News + Media

	In the News August 20, 2019 Japanese report to say North Korea has miniaturized nuclear warheads Reporting by Chris Gallagher and Linda Sieg in Tokyo, and Josh Smith in Seoul. Writing by Malcolm Foster; Editing by Simon Cameron-MooreReuters Vipin Narang quoted: North Korea’s ability to build nuclear warheads small enough to fit on its ballistic missiles has been widely accepted for several years, but the Japanese report highlights the lack of progress on denuclearisation talks aimed at curtailing the program. “It is Japan that is most threatened, and probably the primary target of such a capability,” he said. “So openly acknowledging it underscores Tokyo’s acute fears that North Korea’s nuclear program continues to grow unabated with no foreseeable plan to slow its growth, let alone eliminate them.”
	Analysis + Opinion August 18, 2019 ‘No first use’ nuke policy isn’t dead, but losing sanctity Christopher Clary and Vipin NarangHindustan Times A policy of no first use is, in fact, a promise not to do something in the future: not to use nuclear weapons first in a conflict.
	In the News August 16, 2019 India says committed to 'no first use' of nuclear weapons for now Sanjeev MiglaniReuters Vipin Narang quoted: Vipin Narang, a nuclear affairs expert at MIT in the United States, said that Singh’s comments were a sign the policy on ‘no first use’ could change in the future. “Make no mistake: this is by far the highest official statement—from the Raksha Mantri’s (Defence Minister) mouth directly—that India may not be forever bound by No First Use.”
	In the News August 15, 2019 Fast, low and hard to stop: North Korea’s missile tests crank up the threat level Simon Denyer The Washington Post Vipin Narang quoted: “The three missiles have several things in common: They are solid fuel, they are mobile, they are fast, they fly low, and at least the KN-23 can maneuver in-flight, which is very impressive. Any one of the missiles would pose a challenge to regional and [South Korean] missile defenses given these characteristics. Together, they pose a nightmare.”
	In the News August 14, 2019 Russian scientist in city near nuclear explosion warns locals not to fish, says agency 'committed a crime' Brendan ColeNewsweek Vipin Narang quoted: "It's an air-breathing cruise missile and they put an unshielded mini nuclear reactor on it...We [the US] tried this in the 1960s and gave up for a reason, and this is why. It's very risky."
	Analysis + Opinion August 14, 2019 Saudi Arabia must dismantle the male guardianship system Hala Al-DosariThe Washington Post In a vague statement published recently by a national newspaper in Saudi Arabia, the government announced that it will consider altering its restrictive male guardianship laws for women.
	In the News August 13, 2019 The intersection of technology and war Michelle EnglishMIT News Fiona Cunningham completed her PhD at the Department of Political Science, where she was also a member of the Security Studies Program. Her work explores how technology affects warfare in the post-Cold War era. She studies how nations—China specifically—plan to use technology in conflict to achieve their aims.
	In the News August 13, 2019 Failed Russian nuclear test hints at Putin's dangerous plans to beat US defenses Alexander SmithNBC News Vipin Narang quoted: "There's really no other possible scenario for this. All the pieces fit together."
	In the News August 13, 2019 Missile test site explosion raises questions about US-Russia nuclear competition Jeremy HobsonWBUR Here & Now Five Russian nuclear engineers were killed in an explosion at a test site last week, testing a new missile, which raises important questions about the future of nuclear competition between the US and Russia. Host Jeremy Hobson speaks with with Here & Now security analyst Jim Walsh.
	In the News August 12, 2019 North Korea’s new weapons, and how they affect Trump’s nuclear deal hopes, explained Alex WardVox Quoted: “This is a nightmare for regional missile defenses,” Vipin Narang, a nuclear expert at MIT, told me. What makes the missile even deadlier is that it can be shot from a mobile launcher, which makes predicting when and where it might come from nearly impossible.