons against the United States, eitherpreemptively or in retaliation. Contributesto global stability, by reaffirming ourleadership in arms control and risk reductionefforts, and inspiring other countries to takesimilar steps. Makes it less likely that nuclearweapons will ever be used.

https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/nuclear-no-first-use-spotlight

https://www.ucsusa.org/sites/default/files/2019-12/NuclearNoFirstUseSpotlight.pdf

I hope the next ISRO chief is awoman: Susmita Mohanty

Madhumathi D.S., The Hindu, December 13,2019

The founder-CEO of India’s first privatespace start-up company says privatisationcan create thousands of jobs in the spacesector

Susmita Mohanty, founder-CEO of India’sfirst private space start-up, Earth2Orbit,responds to everything that is space — be itengineering, enterprise, research, design,architecture, international advocacy,adventure or imagination. She carved outher many extraordinary roles at a young ageand across three continents. She has beennamed among BBC’s 100 Women of 2019.A self-confessed “daughter of ISRO” andprotégée of Arthur C. Clarke, the “anti-status-quo-ist” Mohanty, based inBengaluru, articulates some bold ideas onthe world of space and its women andspace-related enterprise. Edited excerpts:

The BBC 100 Women 2019 recognises yourrole in the space arena. What do you think

of the representation of women in spacein India and across the world?

I grew up in the early 70s among thepioneers of the Indian space programme.To me, women in space were not anovelty. My father and his colleague, Dr.Dipti Rastogi, were deputy directors ofISRO’s Space Applications Centre. ISROhas one of the best gender ratios amongspace agencies, as we saw during the MarsOrbiter Mission. NASA has always had afair number of women scientists andengineers. Since the late 90s, when I beganmy space career, the European SpaceAgency (ESA) too has improved itsnumbers. JAXA (Japan AerospaceExploration Agency) still has some way togo.

And what about women in leadershippositions in space agencies?

Abroad, we are starting to see morewomen leaders in space organisations.Pascale Ehrenfreund is the [head] of theGerman space agency, DLR, andSimonetta Di Pippo is Director of the UNOffice for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA).The three of us are members of the WorldEconomic Forum’s Global Future Councilon Space Technologies. Last month,Ehrenfreund became the first womanpresident of the InternationalAstronautical Federation. MIT’s DavaNewman was Deputy Administrator ofNASA under Obama. Mazlan Othmanused to head the Malaysian space agency.I hope ISRO gets a woman chairperson inthe near future.

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/i-hope-the-next-isro-chief-is-a-woman-susmita-mohanty/article30297376.ece

Nuclear Power in India

World Nuclaer News, December, 2019

� India has a largely indigenous nuclearpower programme.

� The Indian government is committedto growing its nuclear power capacity


as part of its massive infrastructuredevelopment programme.

� The government has set ambitioustargets to grow nuclear capacity. At theend of 2019 seven reactors were underconstruction in India, with a combinedcapacity of 5.4 GWe.

� Because India is outside the NuclearNon-Proliferation Treaty due to itsweapons programme, it was for 34 yearslargely excluded from trade in nuclearplant and materials, which hampered itsdevelopment of civil nuclear energy until2009.

� Due to earlier trade bans and lack ofindigenous uranium, India has uniquelybeen developing a nuclear fuel cycle toexploit its reserves of thorium.

� Since 2010, a fundamentalincompatibility between India’s civilliability law and internationalconventions limits foreign technologyprovision.

India in 2017 produced 1532 TWh ofelectricity, 1134 TWh (74%) of this fromcoal, 142 TWh (9%) from hydro, 71 TWh(5%) from natural gas, 77 TWh (5%) fromsolar and wind, 38 TWh (2.5%) fromnuclear, 45 TWh from biofuels, and 25 TWhfrom oil. There were virtually no imports orexports of electricity in 2017, and about 17%of production was lost during transmission.Consumption in 2017 came to about 1164TWha, or about 870 kWh per capita. Totalinstalled capacity as of October 2019 wasabout 365 GWe, consisting of 229 GWe fossilfuels, 73 GWe renewables (including smallhydro), 45 GWe large hydro, and less than7 GWe nuclear.

https://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/country-profiles/countries-g-n/india.aspx

World Energy Needs and NuclearPower

World Nuclear Association, December, 2019

� The world will need significantlyincreased energy supply in the future,

especially cleanly-generated electricity.

� Electricity demand is increasing abouttwice as fast as overall energy use andis likely to rise by more than half to2040.

� Nuclear power provides over 10% ofthe world’s electricity, and 18% ofelectricity in OECD countries.

� Almost all reports on future energysupply from major organisationssuggest an increasing role for nuclearpower as an environmentally benignway of producing reliable electricity ona large scale.

Growth in the world’s population andeconomy, coupled with rapidurbanisation, will result in a substantialincrease in energy demand over thecoming years. The United Nations (UN)estimates that the world’s population willgrow from 7.6 billion in 2017 to 9.7 billionby 2050. The process of urbanisation –which currently adds a city the size ofShanghai to the world’s urban populationevery four months or so – will result inapproximately two-thirds of the world’speople living in urban areas by 2050 (upfrom 55% in 2018). The challenge ofmeeting rapidly growing energy demand,whilst reducing harmful emissions ofgreenhouse gases, is considerable. In 2018global atmospheric concentrations ofcarbon dioxide rose by 1.7%, 70% higherthan the average increase since 2010.

https://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/current-and-future-generation/world-energy-needs-and-nuclear-power.aspx

The Purpose, Scope, and Contentof Safety Cases

Office of Nuclear Regulation, December,2019

This revision includes:

General restructuring/reformatting toprovide greater clarity

Review against modern relevant goodpractice


Visual aids summarising typical content andstructure, and lifecycle of a safety case

Expanded explanation of claims, argumentsand evidence

Inclusion of reference to defence in depth inthe safety case

http://www.onr.org.uk/operational/tech_asst_guides/ns-tast-gd-051.pdf


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