North Korea
Seized missile radars on N. Korean ship a threat to aircraft
Oren Dorell, USA Today – July 16, 2013
Missile radar systems discovered aboard a North Korean-flagged ship that had last been in Cuba could be upgraded to make air-defense systems more effective at shooting down modern military aircraft, military analysts said Tuesday.
Iran
U.S. to Seek Direct Nuclear Talks With Iran
Jay Solomon, Wall Street Journal – July 12, 2013
The Obama administration is preparing to communicate to Iran’s president-elect its desire to hold direct negotiations in the coming weeks over Tehran’s nuclear program, senior U.S. officials said.
Russia, China block U.N. condemnation of Iran missile tests
Louis Charbonneau, Reuters – July 15, 2013
A U.N. Security Council committee is split over whether Iran’s missile tests last year violated U.N. sanctions imposed on Tehran because of its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, Australia’s U.N. envoy said on Monday.
Nuclear Power
Greenpeace activists break into French nuclear plant
Natalie Huet and Emmanuel Jarry, Reuters – July 15, 2013
Around 30 Greenpeace activists were arrested on Monday after breaking into an EDF nuclear power plant in southern France, saying they wanted to expose security flaws and demanding its closure.
Sandoval pushes for meeting with energy secretary
Sandra Chereb, Miami Herald – July 15, 2013
Gov. Brian Sandoval has sent a second letter to U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz requesting a meeting about Department of Energy activities in Nevada, including plans to haul canisters of radioactive waste from Oak Ridge, Tenn., to the Nevada National Security Site northwest of Las Vegas and proposed cuts to state oversight funding.
Nuclear Weapons
U.K. Finds ‘Credible’ Alternatives to Submarine Nukes Won’t Come Cheap
Elaine M. Grossman, Global Security Newswire – July 16, 2013
A new U.K. government report finds some “credible” alternatives to replacing London’s four aging nuclear-armed submarines, but other options would cost even more than today’s plans.
Congress
US House Votes To Limit Obama’s Ability to Shrink Nuclear Arsenal
John T. Bennett, DefenseNews – July 12, 2013
The US House has approved a plan that would limit President Barack Obama’s ability to shrink America’s nuclear arms arsenal without congressional approval, with its sponsor claiming the White House intends to ignore the Constitution.
CTBT
Shaheen Advises Against Rushing Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in U.S. Senate
Douglas P. Guarino, Global Security Newswire – July 17, 2013
A key U.S. Senate Democrat suggested on Tuesday that it is not only unlikely that a treaty banning nuclear weapons explosive testing will be ratified during the current legislative session but that it would be unwise to even begin Senate action regarding consent to the pact.
