Today's Headlines and Commentary

North Korea is mimicking Pakistan’s 1998 successful nuclear strategy to develop nuclear capabilities without exacerbating sanctions by quietly developing nuclear weapons and reinforcing trade alliances with China and Russia, reports the New York Times.

Deadly attacks and protests in Ethiopia on the heels of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmad’s relaxation of the previous regime’s authoritarian political control indicate that ethnic tensions between the Oromo people and the residents of Addis Ababa may be Ethiopia’s next challenge, reports the Washington Post.

Japan conducted an anti-submarine warfare exercise in the South China Sea in a show of strength against China’s military expansion in the region. This may present an impediment to recently warming China-Japan relations, says the Wall Street Journal.

With six months until Brexit, EU leaders will hold their first discussion on this issue since March later this week, reports the Journal. Many in the EU reportedly are concerned that British Prime Minister Theresa May’s proposal to allow Britain frictionless access to the EU market will enable non-EU manufacturers, including China, to take advantage of the bloc’s economic achievements.

Saudi Arabian authorities are seeking the death penalty for three Wahabbi imams, a move that may challenge a royal family-Wahabbi alliance, according to the Journal.

The Trump administration is poised to unveil tariffs on $200 billion-worth of Chinese exports to the U.S. Beijing is willing to engage in trade talks, but only so long as the Trump administration refrains from introducing the fresh set of tariffs, reports the Journal.

Leaked documents show that Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, planned to flee Britain and seek refuge in Russia—a relationship that may be of interest to Washington. The FBI claims that Russian intelligence shared emails stolen from Democrat figures with WikiLeaks just prior to the 2016 presidential election, says Politico.

Super typhoon Mangkhut devastated the Philippines and caused the death of more than 40 people in a landslide over the weekend, reports the Times. The tropical storm also caused damage in China and Hong Kong as well; the storm is expected to weaken as it hits the mountainous Yunan province in China, reports the Times.

Last Weekend on Lawfare

Kim Cragin analyzed the effectiveness of U.S. operations against Islamic State in Syria, and argued that targeted killings of jihadist leaders have statistically led to fewer attacks against the U.S.

Email the Roundup Team noteworthy law and security-related articles to include, and follow us on Twitter and Facebook for additional commentary on these issues. Sign up to receive Lawfare in your inbox. Visit our Events Calendar to learn about upcoming national security events, and check out relevant job openings on our Job Board.

We rely on contributions from our generous readers, and now, as a thank you, we're offering a Lawfare challenge coin! Get yours by making a donation at lawfarestore.com.