Kerry’s “Gut-wrenching” Hiroshima Visit

Kerry visits Hiroshima memorial - “U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday called his visit to a memorial to victims of the 1945 U.S. nuclear attack on Hiroshima ‘gut-wrenching’ and said it was a reminder of the need to pursue a world free of nuclear weapons. The first U.S. secretary of state to visit Hiroshima, Kerry said President Barack Obama also wanted to travel to the city in southern Japan but he did not know whether the leader's complex schedule would allow him to do so when he visits the country for a Group of Seven (G7) summit in May,” write Arshad Mohammed and Kiyoshi Takenaka for Reuters.

--“‘It is a stunning display. It is a gut-wrenching display,’ he said. ‘It is a reminder of the depth of the obligation everyone of us in public life carries... to create and pursue a world free from nuclear weapons,’ he told a news conference... ‎‎’Everyone in the world should see and feel the power of this memorial. It is a stark, harsh, compelling reminder not only of our obligation to end the threat of nuclear weapons, but to rededicate all our effort to avoid war itself,’ the chief U.S. diplomat wrote in a guest book.” Full article here. http://reut.rs/1qCBerx

See Also - Secretary Kerry’s full remarks to the press, published by the State Department. http://1.usa.gov/20xYKSH

G7 reaffirms goal of non-proliferation - “Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven industrialized countries, meeting Monday in the atomic-bombed Japanese city of Hiroshima, called for a renewed push for flagging nuclear disarmament efforts as they wrestled with some of the intractable global problems facing their nations,” reports Mari Yamaguchi for The Associated Press.

--“Kerry — the highest-ranking American official to visit Hiroshima since World War II — and the foreign ministers jointly laid flowers for the victims of the U.S. atomic bombing in 1945. They issued two statements on nonproliferation, including a ‘Hiroshima Declaration’ that calls on other political leaders to visit Hiroshima. ‘In this historic meeting, we reaffirm our commitment to… creating the conditions for a world without nuclear weapons’, the declaration said.” Full piece here. http://wapo.st/1S7ebOB

See Also - “We can still achieve a world without nuclear weapons,” by Fumio Kishida for CNN. http://cnn.it/1qBKagx

Obama should visit - “Secretary Kerry is right to visit the cenotaph [in Hiroshima]. No sitting President has done this. President Barack Obama can be the first next month. I’m betting that he will. There, as a witness to history, he can recommit his administration to important unfinished business… There is still time before leaving office to reaffirm the [Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty] and provide some momentum for his successor to advance the Treaty’s prospects,” writes Michael Krepon for Arms Control Wonk. http://bit.ly/1SJdpEY

See Also - “An illustrated history of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear bombings,” by Richard Johnson and Bonnie Berkowitz for The Washington Post. http://wapo.st/1VlBBnq

Addressing nuclear terrorism - “The uncomfortable truth is that the threat of terrorists getting nuclear weapons continues to grow along with the stocks of nuclear materials and weapons around the globe. The limited progress we are making is not keeping pace with the threat… As President Obama put it on April 1, ‘our work is by no means finished… Global stocks of plutonium are growing, nuclear arsenals are expanding in some countries, with more tactical nuclear weapons which could be at greater risk of theft,’” writes Ploughshares Fund Director of Policy Tom Collina.

--“The Nuclear Security Summit process is vitally important, and the next U.S. president must continue it. But to be truly effective it must be accelerated, broadened and strengthened. The United States, in particular, must stop prioritizing new nuclear weapons to fight yesterday’s war over new measures to win the next one. We must stop fighting the Cold War if we want to win the race against nuclear terror.” Full article here. http://bit.ly/1Viseon

See also - “What does ‘nuclear terrorism’ really mean?” by Elisabeth Eaves for the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. http://bit.ly/1N6efz2

Video - “The Metal from Hell.” Technology for Global Security presents the Nuclear Security Grand Challenge. http://bit.ly/1SDksyY

Tweet - @FMWG: The threat of #nuclear terror is still real. Demand that your leaders keep their promises! #5Priorities #NSS2016 [Video]

North Korea’s new missile - “U.S. intelligence satellites have spotted signs that North Korea may be preparing for an unprecedented launch of a mobile ballistic missile which could potentially hit portions of the U.S., CNN has learned. Two U.S. officials told CNN that if the regime proceeds with a launch, the latest assessments are the most likely scenario is the launch of the so-called Musudan missile, which the U.S. believes could potentially hit Guam and perhaps Shemya Island in the outer reaches of Alaska's Aleutian chain,” writes Barbara Starr for CNN.

--“However, officials are strongly saying there are two other scenarios that are possible: North Korea could launch either its Kn-08 or Kn-14 mobile ballistic missiles which would have a longer range and could potentially hit the Pacific Northwest of the United States. The Kn-14 is thought to be a more precise version of the Kn-08, and it is believed the regime showed it for the first time at a military parade in 2015, officials say.” Full article here. http://cnn.it/1N62MiK

North Korea tests missile engine - “North Korea’s April 9 test of a large liquid-fuel engine is a disturbing development that not only highlights the growing threat posed by Pyongyang but should also put to rest, once and for all, all claims that the North’s WMD programs are a hoax. In fact, the test demonstrated that North Korea has an even greater capability at a more advanced state of development than previously anticipated,” writes John Schilling for 38 North.

--“Pyongyang has pulled back the veil normally surrounding research and development activities to give the international community a glimpse of its efforts. That should put to rest the reoccurring argument by some experts that the North’s nuclear and missile programs are a hoax or are fake, as Pyongyang clearly intended these actions to add credibility to their threats. This behavior may continue, may be a reaction to the current joint US-ROK military exercises or could be part of the run-up to the coming Party Congress. Whatever the reason, North Korea is clearly moving full-steam ahead with its threatening programs.” Full piece here. http://bit.ly/20vViYW

Iran Deal must stand - “Despite global optimism and a palpable sense of worldwide relief, the Iran deal is being challenged relentlessly in an American presidential election where diplomatic pragmatism is not known to be a vote getter… Despite Republican bluster about a dramatic withdrawal from the deal, however, the more likely strategy for a future antideal White House would be to use nonnuclear disagreements to trigger U.S. action, designed to compel Iran not to live up to its nuclear commitments,” writes Saam Borhani in The National Interest.

--“An antideal White House’s attempts to bait Iran into noncompliance may backfire dramatically on the United States.” If the U.S. backed out of the deal, Europe would continue following the agreement, China and Russia would help Iran avoid new U.S. unilateral actions. The P5+1 would stick to the terms of the deal, and “Iran would largely continue to enjoy the fruits of the agreement, all while destroying an international consensus that was once able to sanction Iran.” Full article here. http://bit.ly/1oTUhvH

Video - Watch Secretary of State John Kerry address the concerns of Iran’s neighbors about the Iran Deal. From The New York Times. http://nyti.ms/1Q4CxDZ

Rouhani calls for global integration - “President Hassan Rouhani said on Thursday Iran posed no threat to any other nation and that it wanted interaction with the rest of the world — remarks contrasting with the view of the country's hardline supreme leader… ‘We are in favour of a policy of moderation... Iran is not a threat to any country,’ Rouhani, a relative moderate, said. ‘With moderation we can reach our goals faster... To progress, we need to have interaction with the world,’” writes Parisa Hafezi for Reuters. http://reut.rs/1WpGs5T

Pentagon passes the buck - “With a $1 trillion plan to modernize and maintain the US nuclear weapons arsenal, the defense establishment has used creative tactics to market the campaign… The question is whether the Pentagon should take an ‘all of the above’ approach to modernize all legs of the U.S nuclear triad  —  land, sea and air  —  and associated nuclear warheads. Finding increasing resistance to its plan, mainly due to excessive costs, Pentagon officials are expanding their justifications,” writes John Isaacs.

--“When the United States deployed over 31,000 nuclear weapons at the height of the Cold War, ‘the Russians are coming’ served as the ubiquitous excuse. For Pentagon purposes, that era has returned… Others have pointed to a growing Chinese military force… And then there are the North Koreans… If Congress joins with the Pentagon to stick their collective heads in the sand, there will be severe penalties: taxpayers will pay the price and conventional weapons, as well as readiness, will suffer.” Full article here. http://bit.ly/1WpIHGw

Tweet - @globalzero: Watch and take the Global Zero pledge: http://bit.ly/1VjTeDB

Nuclear issues demands increased debate - “Americans deserve assurance that our best and brightest minds are fervently engaged in their defense. They should be able to trust that policymakers on both sides of the aisle are working together for innovative and sustainable solutions to nuclear security concerns… Despite these challenges, of all the important issues that come before Congress, nuclear security seldom surfaces in our national conversation outside highly specialized forums,” writes Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) for Huffington Post. http://huff.to/1MYTKUH

Video - Eric Schlosser discusses America’s history of nuclear mishaps for Vox. http://bit.ly/1YrDeNH

New nuclear warhead is a mistake - “For the first time since the United States stopped explosive testing of nuclear weapons in 1992, the NNSA is proposing to deploy new warhead designs that would incorporate fundamental changes to the nuclear explosive package. They plan to take the primary from one warhead (the W87), and the secondary from another weapon (as yet unidentified publicly) and combine them in a new nuclear explosive package,” writes Stephen Young for the Union of Concerned Scientists.

--“The first problem with the interoperable warhead proposal is the ‘mix-and-match’ approach, marrying two major nuclear components that have never been tested together. This… approach could lead some to insist that the United States must ‘proof test’ the new designs with underground nuclear explosive testing, breaking a decades-long moratorium. This would encourage other countries to resume testing, setting off a dangerous new arms race.” Full article here. http://bit.ly/1VjQW7l

Tweet - @nukes_of_hazard: #Nuke modernization requires conventional trade-offs. Case in point: new #nuke weapon subs means fewer attack subs. http://bit.ly/1Sc4rWt

Quick Hits:

--“Wanted: Enduring US Leadership on Nuclear Security,” by Lori Esposito Murray for the Atlantic Council. http://bit.ly/1W

--“Key Nuclear Security Agreement to Enter Into Force on 8 May,” by Anthony Wetherall and Vincent Fournier for the IAEA. http://bit.ly/1Vd6SbA

--“The Nuclear Security Summit: Wins, losses, and draws,” by Matthew Bunn for the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. http://bit.ly/25X6S3g

--“After NSS glamour, sustainability questions linger,” by Miles Pomper for the European Leadership Network. http://bit.ly/1WpYyoo

--“If Japan Had Gone Nuclear,” by Robert Farley for The National Interest. http://bit.ly/22roj7o

--“Another kind of Nuclear Security Summit: The Marshall Islands vs. the Nuclear-Armed States,” by Jacqueline Cabasso for Pressenza. http://bit.ly/1S7w67M

--“US Should Facilitate Dialogue between Iran and Financial Action Task Force,” by Tyler Cullis for The Atlantic Council. http://bit.ly/1S3nAV6

--“Time for a Bolder U.S.-Japan-South Korea Trilateral?” by Sheila Smith for The National Interest. http://bit.ly/1Swk8kZ

--“Navy Seeks To Boost Shipbuilding: Amphibs, Subs, Destroyers” by Sydney Freedberg for Breaking Defense. http://bit.ly/1Sc4rWt

--“Abandoned Nuclear Testing Sites Reveal the ‘Palm Print of Man’,” by Sarah Stacke for National Geographic. http://bit.ly/1NlfSDP

--“Treasury secretary says US financial system will stay closed to Iran,” by Barbara Slavin in Al-Monitor. http://bit.ly/1Sw8dnj

Events:

--“Is the U.S. Nuclear Arsenal Worth a Trillion Dollars?” with Tom Collina, Ploughshares Fund. April 13 from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. at Princeton University, 221 Nassau St., Second Floor Conference Room, Princeton, NJ. http://bit.ly/1mpMvbO

--Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, hearing on Ballistic Missile Defense Policies and Programs, with Robert Scher, Assistant Secretary of Defense; Adm. William Gortney, Commander, U.S. Northern Command; Vice Adm. James Syring, Missile Defense Agency; and Lt. Gen. David Mann, Commander, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command. April 13 at 2:30 p.m. at 222 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington. Webcast on the committee website. http://1.usa.gov/22VTLAb

--“Defending Europe's Eastern Flank,” with Jeanne Shaheen, Senator; H.E. Juozas Olekas, Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Lithuania​; James J. Townsend, Jr., Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense; and Ellen Tauscher, The Atlantic Council. April 14 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Hart Senate Office Building, Room 216, Washington. Register here. http://bit.ly/1qDUrJ8

--“Underestimated: Our Not So Peaceful Nuclear Future,” featuring Henry Sokolski, Nonproliferation Policy Education Center. April 14 at 12:00 p.m. at George Mason University, 118 Founders Hall, 3351 Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA. RSVP here. http://bit.ly/1q5ue6j

--World premiere of the bomb at the Tribeca Film Festival. April 23 and 24 at 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., Gotham Hall, 1356 Broadway, New York. Tickets available online. http://bit.ly/1RsGbK1

Edited by