Free Republic

This article addresses three major analytical questions: first, what are four alternative force structures for China’s nuclear ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) fleet in 2020? Second, what are the costs and benefits for each alternative future? Third, which force structure is Beijing mostly likely to adopt and why? This article hypothesizes that the future of China’s sea-based nuclear deterrent lies not with the much-heralded Type 094 Jin-class boats but with its follow-on, the nascent Type 096 SSBN. Once fully operational, China’s SSBN fleet will enhance China’s strategic strike portfolio and strengthen Beijing’s overall deterrence posture by providing enhanced range, mobility, stealth,...

For nearly 50 years, Strategic Air Command maintained an unsparing, no-nonsense operational culture. After the Air Force disestablished the legendary SAC at the end of the Cold War, however, USAF’s nuclear element slowly drifted away from that exacting standard. It was a mistake, as everyone now will readily, almost compulsively, concede. That certainly goes for Lt. Gen. Frank G. Klotz, the officer chosen to head USAF’s new Global Strike Command. “If there is one unchanging, immutable truth” about the nuclear arsenal, said Klotz, “it is that it demands constant and undivided attention.” That didn’t carry on in the post-SAC years,...

Israel will keep up its longstanding policy of deliberate ambiguity over its nuclear programme, Defence Minister Ehud Barak said on Tuesday, adding that US support for the position remains unchanged. "This is a good policy and there is no reason to change it. There is complete agreement with the United States on this question," Barak told army radio. He also said "there is no risk" that inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) would get authorisation to inspect Israel's Dimona nuclear reactor. "There is no threat over the traditional agreements between Israel and the United States on this issue,"...

/begin my excerpts If U.S. Accepts N. Korean Nuke, Calls for Nuclear Sovereignty Could Spread (message to US) Ju Yong-joong 2009.06.13 02:51 Presidential Office: "Won't discuss it at the upcoming summit. Could cause misunderstanding if we link it to N. Korean nuclear test." On June 12, ruling party's policy committee publicly called for both S. Korean and U.S. governments to allow the 'Restoration of Peaceful Nuclear Sovereignty,' on the eve of S. Korea-U.S. summit, which is viewed as a prelude to things to come. Instead of pushing S. Korean government to 'raise this issue right now at the upcoming summit,...

Back when nuclear weaponry and deterrence strategy still received serious national deliberation, most sensible people recognized a basic reality: Once the technology to build nuclear weapons became widely available, there was no way to stuff "the nuclear genie back in the bottle." In those days, only the most pollyannish and irresponsible -- typically, arms-control enthusiasts, Soviet dupes and one-worlders -- nurtured illusions that nuclear proliferation could be wholly prevented. Toward that end, such "genie-stuffers" generally promoted the negotiation of unverifiable treaties and unilateral U.S. restraint, if not actual disarmament. Unfortunately, a domestic political squeeze-play (involving funding for the long-since-terminated Super...

Starting on the Fourth of July, North Korea launched a salvo of seven short-, medium- and long-range missiles. Despite the failure of the single long-range missile, the Taepo Dong-2, the launches confirmed that North Korea is seeking to advance its missile arsenal in order to threaten both the United States and its allies in Asia. The short- and medium-range missiles, the Scud and No Dong respectively, all flew in the direction of Japan, so it seems that North Korea is focused on achieving a military capability to threaten Japan in particular. It remains unclear at this point whether North Korea...

/begin my translation<N. Korea: S. Korea is under N. Korean Nuclear Umbrella>Yonhap News 05/06/05Choi Sun-yong(Seoul: Yonhap News)  The National Peace and Unification Committee(Jo-pyong-tong) of N. Korea, while assailing remarks of Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon regarding N. Korean nuclear problem during his press conference today, drew attention by proclaiming that S. Korea is now benefiting from 'N. Korean nuclear umbrella.'Jo-pyong-tong claimed that it is true that S. Korea is benefiting from N. Korean nuclear deterrence, adding, "With S. Korea benefiting from our Military First Policy and nuclear umbrella, it should be condemning U.S. for blaming  Korean people for the horrors of war." Their claim of benefiting from their...