NPP Weekly FLASH Update, January 14, 2000

	CONTENTS January 14, 2000 UNITED STATES 1. US Nonproliferation Policy 2. US Nuclear Arsenal 3. US Space Policy 4. US Foreign Policy RUSSIA 5. Russian Nuclear Arsenal 6. Russian Nuclear Disarmament DPRK 7. DPRK Missile Launch Site TAIWAN 8. Taiwan Arms Procurement 9. Taiwan Nuclear Program SOUTH ASIA 10. Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty NATO 11. NATO Ministerial Meetings 12. Netherlands Nuclear Position MISSILE DEFENSE 13. Deployment of National Missile Defense 14. Theater Missile Defense NUCLEAR WASTE 15. Plutonium Shipments to Japan 16. Storage of Nuclear Fuel in Russia		About the Nuclear Policy Project: Project Description Events and Publications Browse Past Updates: Preceding Weekly FLASH Weekly FLASH Archive Search Nautilus Site Email Services: Signup for Email Delivery Latest Update Emailed Now *Send Comments*
	UNITED STATES
	1. US Nonproliferation Policy In a talk at the National Press Club on January 6, US National Security Advisor Sandy Berger discussed US nonproliferation goals and foreign policy goals. John Holum, the US under secretary of state for arms control and international security, held a press conference on January 12 to discuss the upcoming review of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. "Samuel R. Berger Outlines US Foreign Policy" "NSC Advisor Berger's Remarks to the National Press Club" "Partial Transcript: Holum January 12 Worldnet on Arms Control"
	2. US Nuclear Arsenal In an article from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Greg Mello from the Los Alamos Study Group in Santa Fe, New Mexico, describes the efforts by US nuclear weapons laboratories and the US Navy to upgrade the nuclear warheads on US strategic nuclear submarines. "That Old Designing Fever." "The Los Alamos Study Group web site:"
	3. US Space Policy On Thursday, January 6, 2000, General Richard Myers, Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Space Command, briefed on US space policy. He said that space is becoming increasingly important to the US military, as evidenced in Kosovo. "Pentagon Briefing on U.S. Space Command"
	4. US Foreign Policy The Center for Defense Information argues that both US allies and enemies tend to exaggerate threats to get the attention of US policymakers. "First You Have to Get Its Attention: Dealing with the U.S. Security Community"
	RUSSIA
	5. Russian Nuclear Arsenal Analysts discuss the importance that Russian leaders place in the country's nuclear arsenal and the future disposition of Russian nuclear weapons. "Russia's Love Affair With Its Nuclear Arsenal" "Russian Nuclear Forces in Ten Years with and without START II"
	6. Russian Nuclear Disarmament The Russian American Nuclear Security Advisory Council (RANSAC) and The Committee on Nuclear Policy on Thursday November 4, 1999 held a briefing on issues related to the downsizing and transformation of Russia's nuclear weapons complex. On December 11-13, 1999, the Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies sponsored a conference to assess US programs to assist the newly independent states in dismantling their nuclear arsenals. "The Russian American Nuclear Security Advisory Council (RANSAC) and The Committee on Nuclear Policy" "Assessing U.S. Dismantlement and Nonproliferation Assistance Programs in the Newly Independent States"
	DPRK
	7. DPRK Missile Launch Site Recently released satellite photographs of the DPRK's missile test site has generated controversy over the robustness of the DPRK's missile program. The Federation of American Scientists' website features reproductions of the photos and analysis by John Pike. "NAPSNet Daily Report for January 12" "DPRK Nodong Facility"
	TAIWAN
	8. Taiwan Arms Procurement Michael Swaine of the RAND Corporation reports on Taiwan's national security decisionmaking structure and process and the primary factors guiding its defense strategy, force structure, and military procurement decisions. He argues that the US should expand its defense-related contacts with Taiwan, including strategic dialogue and advice and assistance designed to improve equipment training, procurement and acquisition processes, and management techniques. "Taiwan's National Security, Defense Policy, and Weapons Procurement Processes"
	9. Taiwan Nuclear Program The National Security Archives has newly declassified documents on the moves by the US and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to prevent Taiwan from acquiring an independent capability to produce nuclear weapons. "New Archival Evidence on Taiwanese Nuclear Intentions, 1966-1976"
	SOUTH ASIA
	10. Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Gaurav Kampani of the Center for Non-Proliferation Studies argues that recent developments suggest that conditions have become favorable for India and Pakistan to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) in the near future, but their willingness to ratify the CTBT will likely be deferred for some time. "CTBT Endgame in South Asia?"
	NATO
	11. NATO Ministerial Meetings In December, 1999, NATO ministers held a series of meetings to discuss the future of the alliance and European Security. "NATO Foreign Ministers Reaffirm Commitment to Arms Control." "NATO Defense Ministers Reaffirm Importance Nuclear Stability." "NATO Nuclear Planning Group Reaffirms Continued Deployment of US Nuclear Bombs in Europe." "US NATO Ambassador Presents US Views On European Security." "Talbott Explains NMD And Arms Control to NATO."
	12. Netherlands Nuclear Position After Canadian and German calls for a review of NATO nuclear policy last year were rejected by the United States, Britain and France, the Netherlands reportedly has been quietly working within NATO for some kind of nuclear review, according to a report by Karel Koster from PENN-N1. Koster also discussed the result of the NATO meetings in December. "Dutch Nuclear Weapons Policy Issues."
	MISSILE DEFENSE
	13. Deployment of National Missile Defense The New York Times reported on January 14 that critics have shed doubt on whether a test of the US missile defense system on October 3 was an unqualified success. The next test is scheduled for next week. "New Data Said to Create Doubt About Missile Defense." "National Missile Defense: Rushing to Failure" "Politics Behind Missile Defense" "The Case For Missile Defense"
	14. Theater Missile Defense Charles D. Ferguson argues that US claims that its plans for national missile defense (NMD) and theater missile defense are aimed at the DPRK cannot dispel the notion that the PRC is the real target. "Bait and Switch: Is Anti-North Korean Missile Defense Designed for China?"
	NUCLEAR WASTE
	15. Plutonium Shipments to Japan Greenpeace reports on the shipment of vitrified high level nuclear waste from France to Japan on the British-flagged ship "Pacific Swan." The article notes, "The high level waste onboard the Pacific Swan will contain the same amount of radioactivity as that released from the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster." "Plutonium Industry's New Millennium Gift To The World: 'Floating Chernobyl' Sets Sail From Europe To Japan"
	16. Storage of Nuclear Fuel in Russia Igor Kudrik of the Bellona Foundation reports that the US Department of Energy (DOE) and the Russian Ministry of Atomic Energy (Minatom) are working on a white paper that would examine a proposal by Minatom to store foreign spent nuclear fuel in Russia. "Spent fuel import project to be put on white paper"
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