DefenceTalkNorth Korea fired at least one “unidentified projectile” on Saturday, South Korea’s military said, the nuclear-armed country’s ninth suspected weapons test this year. “North Korea fired an unidentified projectile eastward,” Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement, without giving further details. Pyongyang carried out an unprecedented seven weapons tests in January, including of […]https://www.defencetalk.com/north-korea-fires-unidentified-projectile-souths-military-2-78301/

DefenceTalkThe UN human rights chief on Thursday slammed Russia’s attack on Ukraine, warning of a “massive impact” on the rights of millions and cautioning that heightened nuclear threat levels showed all of humanity was at risk. Speaking before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Michelle Bachelet warned that Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, launched […]https://www.defencetalk.com/all-of-humanity-at-risk-from-nuclear-threat-over-ukraine-un-78251/

DefenceTalkRussia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday accused Western politicians of fixating on nuclear war, one week after Moscow launched the invasion of Ukraine. “It’s clear that World War Three can only be a nuclear war,” Lavrov said in an online interview with Russian and foreign media. “I would like to point out that it’s […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russias-lavrov-accuses-west-of-fixating-on-nuclear-war-78244/

DefenceTalkSecretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III exemplified how a responsible nuclear nation should behave and postponed a long-planned test launch of an American Minuteman III rocket, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said today during a news conference.   Austin’s order is in direct contrast to the irresponsible actions of Russian President Vladimir Putin […]https://www.defencetalk.com/austin-postpones-test-of-minuteman-iii-missile-78240/

DefenceTalkGermany’s Olaf Scholz said Wednesday that a new Iran nuclear agreement “cannot be postponed any longer”, during his first visit as chancellor to Israel, which staunchly opposes efforts to forge a deal with Tehran. Scholz’s visit, which included a ceremony at Jerusalem’s Holocaust memorial Yad Vashem accompanied by Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, comes amid […]https://www.defencetalk.com/in-israel-germanys-scholz-says-iran-deal-cannot-be-postponed-78221/

DefenceTalkUS officials on Monday called Russian President Vladimir Putin’s order to mobilize his nuclear forces “dangerous” but said they had not seen any indication of any change in the country’s strategic threat. Officials also said that Russian troops in Ukraine continue to move ahead slowly, hampered by fuel supply issues, and downplayed reports that the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/pentagon-studying-putin-nuclear-order-78179/

DefenceTalkThe EU warned Monday that Belarus could start hosting Russian nuclear weapons after a “very dangerous” decision at a referendum to drop the country’s non-nuclear status. “We know what does it mean for Belarus to be nuclear. It means that Russia will put nuclear weapons in Belarus and this is a very dangerous path,” EU […]https://www.defencetalk.com/eu-warns-belarus-opening-door-to-russian-nukes-after-vote-78169/

DefenceTalkRussian President Vladimir Putin ordered his defence chiefs to put the country’s nuclear “deterrence forces” on high alert Sunday and accused the West of taking “unfriendly” steps against his country. International tensions are already soaring over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and Putin’s order will cause further alarm. Moscow has the world’s second-largest arsenal of nuclear […]https://www.defencetalk.com/putin-orders-nuclear-forces-on-high-alert-78132/

DefenceTalkNegotiations to revive the Iran nuclear deal have entered a “critical” stage during which some key issues still need to be resolved, Tehran’s top diplomat said on Wednesday. The 2015 accord had offered Iran sanctions relief in return for curbs on its nuclear programme, but the US unilaterally withdrew in 2018 under then-president Donald Trump. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/iran-says-nuclear-talks-at-critical-stage-78047/

DefenceTalkBelarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said Thursday his country could host nuclear weapons if it faces any external threats, as tensions soar between his ally Russia and the West over Ukraine. Lukashenko is due to hold talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Friday. “If necessary, if such stupid and mindless steps are […]https://www.defencetalk.com/belarus-says-could-host-nuclear-weapons-if-faces-western-threat-77970/