Avatar photoNorth Korea’s ICBM: Hwasong-14

  Test a missile, get a pod. North Korea tested a missile. The big one. An ICBM. To discuss recent events, Aaron, Jeffrey, and Scott talk about the KN-20/Hwasong-14, how we got here, and what we know about the missile. Links of Note: The pod about the Hwasong-12, the immediate precursor to the Hwasong-14, including …

Avatar photoTrump Puts Sudan (And the World) “On Notice” over DPRK

Yesterday, the US State Department issued a really interesting announcement that President Trump was extending the review period for Executive Order 13761, which outlines steps for lifting certain US sanctions on Sudan. In explaining its rationale, State brought up concerns over Sudan’s implementation of DPRK sanctions. (You can be forgiven for having failed to notice. Trump …

Avatar photoSafeguards Challenges in the Nuclear Weapons Ban

There are a large number of us who are deeply uncomfortable with the final text of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, particularly as it relates to safeguards. Some supporters of the agreement have noted that it seems unreasonable for states that did not participate in the negotiation to complain about the outcome. …

Avatar photoAfter the Prohibition Treaty

Quote of the week: “Longing on a large scale is what makes history.” —Don DeLillo, The Underworld The negotiation by non-nuclear-weapon states of a treaty banning nuclear weapons was followed by the usual refrain, “Now comes the hard part.” Every nuclear arms treaty until this one has reflected no more than what domestic and international …