North Korea’s KCNA coincidentally carried a dispatch quoting a Russian politician praising Kim’s speech last weekend to the Supreme People’s Assembly, noting the chairman of the National Salvation Front of Russia “expressed support” for Kim’s program “for building a socialist power, extending firm solidarity to the Korean people in their struggle for completing the great historic tasks.”

SOUTH KOREA REACTS: South Korea’s foreign ministry said it understood the agenda would include Russia-North Korea relations, denuclearization, and regional cooperation, according to Reuters.

“Russia shares our viewpoints such as the achievement of complete denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula and the settlement of permanent peace,” foreign ministry spokesman Kim In-chul said at a briefing in Seoul. “I hope that the summit will be an opportunity that contributes to positive progress.”

POMPEO: SANCTIONS HURTING IRAN, NOT US: As promised, the State Department announced the end of waivers for countries buying oil from Iran, as America ratchets up its maximum pressure campaign against Tehran.

“We are dramatically accelerating our pressure campaign in a calibrated way that meets our national security objectives while maintaining well supplied global oil markets,” Pompeo said in a statement. “We stand by our allies and partners as they transition away from Iranian crude to other alternatives.”

At a briefing for reporters, Pompeo said that while tightening the screws on Iran, the sanctions should have little to no effect on gas prices domestically. “We have been working with major oil-producing countries to ensure the market has sufficient volume to minimize the impact on pricing,” Pompeo said. “Both the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have assured us they will ensure an appropriate supply for the markets. And of course, the United States is now a significant producer as well.”

Meanwhile, he said, the sanctions have crippled Iran. “We have watched Iran have diminished power as a result of our campaign. Their capacity to wreak harm around the world is absolutely clearly diminished.”

Good Tuesday morning and welcome to Jamie McIntyre’s Daily on Defense, written and compiled by Washington Examiner National Security Senior Writer Jamie McIntyre (@jamiejmcintyre) and edited by Kelly Jane Torrance (@kjtorrance). Email us here for tips, suggestions, calendar items, and anything else. If a friend sent this to you and you’d like to sign up, click here. If signing up doesn’t work, shoot us an email and we’ll add you to our list. And be sure to follow us on Twitter: @dailyondefense.

HAPPENING TODAY: Lockheed Martin will release its first quarter 2019 earnings results in a conference call at 11:00 a.m. Webcast here.

HAPPENED LAST NIGHT: CNN broadcast back-to-back town hall meetings last night with 5 of the 20 Democratic presidential hopefuls. It’s a sign of the times that few national security issues came up. No discussion of the continued threat of ISIS, or the timetable for withdrawing U.S. troops from Syria, or the prospects for a peace agreement with the Taliban, or transatlantic relations with NATO, or the effort to get North Korea to give up its nuclear and ballistic missile arsenal.

Here’s what did come up:

HARRIS WOULD REVERSE TRANSGENDER POLICY: Californias senator Kamala Harris told CNN’s Don Lemon that one of the first things she would do if elected is end President Trump’s policy that restricts the way most transgender troops can serve. “That is something I would reverse immediately when I am elected president of the United States,” she said last night.

“We’ve got a president who is basically putting in place a process for discharging transgender men and women who have made a commitment to our country and to defend our democracy at great service and potential sacrifice, and this president wants to kick them out of the military.”

BUTTIGIEG SAYS MILITARY NOT FOR EVERYONE: During his hour on CNN, South Bend, Ind., mayor Pete Buttigieg talked about the value of his seven-month deployment in Afghanistan as part of his service in the U.S. Navy Reserve from 2009 to 2017 but said that he doesn’t think the “military is for everybody.”

“I believe America needs to create more opportunities for national service, in particular service year opportunities for people after they finish high school, so that in addition to the military, we build up things like City Year, things like AmeriCorps, other ways to be part of that fashioning of a common character at this moment when social media and our different bubbles have us increasingly just floating in our own little parts of this country,” Buttigieg told CNN’s Anderson Cooper.

“We need to get to that without believing that the military is for everybody. And I think a good national service program could help us do just that.”

SANDERS CALLS NETANYAHU’S GOVERNMENT ‘RACIST’: Independent senator Bernie Sanders, who is a self-described socialist running as a Democrat, said if elected he would “level the playing field” in an effort to rebalance the U.S. relationship with Israelis and Palestinians.

“I am not anti-Israel,” Sanders told CNN’s Chris Cuomo, noting that as a young man he spent a number of months in Israel. “I worked on a kibbutz for a while. I have family in Israel.” But Sanders harshly critcised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who he said is treating the Palestinian people extremely unfairly and leading what he called “a right-wing, you know, dare I say, racist government.”

“I am 100 percent pro-Israel. Israel has every right in the world to exist and to exist in peace and security and not be subjected the terrorist attacks. But the United States needs to deal not just with Israel, but with the Palestinian people, as well. “

INHOFE UNCONCERNED BY BORDER DEPLOYMENTS: Senate Armed Services Committee chairman James Inhofe, R-Okla., says that after touring the U.S.-Mexico border yesterday, he’s no longer concerned the deployment of active duty troops is hurting their combat readiness.

In a conference call with reporters yesterday Inhofe suggested the real-world deployments can be better than drilling at their home bases. “This is in lieu of the training they would get artificially,” said Inhofe. “In training in most areas, you have very sophisticated training environments … very similar to actual conditions, but down here, it is actual conditions.”

About 3,000 active-duty troops and 2,000 National Guard personnel are assisting the Department of Homeland Security along the border. The chairman suggested that future defense budgets could take into account troop training at the border.

ROE UNDER REVIEW AFTER U.S. TROOPS SURRENDER PISTOL: The U.S. military is reviewing the rules of engagement for after an incident along the border in which U.S. troops surrendered their arms to Mexican troops on American soil.

A senior defense official tells the Washington Examiner the Pentagon is reviewing how U.S. soldiers responded during an incident this month in which Mexican troops detained and disarmed Americans south of the border wall but still on Texas territory.

The Mexican soldiers, all carrying FX-05 Xiuhcoatl rifles, detained, disarmed, and questioned the U.S. troops. One soldier’s Beretta M9 service pistol was taken from him and temporarily confiscated. An official from U.S. Northern Command said the incident may have been the result of genuine confusion but shows the need for a clear protocol.

“That area of the border is kind of confusing,” the NORTHCOM official told the Washington Examiner. “It may have been difficult for them [Mexican forces] to know if they didn’t know the area as well or were new or something. I don’t think — it definitely wasn’t trying to overtake the U.S.”

SUSPECTED ASSASSINS: Larry Mitchell Hopkins, a militia leader in New Mexico who was arrested by the FBI over the weekend on weapons charges, allegedly said his group was plotting to assassinate President Obama, Hillary Clinton, and other liberal figures.

Hopkins, 69, was arrested Saturday after a video of his armed group holding migrants against their will sparked outrage on the Internet.

Documents unsealed in court Monday show the FBI began looking into Hopkins in 2017 after receiving reports that said his group, the United Constitutional Patriots, was “training to assassinate George Soros, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama.”

Witnesses said the group was composed of approximately 20 members and stationed at Hopkins’ home. It was “armed with AK-47 rifles and other firearms,” according to an arrest warrant.

MICK TO PENFED: Retired Gen. John “Mick” Nicholson, who was the longest-serving commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, has accepted a position as president of the PenFed Foundation.

The Rundown

Washington Examiner: The Libyan strongman who went from CIA asset to Trump favorite

AP: Sri Lanka minister: Easter bombings a response to NZ attacks

New York Times: Sri Lanka Was Warned of Possible Attacks. Why Didn’t It Stop Them?

Reuters: Iran lawmakers authorize firm action against U.S. ‘terrorist’ acts

Washington Post: New Coast Guard strategy for the Arctic calls for ‘projecting sovereignty’ to contest China and Russia

Reuters: China shows off new destroyer as Xi views naval parade

Bloomberg: Lockheed’s Costly F-35 to Be Billions Costlier, Pentagon Finds

Air Force Magazine: F-15EX vs. F-35A

Air Force Times: China Won’t Find Lost F-35 Stealth Fighter First, Says Pentagon

Air Force Magazine: US Aircraft, Ships End Search for Japanese F-35, Investigation Ongoing

Forbes: Army Secretary Reveals Hidden Defect In Modernization Plans

Breaking Defense: DARPA Blackjack: Who’ll Get Prized Satellite Tech, Air Force Or SDA?

Daily Beast: Sen. Lindsey Graham Bewilders Ivanka Trump’s Women’s Conference With Terrorism Rant

AP: After IS fall, some women who joined plead to come home

American Military News: Op-Ed: Our son Army Maj. Matt Golsteyn is being persecuted

Washington Examiner: Recruit who put boot camp on hold to beat cancer becomes a Marine 1,000 days later

Calendar

TUESDAY | APRIL 23

7 a.m. 2425 Wilson Blvd. Association of the U.S. Army’s Institute of Land Warfare discussion with Army Reserve Chief Lt. Gen. Charles Luckey, commanding general of the Army Reserve Command. www.ausa.org

8 a.m. 800 21st Street N.W. Atlantic Council eighth annual International Conference on Cyber Engagement. Speakers include: Amy Hess, executive assistant director of the FBI’s Criminal, Cyber, Response and Services Branch; Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Hickey; Assistant Energy Secretary for Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response Karen Evans; Christopher Krebs, director of the Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency; Air Force Brig. Gen. Timothy Haugh, commander of Cyber Command’s Cyber National Mission Force; and former Homeland Security secretary Michael Chertoff. www.atlanticcouncil.org

8:30 a.m. 300 First Street S.E. National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA), the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, the Air Force Association and the Reserve Officers Association forum on “The Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent Rationale and Strategic Nuclear Requirements.” Speakers: Retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Roger Burg and retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Donald Alston. www.afa.org

9:30 a.m. 2301 Constitution Avenue N.W. U.S. Institute of Peace discussion on a new report, “A New Approach to Preventing Extremism in Fragile States.” Speakers: Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright; and Army Gen. Michael Nagata, director for strategic operational planning at the National Counterterrorism Center; Alina Romanowski, principal deputy coordinator for counterterrorism at the State Department; and Swiss Ambassador to the U.S. Martin Dahinden. www.usip.org

10:30 a.m. 999 9th St. N.W. General Dynamics Information Technology event “Emerge 2019: Art of the Possible.” DoD Chief Information Officer Dana Deasy speaks at 10:30 a.m. and Caroline Beach, cloud infrastructure branch chief, Defense Information Systems Agency speaks at 1 p.m.

4 p.m. 1030 15th Street N.W. Atlantic Council discussion on “Implementing Expansion of the National Technology Industry Base.” Speakers: Jeffrey “Scott” Blum, principal industrial policy director at the Defense Department; Samatha Clark, special counsel at Covington; Brett Lambert, vice president of corporate strategy at Northrop Grumman; and William Greenwalt, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council Center for Strategy and Security. www.atlanticcouncil.org

4 p.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Aerospace Security Project screens film “Commanding Space: The Story Behind the Space Force” and discussion on “Evaluating the Global Counterspace Landscape.” Speakers: Victoria Samson, Washington office director of the Secure World Foundation; Brian Weeden, director of program planning at the Secure World Foundation; Todd Harrison, director of the CSIS Aerospace Security Project; Kaitlyn Johnson, associate director of the CSIS Aerospace Security Project; and Thomas Roberts, program manager of the CSIS Aerospace Security Project. www.csis.org

WEDNESDAY | APRIL 24

8 a.m. 2201 G St N.W. Defense Writers Group Breakfast with John Sopko, special inspector general for Afghanistan reconstruction. Crain Center Duques Hall, George Washington School of Business. nationalsecuritymedia.gwu.edu

8:30 a.m. 1819 L St. N.W. Sasakawa USA hosts its 6th Annual Security Forum, “The U.S.-Japan Alliance: New Security Challenges.” Speakers include Japanese Ambassador to the U.S. Shinsuke Sugiyama, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Bill Hagerty; former Director of National Intelligence retired Adm. Dennis Blair; and chairman of the Asia Pacific Initiative Yoichi Funabashi. Live streamed at spfusa.org/event. Register at events.r20.constantcontact.com.

3:30 p.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave N.W. Center for Strategic and International Studies launches a new report from the International Security Program, “Shifting the Burden Responsibly.” Speakers: James Anderson, assistant secretary of defense for strategy, plans, and capabilities; Cara Abercrombie, principal director, Security Cooperation Workforce Development Directorate, Defense Security Cooperation Agency; Kevin O’Keefe, acting deputy assistant secretary and director, Office of Security Assistance, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, U.S. Department of State; Tommy Ross, senior associate, International Security Program, CSIS; Melissa Dalton, senior fellow and deputy director, International Security Program, CSIS. www.csis.org/events

1 p.m. 800 Florida Avenue N.E. National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service holds selective service hearing: “How to Meet Potential National Mobilization Needs.” Witnesses: Donald Benton, director of selective service, U.S. Selective Service System; Maj. Gen. John Evans, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command; Maj. Gen. Linda Singh, adjutant general of Maryland National Guard; Jacquelyn Schneider, assistant professor, U.S. Naval War College; Bernie Rostker, senior fellow, RAND Corporation. www.inspire2serve.gov

THURSDAY | APRIL 25

8:15 a.m. 1000 North Glebe Rd, Arlington. Intelligence and National Security Alliance and the National Capital Region Intelligence Studies Consortium forum on “Emerging Trends: New Tools, Threats and Thinking,” at Marymount University. Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Sue Gordon delivers keynote. www.insaonline.org/event

9 a.m. 800 Florida Avenue N.E. National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service holds selective service hearing: Should Registration be Expanded to All Americans? – Arguments against expansion.” Witnesses: Mark Coppenger, professor of Christian Philosophy and Ethics, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; Jude Eden, U.S. Marine Corps Iraq veteran and freelance journalist; Edward Hasbrouck, editor and publisher, Resisters.info; Ashley McGuire, senior fellow, The Catholic Association; and Diane Randall, executive secretary, Friends Committee on National Legislation. www.inspire2serve.gov

10 a.m. Center for Strategic and International Studies discussion on “Civil-Military Relations.” Speakers: former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta; John Hamre, president and CEO of CSIS; and Alice Hunt Friend, senior fellow in the CSIS International Security Program. www.csis.org

1 p.m. 800 Florida Avenue N.E. National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service holds selective service hearing: Should Registration be Expanded to All Americans? – Arguments for expansion.” Speakers: Lt. Gen. Flora Darpino, U.S. Army, Retired, former judge advocate general; Jason Dempsey, senior adviser at the Columbia University School of Professional Studies; Jill Hasday, Professor in Law, University of Minnesota; Maj. Gen. Bengt Svensson, defense attaché, Embassy of Sweden; and Katey van Dam, U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran. www.inspire2serve.gov

1:30 p.m. 2301 Constitution Avenue N.W. United States Institute of Peace conference on “China’s Belt and Road Initiative at Year Six: Still the ‘Project of the Century?” www.usip.org

6:30 p.m. 37th and O Streets N.W. Georgetown University’s Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs book discussion on “The World As It Is.” Featuring author Ben Rhodes, former deputy national security adviser under President Obama. berkleycenter.georgetown.edu

FRIDAY | APRIL 26

8:15 a.m. 1777 F Street, N.W. FBI director Christopher Wray discusses the bureau’s role in protecting the United States from today’s global threats with Richard Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations. Live streamed at www.cfr.org/event.

8:30 a.m. 300 First Street S.E. National Defense Industrial Association, the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, the Air Force Association and the Reserve Officers Association forum on “Perspectives on Nuclear Modernization.” Speakers: retired Air Force Gen. Kevin Chilton, senior fellow at the National Defense University; and retired Air Force Gen. Robert Kehler, senior fellow at the National Defense University. www.afa.org/hbs

10 a.m. 1779 Massachusetts Avenue N.W. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace discussion on “Ukraine’s Post-Election Landscape.” Speakers: Serhii Plokhii, director of Harvard University’s Ukrainian Research Institute; Matthew Kaminski, global editor of Politico; Balazs Jarabik, non-resident scholar at CEIP; and Andrew Weiss, vice president for studies at CEIP. carnegieendowment.org