Nuclear Treaty Would Cut Only Long-Range Arms

Presidents' Obama and Medvedev in Prague

A question and answer forum talking about the specifics of the new nuclear arms treaty between the United States and Russia.  Some of the questions include: the number of warheads being reduced and the possibility of ratification by the U.S. Senate.

The new nuclear arms treaty that the U.S. and Russia signed Thursday in Prague may mark a historic return to arms control efforts for the world’s nuclear superpowers, but the pact is more a modest step than a major leap along the road to reductions in the world’s deadliest weaponry.

Some questions and answers about the new treaty, a replacement for the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, and its place in the bigger picture of U.S. and international security:

South Korean Sailors Say Blast That Sank Their Ship Came From Outside the Vessel

The recent sinking of a South Korean vessel is being investigated as a possible move made by North Korea. Defense Minister Kim Tae-young before the National Assembly that the military had not ruled out the possibility that the ship was hit by a mine or torpedo. Mr. Kim added, “A more likely possibility is a torpedo attack.”  Coincidently, the North Korean military has been increasing its submarine capabilities to compensate for its decrepit naval fleet, according to Ha Tae-keung who runs Open Radio for North Korea, a Web site based in Seoul that collects news from informants inside North Korea.

It could take weeks for engineers to salvage the South Korean warship that sank in waters disputed by North Korea after a mysterious explosion and provide a definitive explanation of what caused the disaster. But some signs are pointing to North Korea, raising uncomfortable questions for the South’s government.

On Thursday, surviving crew members went public with their account, saying they were convinced that the explosion came from outside the ship. That follows remarks last week by Defense Minister Kim Tae-young before the National Assembly that the military had not ruled out the possibility that the ship was hit by a mine or torpedo. Mr. Kim added, “A more likely possibility is a torpedo attack.”

Defense Officials Clarify Nuclear Review

After the recent release of the Nuclear Posture Review, defense officials had discussions about the specifics regarding the review.  Bradley H. Roberts, deputy assistant secretary of defense for nuclear and missile defense, and Navy Adm. John E. Roberti, deputy director for strategy and policy for the Joint Staff, spoke with journalist yesterday to clarify the logistics of the plan.

The Nuclear Posture Review has laid out a roadmap for the United States to follow in future nuclear dealings, and it also has raised a lot of questions in the public forum.

Bradley H. Roberts, deputy assistant secretary of defense for nuclear and missile defense, and Navy Adm. John E. Roberti, deputy director for strategy and policy for the Joint Staff, spoke with journalists on a DoDLive Bloggers’ Roundtable yesterday to clarify the particulars of the review.

North Korea Vows to Keep Building Nuclear Bombs

North Korean Leader Kim Jong-Il

North Korea has denounced President Barack Obama’s nuclear policy as “hostile,” and is vowing to keep building and expanding its arsenal of atomic weapons.

The blistering criticism from North Korea’s Foreign Ministry was carried Friday by the official Korean Central News Agency in Pyongyang.