Arms Control Wonk

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Coming Simorgh Launch?

It seems Iran is going to launch a satellite into orbit soon, but the question is when. As I noted recently, Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan told the Majlis that Iran would conduct a space launch during the festivities to mark Iran’s…

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The Nuclear Test Ban, Twenty Years Later

Twenty years since completion of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty negotiations, the Treaty remains in limbo because of its non-entry-into-force provision. States recognized by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as having the Bomb didn’t want to shut the door completely against…

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Guest Post: Spotlight on Syria’s Biological Weapons

Last fall I had the pleasure of going to the University of Hamburg at the invitation of the Research Group on Biological Arms Control to give a presentation on open source analysis for nonproliferation research. My colleagues there–Gunnar Jeremias, Mirko…

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Spring Festival Launch Festivities

In honor of the coming Spring Festival next week, CCTV13 aired a program on 3 February of a winter mobile missile launch exercise and new year’s celebrations with the launch brigade. Not only does this video contain some wonderful details…

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DPRK Announcement of Rocket Launch

North Korea announced to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) that they intend to launch a satellite into orbit between 8-25 February. Martyn Williams got the docs straight from the IMO and was kind enough to share. The doc looks similar to…

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Coming Iran, DPRK Space Launches?

Both Iran and North Korea may be about to conduct space launches. According to IRNA, Hossein Dehghan (حسین دهقان, the guy on Rouhani’s left) told the Majlis (fa|en) that Iran would launch a Simorgh rocket (the thingy on Rouhani’s right) during the festivities to…

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What’s Our Central Organizing Principle?

Every successful business, cause or social movement needs a central organizing principle, including the Nuclear Enterprise and the Arms Control Enterprise. Under the cloak of safe-sounding deterrence, the Nuclear Enterprise in the United States and Russia is built around Gates…

Episode41 min

Dudes from the Shig

The U.S Treasury Department sanctioned individuals in the UAE and Iran, including some “dudes from the SHIG” for cooperation with KOMID. What the hell is KOMID? Jeffrey and Aaron discuss the Korea Mining Development Corporation, North Korea’s major arms seller…

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Arms Racing Redux?

Back in the day – that would be the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80’s — arms racing was the norm. The “action-reaction” phenomenon ruled. If one superpower unveiled a new weapon system or improved hard-target-kill capabilities, the other superpower was sure…