Hungary Gets Rid of Weapons-Grade Uranium

November 5, 2013 | Edited by Benjamin Loehrke

Hungary - The Department of Energy, in an international effort with Russia and the IAEA, has removed all highly enriched uranium (HEU) from Hungary. “We know that in the wrong hands, just small amounts of these materials could be used to create a weapon of mass destruction. This operation in Hungary and our ongoing partnerships with countries around the world help to ensure that terrorists never obtain a nuclear weapon,” said Secretary Ernest Moniz.

--Hungary is the 12th country to rid itself of HEU since 2009. In total, Hungary returned 190 kg of highly enriched uranium to Russia since 2008. Press release here. http://1.usa.gov/18Vs2xK

--How does DOE ship HEU? See the photo set on Flickr. http://bit.ly/17D7yzS

Tweet - @NNSANews: Watch a timelapse video of GTRI’s removal of all remaining highly enriched uranium from Hungary – http://t.co/Or4AxTpMpV

Amano to visit Tehran - IAEA chief Yukiya Amano is expected to visit Tehran later this month, according to Iranian state tv. This could signal progress in a stalled investigation into Iran’s suspected past nuclear weapons research. Read Yeganeh Torbati and Fredrik Dahl’s report here. http://yhoo.it/1b0VJ56

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Missile Mockups or the Real Deal? - Recent missile mockups seen on parade in Pyongyang, “are consistent with an ongoing development program for a missile with limited intercontinental capability using only existing North Korean technology,” says Jeffrey Lewis and John Schilling in a new report for 38 North . Full story here. http://bit.ly/1a5uvZX

State of play - The Obama Administration is slated to juggle negotiations with Iran, Congress, and Israel as it heads into a second round of nuclear talks in Geneva this week. While the international sanctions on Iran played a role in getting Iran to the nuclear negotiating table, the Administration wants the ability to trade limited sanctions relief for an agreement that could keep Iran from pursuing a nuclear weapon.

--The Administration is in a tricky spot with some in congress and allies in Israel, who believe that “if sanctions are the only reason Iran has come this far in negotiations, only more pressure will push it across the line to a real deal,” writes Gerald Seib in a description of the state of play in the sanctions debate. Full article in The Wall Street Journal. http://on.wsj.com/16CSDme

Annual protest - Tens of thousands of demonstrators celebrated the anniversary of the 1979 storming of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran on Monday, ignoring appeals by backers of President Rouhani. The yearly protest was larger than it has been in recent years, possibly showing a rift in Iranian society concerning the ongoing nuclear negotiations with the United States. AP has the story. http://n.pr/18VE6Pz

Quality, not quantity - “The problem with U.S. missile defenses is not that we need more platforms or more money...The problem with U.S. missile defenses is that they lack a workable architecture and many of the essential elements either don’t work or are missing,” write Lt. Gen. Robert Gard (USA, ret.) and Philip Coyle in response to a recent article in Roll Call. Full article here. http://bit.ly/177lcLh

Tweet - @NTI_GSN: Kerry: 2018 Missile Interceptors Fielding in Poland 'On Target' http://t.co/cZuXuqTk1T

China and the CTBT - Why doesn’t China ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty before the U.S.? “By signing the CTBT in 1996, China made a huge sacrifice, [according to some Chinese experts], stopping its testing program at an early stage in the learning curve. Needing more tests to ensure reliability of its nuclear arsenal, China has no incentive to ratify before the United States does so,” writes Mark Fitzpatrick about Chinese perspectives on the CTBT. Full story from Al Arabiya. http://bit.ly/1867yCT

EMP on DMZ? - South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, in a report to parliament, said that North Korea purchased Russian electromagnetic weapons with the intent of copying them. AFP has the story. http://bit.ly/1hJVfnd

Events:

--”Nuclear Nightmares: Securing the World Before it is Too Late.” Book discussion with author Joe Cirincione at Roger Williams University. Nov. 5 at 7:30pm. http://bit.ly/1czOdld

--”Technology-Strategy Seminar: Electromagnetic Pulse.” Talk with Amb. Henry Cooper, George Baker and Rich Wagner at CSIS. Nov. 6th from noon-2:00pm. http://bit.ly/1aZueXN

--”Denying WMD To Terrorists And Other Criminals: A Progress Report” Discussion with Simon Limage, Rick Cupitt, Johan Bergenas and Brian Finlay. Nov. 8 from 3:00-4:00pm at Stimson. RSVP here. http://bit.ly/1azP43I

--”Cost and benefits to US strategic interests from UK renewal of Trident.” Discussion with Paul Ingram and Peter Huessy at the Capitol Hill Club. Nov. 12 from 8:00-9:30am. RSVP here. http://bit.ly/1aYdFNN

--”The Nuclear Crisis at Plutonium Mountain: Two Journalists' Tale.” Discussion with Eben Harrell and David Hoffman at Harvard’s Belfer Center Library. Nov. 13th from 10:00-11:00am. http://hvrd.me/1cHk6Eg

--”Rethinking U.S. Nuclear Weapons Policy.” Discussion with Benjamin Friedman, Christopher Preble, and Laura Odato at B-369 Rayburn House Office Building. Nov. 25th at 12:00pm. http://bit.ly/1bVpEKg