Los Angeles Times: Senior U.S. intelligence officials are increasingly concerned that President-elect Donald Trump’s threats to dismantle the Iran nuclear deal would bolster hard-liners in Tehran and spark a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. Over the last month, U.S. intelligence analysts have written secret reports on the possible effects if the next administration… read more
Reuters: Ukraine’s military said its two-day missile drill starting on Thursday would avoid the airspace over Crimea, sidestepping a possible confrontation with Russia which annexed the peninsula in 2014. News of the tests had angered the Kremlin, prompting it to put its air defense forces on high alert and maneuver warships in the Black Sea.… read more
The Washington Post: Weapon shipments intercepted in the Arabian sea by Australian, French and U.S. warships this year contained large quantities of Russian and Iranian weapons, some of which had markings similar to munitions recovered from Houthi fighters in Yemen, according to a new report released by an independent research group Wednesday. In October, U.S. officials claimed… read more
The New York Times: In an effort to tighten sanctions that largely failed to throttle North Korea’s nuclear program, the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday imposed a cap on coal exports, the country’s chief source of hard currency. The new penalties, adopted unanimously by the council, came as North Korea advances toward its goal… read more
Reuters: China’s Defence Ministry on Wednesday expressed serious concern about South Korea and Japan signing a military intelligence pact to share sensitive information on the threat posed by North Korea’s missile and nuclear activities. The signing of the General Security of Military Information Agreement had originally been expected in 2012, but South Korea postponed it… read more
Voice of America: In less than two months, Donald Trump will be sworn in as president of the United States, and yet he remains tight-lipped about his plans for nuclear-armed North Korea, which many believe is one of the most important security threats currently facing the United States. While his murky North Korean policy… read more
TASS: Russia’s air defense systems manufacturer Almaz-Antey has handed over to the Defense Ministry five regiments of the missile system S-400 Triumf, the company’s press-service has said. “Five S-400 Triumf regiments have been handed over to the Defense Ministry. Also, the concern delivered to the customer medium-range air defense systems Buk-M2, short-range air defense systems Tor-M2, the newest air… read more
Reuters: China said on Tuesday it hoped for a “clear” message to be sent with new UN sanctions on North Korea over its nuclear program, but would not comment on the draft, saying there had been too much speculation about the details. The Security Council is set to vote on Wednesday to impose new sanctions… read more
Japan Times: The Japanese government is considering holding an evacuation drill to prepare for a possible North Korean ballistic missile launch, government sources said Tuesday. The plan is for the general population to be involved in the exercise, which would be the first of its kind. In the drill, which will be held by March… read more
Al Arabiya: Coalition forces say they have destroyed a ballistic missile launched by Yemeni militias targeting the city of Khamis Mushait. The attack comes a day after at least 11 missiles were launched into the southern border village of al-Tuwal in Saudi Arabia, Al Arabiya News Channel’s correspondent reported. Coalition forces were still pounding Yemeni… read more