On Tuesday, North Korea fired a barrage of missiles from the ground and fighter jets that landed in the East Sea. The projectiles are presumed to be cruise missiles, which would be the first cruise missile launch since the Kumsong-3 was tested in June 2017.

On Wednesday, it was reported that China might be secretly conducting nuclear tests with very low explosive power despite Beijing’s assertions that it is adhering to international rules banning all nuclear tests. The report doesn’t present actual proof, but it does cite an array of activities that raise concerns which state China might not be respecting the “zero-yield” testing-ban. The concerns come from the high tempo activity at China’s Lop Nur test site, extensive excavations there, and Beijing’s purported use of special chambers to contain explosions.

Also on Wednesday, it was reported that Russia had tested a ground-based, direct-ascent anti-satellite weapon, drawing criticism from U.S. Space Command (SPACEOM). The DA-ASAT can target satellites in low-Earth orbit, which is up to 1,200 miles above Earth. It is believed Russia has conducted seven tests of the DA-ASAT since 2014.

On Thursday, Russian media reported that the Zircon hypersonic missile has been sent for underwater testing on the Project 885 Yasen-class nuclear submarine. Although the exact date remains to be decided, three or four launches are scheduled for this year in the Barents Sea from the frigate Admiral Gorshkov, after which the missile will be tested underwater from the Severodvinsk. 

Click here to read all of the headlines from the week.