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North Korean nuclear programme advances
Punggye-ri, North Portal: spoil piles change detection analysis. (© DLR e.V. 2014-15 and © Airbus DS Geo GmbH 2014-15 / © 2016 IHS)North Korea's belligerent stance and expanded US-South Korea joint exercises increase the risk of unintended escalation
US Marines, left, and South Korean Marines, wearing blue headbands on their helmets, take part in the Ssangyong amphibious exercise, Pohang, South Korea, on 12 March 2016. Source: PAAnalysts remain sceptical of North Korea's nuclear strike claims
The design of North Korea's claimed miniaturised warhead appears to be of the simple implosion system, employing a dodecahedron 12-point primary point lighting system. Source: KCNA/North Korean TVUSAF reveals 2014 nuclear 'mishap' that damaged ICBM
A USAF missile combat crew on alert at an underground ICBM control centre. The service revealed to AP that it suspended the nuclear certification of three personnel following a 'mishap' in 2014 in which an ICBM was damaged. Source: US Air Force
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North Korea's unconfirmed fourth test of submarine-launched ballistic missile underscores its increasing capabilities, including nuclear weapons
EVENT South Korean broadcaster MBN reported that South Korean military sources claimed North Korea had attempted to carry out a fourth test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) around dawn on 6 April 2016. However, the Sinpo-class submarine involved returned to Wonsan port around 9:00
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Nuclear Security Summit to discuss securing radiological materials against exploitation by terrorists
Preventing groups such as the Islamic State from securing radiological materials from military and civil programmes for 'dirty bombs' will be among the top discussions at the Nuclear Security Summit on 31 March-1 April in Washington, DC, according to US officials. "We know that terrorist
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Italy to join France in Aster 30 Block 1NT programme
Key Points The signing of an industrial agreement is expected shortly Italy aims to use the Block 1NT for both land- and sea-based anti-ballistic missile operations Italy is expected to formally join France in the Aster 30 Block 1NT (New Technology) programme within the next few weeks, as Rome
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US looks to advance INF Treaty talks with Russia
US officials are hopeful that Russia will return to compliance with the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, which Washington has said was violated several years ago. "We are concerned that Russia has violated the treaty with the development of a new, very capable,
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OSINT Summary: Officials accuse Islamic State of using toxic shells near Iraq's Kirkuk
Local officials from the predominantly Shia Muslim village of Taza, located 20 km south of Kirkuk in a region under Kurdish control, said on 9 March that the Islamic State had fired mortar shells and Katyusha rockets containing unknown "poisonous substances" into the village. A total of 24
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Island endeavour: Taiwan country briefing
While cross-strait relations with Beijing have improved in recent years, Taiwan still has to consider a Chinese invasion as its most prominent threat and is facing a rising tide of Chinese military capability, as Gavin Phipps reports -
Technological revolutions threaten nuclear security
Emerging technologies are amplifying threats to nuclear security and challenging old protocols. Tate Nurkin analyses how this dynamic affects defence capabilities, as state and non-state actors acquire new technologies illicitly or otherwise. -
Challenges remain to Islamic State RDD usage
With the Islamic State intent on conducting attacks abroad, Western intelligence circles are concerned about its capability in the WMD field. Rob Downes and Geoffrey Chapman assess the group's ability to procure the necessary materials to create a 'dirty bomb'.
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Country Risk Country Risk
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B-52Hs arrive in Qatar to bomb Islamic State
United States Air Force (USAF) Boeing B-52H Stratofortress strategic bombers arrived in Qatar on 9 April to join the air campaign against Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq. The US military released photographs and video footage of two B-52Hs arriving at Al-Udeid Airbase after flying
Military Capabilities Military Capabilities
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US Army to recommend force structure changes to Pentagon, Congress
The US Army plans to soon officially weigh in with its own recommendations based on a congressionally mandated report on the service's future structure. The National Commission on the Future of the Army (NCFA) was established by the fiscal year 2015 (FY 2015) National Defense Authorization Act to
Terrorism & Insurgency Terrorism & Insurgency
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Singapore Armed Forces set to boost counter-terrorism capabilities
The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will improve its ability to respond to terrorism-related incidents and deter potential attacks with new equipment and training resources, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen revealed during the country's latest parliamentary budget debate on 7 April. In an official
