arms control

New satellite imagery indicates North Korea is expanding its uranium enrichment facility at Yongbyon, its main nuclear complex north of Pyongyang. Analysts say the construction could increase the country's capacity to produce weapons-grade uranium. The finding adds to concerns over Pyongyang's advancing nuclear program amid stalled diplomatic talks and continued United Nations sanctions.

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called for renewed negotiations among nuclear-armed states as Kazakhstan marks 35 years since the closure of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site. Speaking on the anniversary, he warned that global arms-control safeguards are weakening, urging world powers to return to the negotiating table to prevent a renewed nuclear arms race.

A foreign and security policy analysis argues that living with nuclear weapons is once again a central challenge for international politics. Amid renewed great-power rivalry, eroding arms control treaties and ongoing conflicts involving nuclear-armed states, policymakers and commentators are debating how deterrence, disarmament and civilian protection can coexist in a more dangerous world.

The Pentagon is reportedly weighing a new nuclear strategy aimed at deterring regional conflicts rather than solely major-power war. The reported shift would adjust how US nuclear weapons fit into plans for limited, regional contingencies. The Globe Post reported the story, but no further details on the proposals, their scope, or official confirmation have emerged so far, and reaction from lawmakers, allies, or arms-control groups has not been recorded.

US officials say that if Iran acquired nuclear weapons, no country could prevent it from controlling the Strait of Hormuz, the chokepoint through which a large share of the world's oil passes. The warning underscores Washington's argument for preventing Iran from developing nuclear arms amid ongoing tensions over its nuclear programme.

Reports describe a new nuclear age as more countries weigh acquiring or expanding nuclear options. The discussion points to shifting security concerns and weakening confidence in existing deterrence arrangements, prompting renewed debate about proliferation. Commentators are assessing what this trend could mean for global stability and arms control efforts, warning that growing interest in nuclear capability risks a wider race for such weapons.

Analysts are weighing the implications of Russia's reportedly successful test of the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile, a heavy weapon capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads. The test is being read as a signal of Russian strategic capability, with discussion focused on what it means for arms control, deterrence, and Western responses.

Japan's Foreign Ministry held a missile non-proliferation workshop focused on the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (HCOC), paired with a site visit to the Hokkaido Spaceport. The event brought together participants to discuss norms against ballistic missile proliferation while showcasing Japan's commercial space launch facilities, linking arms-control diplomacy with the country's growing space sector.

Commentary in Internationale Politik Quarterly argues that while deterrence has become the organising principle of Western security policy amid nuclear tensions, arms control diplomacy still matters. The piece warns that abandoning negotiations and treaties with rivals would leave Europe and the United States with fewer tools to manage escalation risks.

The United Nations is hosting live coverage examining nuclear risks as wars and rising geopolitical tensions stoke fears of nuclear use. The discussion focuses on how conflicts are eroding arms control norms and what steps states can take to reduce the threat. Audiences are following the debate closely amid renewed anxiety about nuclear escalation.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on the United States and Russia to negotiate a new nuclear arms treaty, warning that growing risks around nuclear weapons are mounting as existing arms control frameworks erode. The appeal comes amid heightened global tensions and the uncertain future of agreements that have long limited the two largest nuclear arsenals.

The United Nations has extended the mandate of the Gang Suppression Force in Haiti until March 2027, a move that comes as gang violence continues to escalate across the country. The force, which supports Haitian authorities against armed groups controlling much of the capital, will continue operations for an additional period as security conditions deteriorate.

The United Nations has extended the mandate of the international security force supporting Haiti's government by six months, following a new wave of killings attributed to gangs. The decision comes as gang violence continues to overwhelm Haitian police, with armed groups controlling large parts of the capital and driving displacement and humanitarian crisis across the country.

The United Nations is holding a high-level meeting on the total elimination of nuclear weapons, with live coverage provided through its meetings and press releases service. Delegates and officials are addressing international efforts toward nuclear disarmament. The gathering draws attention amid ongoing global concerns over nuclear risks and arms control.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on the United States and Russia to negotiate a replacement for the New START treaty, the last remaining nuclear arms reduction agreement between the two countries. His appeal highlights growing concern over the expiry of key arms control frameworks and rising nuclear tensions between Washington and Moscow.