nuclear weapons
16articles

Trump Defends North Korea's Nuclear Arsenal, Rules It Out for Iran
President Trump said North Korea can keep its nuclear weapons because Kim Jong Un is "a friend," while maintaining that Iran will not be permitted to acquire a bomb.

Putin Rules Out Ukraine Ceasefire, Renews Kaliningrad Nuclear Warning
Russian President Vladimir Putin ruled out a ceasefire with Ukraine in a Moscow speech and said Russia would use nuclear weapons if necessary to defend Kaliningrad.

China's North Korea Card: Issue Linkage, Taiwan, and the Bargain Beijing Won't Name
A new policy analysis argues Beijing could trade concessions on North Korea's nuclear program to extract U.S. restraint on Taiwan — a linkage Washington has yet to price into its strategy.

North Korea Hits Out at Trump, Vows to Strengthen Nuclear Force
Pyongyang publicly rebuked former President Trump and pledged to expand its nuclear arsenal as U.S. military operations in the Middle East continue unabated.

Russia Won't Use Nukes or Attack NATO, Finland's President Says
Finland's president offered a direct assessment of Moscow's nuclear intentions, saying Russia will not use nuclear weapons against Ukraine or strike NATO territory.

Seoul Backs Trump's North Korea Talks but Demands a Seat at the Table
South Korea endorses renewed U.S.-North Korea diplomacy but warns Washington not to cut Seoul out of negotiations that directly affect its security.

Trump's '57 Nukes' and the End of North Korean Denuclearization
The Lowy Institute argues Trump's '57 nukes' disclosure effectively acknowledges North Korea as a nuclear state, hollowing out the decades-long push for CVID.

North Korea Fires Missiles After Trump Calls Kim 'Well Behaved'
North Korea fired ballistic missiles Friday as President Trump called Kim Jong Un 'well behaved,' continuing a two-day streak of launches on the Korean Peninsula.

South Korea Estimates North Korea Has Up to 120 Nuclear Warheads, Far Above Trump's Figure
Seoul's latest intelligence assessment puts Pyongyang's arsenal at up to 120 warheads, a figure significantly higher than what President Trump has cited as he pursues diplomatic talks with Kim Jong Un.

Kim Yo-jong Denies 50,000 North Korean Troops Are Headed to Russia
Pyongyang's top spokeswoman dismisses Zelensky's claims of a fresh troop surge, as Trump announces he expects to meet Kim Jong-un and warns North Korea holds 57 nuclear warheads.

China's Expanding Nuclear Arsenal: A Guide to Beijing's Missile Forces
The PLARF now fields 600-plus warheads across mobile ICBMs, hardened silos, and submarines—on course to exceed 1,000 operationally deployed warheads by 2030.

Trump Administration Pursues North Korea Talks Amid Nuclear Expansion
Washington is pursuing diplomatic engagement with Pyongyang as North Korea accelerates its nuclear weapons programs, deepening a dilemma decades in the making.

Kim Yo Jong Blasts ASEAN Over Denuclearization Call as Pyongyang Vows Steady Nuclear Buildup
North Korea's most powerful official condemned ASEAN's denuclearization call while state media signaled Pyongyang will steadily expand its nuclear arsenal, deepening regional tensions.

Russia's Nuclear Threats Prove Hollow as War Grinds Into Another Year
Ukraine's top commander Syrskii has been fired as Russia hits ports and ships, with analysts arguing Moscow's nuclear arsenal has failed to alter the war's grinding trajectory.

A Divided World Is North Korea's Greatest Asset
Geopolitical fractures between Washington, Beijing, and Moscow have dismantled the UN sanctions architecture that once constrained Pyongyang's nuclear program, handing Kim Jong Un a historic strategic opening.

US Rebukes China Over Hours' Notice Before Submarine Missile Test
Washington criticized Beijing for providing only hours of advance warning before a submarine-launched missile test, flagging China's 'rapid and opaque nuclear weapons buildup.'