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Newsweek
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
North Korea Warns US Over Strategic Bombers Near Airspace
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. North Korea has accused the United States of threatening regional peace by deploying strategic bombers for a trilateral exercise over the Korean Peninsula last week. The drill—which involved aircraft from the U.S., Japan and South Korea—showed collective ability to respond immediately to regional security challenges, according to the U.S. military. Why It Matters North Korea is one of nine nuclear-armed nations, with an estimated 50 warheads and long-range missiles capable of delivering nuclear strikes against the U.S. mainland. Kim Jong Un, the country's leader, has vowed to pursue the "unlimited expansion" of his nuclear arsenal. Facing North Korea's growing threats, Japan and South Korea are under the protection of U.S. extended deterrence—also known as the nuclear umbrella—which refers to the pledge to deter and respond to nuclear threats, including through the use of U.S. nuclear weapons. What To Know A pair of American B-52H bombers was escorted by two Japanese F-2 fighter aircraft and two South Korean KF-16 fighter jets during a trilateral flight on Friday, according to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. It was the third such flight between the allies this year. Fighter aircraft from Japan and South Korea escort two U.S. B-52H bombers over the East China Sea on July 11, 2025. Fighter aircraft from Japan and South Korea escort two U.S. B-52H bombers over the East China Sea on July 11, 2025. South Korean Air Force The B-52H bomber is capable of carrying up to 70,000 pounds of ordnance, such as bombs and missiles, the U.S. Air Force says. According to the Federation of American Scientists, 46 of the 76 B-52H bombers are nuclear-capable, while the rest are conventionally armed only. It was not immediately clear whether the U.S. bombers that participated in the allied drill were nuclear-capable. Each nuclear-armed B-52H aircraft can carry up to 20 AGM-86B air-launched cruise missiles for nuclear strikes, the Federation of American Scientists added. According to the Japanese and South Korean defense ministries, the flight was conducted over the East China Sea, west of Japan's Kyushu Island and off the coast of South Korea's Jeju Island. Officially released photos show six allied military aircraft flying in formation. In a statement released on Sunday, the chief of the Policy Office of North Korea's Defense Ministry claimed that joint military activities between the U.S. and its two allies are the "main danger factors" heightening the level of military tension on the Korean Peninsula. "It is our just sovereign right to take countermeasures against provocative military actions such as the moves to strengthen the multilateral military alliance threatening the security of the region and the joint military drills with clear aggressive character," the statement warned. North Korea's Defense Ministry also said that the country's armed forces remain in "constant military preparedness" to counter what it called "collective provocations" by the U.S. and its allies, deter their aggression, and respond to "acts of war." Japanese and South Korean fighters are seen with American B-52H bombers over the East China Sea on July 11, 2025. Japanese and South Korean fighters are seen with American B-52H bombers over the East China Sea on July 11, 2025. South Korean Air Force What People Are Saying The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said in a press release on Friday: "Our steadfast commitment fosters trust, strengthens cooperation, and reinforces the collective will and ability to maintain security and stability in the Indo-Pacific." Japan's Joint Staff Office said in a press release on Saturday: "This exercise strongly promotes trilateral cooperation to respond to regional security challenges amid an increasingly severe security environment surrounding Japan, and demonstrates the strong commitment of the three countries to secure a free and open international order based on the rule of law." South Korea's Defense Ministry said in a press release on Friday: "Based on close coordination, the three countries will cooperate to jointly deter and respond to North Korea's threats while continuing with three-way training." The chief of the Policy Office of North Korea's Defense Ministry said in a statement in English on Sunday: "We express serious concern over [U.S., Japanese and South Korean] hostile acts of persistently conducting provocative and threatening military actions while deliberately ignoring the security concern of [North Korea] and strongly warn of the grave consequences to be entailed by them on the regional situation." What Happens Next It remains to be seen whether North Korea will take further action, such as firing ballistic missiles toward waters near Japan and South Korea, thereby showcasing its military capabilities.
India.com
08-07-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Why is Pakistan stockpiling nuclear fuel on a large scale in Kahuta? Retired Indian Army Colonel makes massive claim, says...
Islamabad: In a concerning development, bankrupt Pakistan is reportedly stockpiling more nuclear fuel than necessary for its minimum nuclear deterrence. Retired Indian Army Colonel Vinayak Bhat has made this revelation. Based on satellite imagery, he has indicated that Pakistan is working on uranium enrichment at Kahuta. It is important to note that Pakistan currently possesses around 170 nuclear warheads, according to a report by the Federation of American Scientists. In this context, concerns are being raised that amid tensions with India, Pakistan may be preparing to expand its nuclear arsenal. What did Colonel Vinayak Bhatt write? Colonel Vinayak Bhat wrote on social media platform X, posting a satellite image: 'Pakistan, a terrorist nation, is accumulating more nuclear fuel than required for its minimum nuclear deterrence. The signatures at KRL Kahuta strongly indicate that Pakistan has upgraded all equipment and buildings to enhance enrichment and production of fuel for additional nuclear weapons.' All you need to know about Colonel Vinayak Bhatt: Colonel (Retired) Vinayak Bhat served in the Indian Army for 33 years. During his service, he was deployed in the high-altitude regions of Jammu & Kashmir and the Northeast. He has also been analyzing satellite imagery for over two decades. Colonel Vinayak Bhat is an expert on Pakistan's covert nuclear program. He had publicly revealed detailed information about Pakistan's secret nuclear facility in Khairana Hills Khairana Hills is the same location where India carried out precise missile strikes during Operation Sindoor. Pakistan's Nuclear Arsenal: Pakistan possesses the world's seventh-largest nuclear arsenal. According to the Arms Control Association, Pakistan is estimated to have around 170 nuclear weapons. The Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation states that Pakistan continues to modernize and expand its nuclear arsenal, it is expected to grow further. Some estimates suggest that by 2025, Pakistan's arsenal could reach between 220 to 250 weapons. For nuclear attacks, Pakistan can use a variety of delivery systems, including aircraft, land-based missiles, and potentially submarine-launched cruise missiles.
India.com
28-06-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Ongoing nuclear weapons race causing anxiety across the globe, not many experts know where they are hidden, scientists warn...
(Representational image: New Delhi: At present, the world is witnessing a lot of violence and bloodshed. The Ukraine war is not ending and the growing tension between Iran and Israel has created instability in the Middle East. Then another dangerous and invisible storm is slowly gaining momentum. This is the return of the nuclear arms race. But this time the matter is not limited to just making bombs. Now these dangerous weapons are being hidden. Let us know about it in detail. How many nuclear bombs in the world? According to a new report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), by the beginning of the year 2025, there are a total of 12,241 nuclear weapons in the world. Out of these, about 9,600 weapons are kept in ready condition for military use, that is, they can be used anytime. However, the most shocking thing here is that about 87 percent of these weapons are with only two countries, America and Russia while the rest of the countries have only 13 percent of the weapons. Where are nuclear bombs hidden? But even more worrying than these numbers is the secrecy surrounding them. While nations continue to talk about peace and stability, behind the scenes, nuclear stockpiles are being modernized and expanded. Not only this, in many cases they are being hidden in places that avoid public scrutiny. From fortified airbase bunkers to roaming submarines, weapons are quietly waiting to be activated. In Europe, US warheads are stored in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and Turkey under NATO's nuclear-sharing arrangement. These sites are not publicly acknowledged, but security analysts know them well. Control remains with the USA, but their presence signals unwavering support for American allies at a time of global uncertainty. No transparency about stockpiles While Russia recently announced it had begun deploying tactical nuclear weapons in neighbouring Belarus, international observers suggest this may already be a reality. China and North Korea remain far vaguer, having not disclosed the status or location of their nuclear assets. Suspense over Israel's nuclear arsenal Israel, on the other hand, remains the most mysterious nuclear power. Unlike other countries, Israel has never officially confirmed or denied the existence of its nuclear arsenal, instead maintaining a doctrine of 'strategic obscurity'. Yet experts estimate the country has about 90 nuclear weapons, perhaps stored in hidden facilities beneath the Negev desert or at the heavily guarded Dimona reactor complex. Experts say the aim of this ambiguity is to create doubt in the minds of enemies like Iran or Hezbollah, so that they avoid attacking without being directly threatened. SIPRI's latest report is worrying SIPRI's latest report warns that the world is rapidly entering a new, more dangerous and technologically advanced nuclear age. They say that the current trend is similar to the uncontrolled proliferation of the 1960s and 70s, only this time the weapons are much better. They are smaller and harder to detect.
Newsweek
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Trump Just Undid Decades of Nuclear Diplomacy
The first nuclear weapon was tested just under 80 years ago, and the fact that the size of the nuclear club remains in the single digits is a testament to decades of careful diplomacy through the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). President Donald Trump's reckless and illegal strikes on Iranian nuclear sites now threaten to blow up the results of that painstaking work. Trump's aggression is more likely to lead to what scholars call a "proliferation cascade" than it is to stop Tehran's nuclear program. The NPT has two main components. First, it requires signatories without nuclear weapons to promise not to build them, and to allow inspections and monitoring of peaceful civilian nuclear activities. Compliance can unlock technical assistance, financial backing, and information sharing to help countries harness the power of nuclear energy and other applications for the benefit of their citizens. The second, much less discussed, component required the five signatories already in possession of nuclear weapons at the time the treaty was signed (the U.S., USSR, U.K., France, and China) to work towards abolition of these terrible weapons. They were to "pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race" with the ultimate goal of "general and complete disarmament." Nuclear-armed countries, of which there are now nine, have basically abandoned this central feature of the treaty, much to the consternation of the other signatories. According to Jon Wolfsthal, the director of Global Risk at the Federation of American Scientists and a former staffer on the National Security Council, "perhaps 40 additional states are technically advanced enough to build nuclear weapons if they chose to do so." These include American allies like Japan, Germany, and South Korea. That neither they nor rich autocracies like Saudi Arabia have moved to join the nuclear club is due to the trust built via presidency-spanning U.S. leadership, which created the sense that the NPT's provisions would be applied fairly, and that countries which submit to inspections and negotiations won't be arbitrarily attacked by states with nukes. Because the nuclear-armed countries have now gone decades without serious disarmament efforts, that trust was already wobbly. And Trump has basically just destroyed it. US President Donald Trump leaves at the end of a press conference during the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in The Hague on June 25, 2025. US President Donald Trump leaves at the end of a press conference during the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in The Hague on June 25, 2025. JOHN THYS / AFP/Getty Images You'll find no apologies for the odious Iranian regime here. It has destabilized the Middle East with pointless adventurism and provocation while engaging in some of the worst domestic political repression in the world. But this is now twice that the U.S. has pulled the rug out from under Tehran. First, the U.S. under Trump arbitrarily reneged on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2018, obliterating years of diplomacy and sending us down the path we find ourselves on today. This is to say nothing of the ongoing hypocrisy about Israel's undeclared and growing nuclear arsenal. Perhaps even more egregiously, President Trump hoodwinked Iran into a negotiation process only to bow to Israeli pressure and conduct airstrikes against Iranian nuclear facilities. Even as he was offering Tehran a two-week window to reach an agreement and leaving the door open for fresh talks, the president had already made the decision to launch a surprise attack. Israeli airstrikes even wounded one of Iran's lead nuclear negotiators. Even if you think those talks would have failed due to Iranian intransigence, it is hard to imagine anything more damaging to the future of nuclear diplomacy than a nuclear-armed country using purposeful misdirection to leave an NPT signatory defenseless against a sneak attack and targeting negotiators. Why would any country considering building these weapons ever trust the United States again? Why would they put their faith in the procedures of the NPT if they can simply be discarded by the world's military hegemon whenever it likes? Without the incentives of the NPT, fear and coercion are the only things keeping countries from building nuclear weapons. That simply won't be enough if leaders decide they have more to gain from building nuclear weapons than they have to lose from the political fallout. They will ask whether they want to be North Korea, which is effectively insulated from U.S. attack by its nuclear arsenal, or Iran, which is now virtually defenseless against American coercion. At least a few are likely to conclude that they will be safer and more secure in the long run by joining the nuclear club, which could in turn lead their rivals to make the same calculation. A world with a growing number of nuclear powers is less safe and more prone to almost unimaginable catastrophe. That has been the driving principle of America's successful nuclear policy for decades, and with one capricious order, President Trump has inadvertently made the nightmare of a proliferation cascade much more likely. David Faris is an associate professor of political science at Roosevelt University and the author of It's Time to Fight Dirty: How Democrats Can Build a Lasting Majority in American Politics. His writing has appeared in Slate, The Week, The Washington Post, The New Republic, Washington Monthly and more. You can find him on Twitter @davidmfaris and Bluesky @ The views expressed in this article are the writer's own
Daily Mirror
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
American nuclear weapons to be stored on UK soil for the first time in 17 years
American nuclear weapons are set to be stored on British soil for the first time in nearly 20 years as part of a massive deterrent effort. Under new proposals, the weapons are set to be stored in the UK for the first time since 2008 amid a rise in global tensions. Threats from an expansionist Russia and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East appear to have sparked the recent move. The UK previously hosted American nuclear weapons at RAF Lakenheath, although these were removed from the site in 2008 as part of a wider streamlining of nuclear policy in Europe by the Bush administration. A report shared earlier this year by the Federation of American Scientists indicated the US military wanted to re-establish the nuclear mission at RAF Lakenheath. The report said: "In the case of a nuclear crisis with Russia, a portion of U.S. nuclear weapons could be redistributed from more vulnerable NATO bases to RAF Lakenheath to improve survivability and complicate Russia's targeting strategy." It added: "The change appears to be a direct reaction to the worsening political and military relations with Russia, resulting from its invasions in 2014 and 2022 of Ukraine, frequent nuclear warnings, and Russian deployment of increasingly capable long-range conventional weapons." The move comes as UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer outlined plans to bolster the country's nuclear deterrence by buying at least 12 F-35 stealth bombers that are capable of firing nukes and conventional weapons. The new fighters will be armed with American B61 gravity bombs. Mr Starmer's move will enhance UK nuclear deterrence as the country only has one platform - the Trident submarines - to unleash its arsenal. Other nuclear powers, such as France and the US can launch nuclear weapons from the air, land and sea. The Labour government also warned the British public it needs to "actively prepare" for war on UK soil "for the first time in many years." The long-awaited National Security Strategy said tackling nuclear weapons threats will be "more complex than it was even in the Cold War." The report also warned hostile states may join terror groups to carry out attacks on British soil. It added: ""For the first time in many years, we have to actively prepare for the possibility of the UK homeland coming under direct threat, potentially in a wartime scenario." The document went on to comment that the nation's resolve will be tested with a World War II spirit needed to handle emerging threats. The Prime Minister made the announcement to enhance Britain's nuclear capabilities ahead of a crunch meeting at the NATO summit being held in the Netherlands.
