What We're Reading Now
Aug 29, 2011

IRAN
Iran launches production of banned carbon fiber
Nasser Karimi, The Associated Press -- August 27, 2011
Iran has inaugurated its own production of carbon fiber, a material under U.N. embargo because of its potential use in the country's controversial nuclear program, the official IRNA news agency reported Saturday.

Iran starts mass production of anti-armor rockets
Xinhua -- August 29, 2011
Iran's Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi inaugurated on Monday a mass production line of anti-armor rockets used to destroy tanks, armored vehicles and enemy's ammunition depots, the English-language satellite Press TV reported.

NORTH KOREA
China-North Korean Leader Repeats Offer for Nuclear Talks
Edward Wong, New York Times -- August 26, 2011
The North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il, reiterated Friday that he would return to the so-called six-party talks on his country’s nuclear program with no preconditions, Xinhua, the Chinese state news agency, reported.

A test for North Korea's deals on wheels
Donald Kirk, Asia Times -- August 29, 2011
The greatest mystery surrounding Kim Jong-il's visits to Russia and China has nothing to do with secret deals on commerce or six-party talks on his nukes. It's what he brings with him and takes away in that 14-car train in which he travels whenever he crosses the border into those forbidding lands beyond.