Iran Stays Away From Nuclear Talks: What We're Reading Now
Nov 21, 2011
IRAN
Iran Stays Away From Nuclear Talks
Alan Cowell, New York Times -- November 21, 2011
Iran stayed away on Monday from a meeting of the United Nations’ nuclear supervisory body, news reports said, in a continuing display of displeasure at being rebuked by the organization over its suspected efforts to build a nuclear weapon. Tehran says its nuclear program is solely for peaceful, civilian purposes.
Iran nuclear sanctions hurt the middle class, not Guards
Oren Dorell, USA Today -- November 21, 2011
International sanctions aimed at Iran's nuclear program have hurt the country's middle class and caused factories to shut down while low-quality goods flood the country, say foreign policy analysts.
NORTH KOREA
S.Korea, China set for talks on N.Korea
Associated Foreign Press -- November 20, 2011
South Korea's pointman on Pyongyang left for China on Monday for talks that will focus on North Korea, amid diplomatic efforts to revive stalled multinational disarmament negotiations.
Secretive N. Korea opens up to cellphones
Jeremy Laurence, Reuters -- November 21, 2011
Secretive North Korea is expected to register the 1 millionth cellphone user on its new 3G network by the end of the year, barely four years after people were thrown into prison camps, or possibly even executed, for owning one.
Pakistan warns Afghanistan after pact with India: What We're Reading Now
Oct 06, 2011
IRAN
Pressure builds on Iran at nuclear watchdog
Barbara Slavin, Asia Times - October 6, 2011
As Iran continues a slow march toward potential nuclear weapons capability, diplomatic action to contain the program is likely to shift to the United Nations' International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), whose director general, Yukiya Amano, has taken a harder line than his predecessor about alleged military research by Iran's nuclear scientists.
Is Israel Again Weighing an Attack on Iran's Nuclear Facilities?
Tony Karon, TIME (blog) - October 5, 2011
Panetta's comments, coming barely a month after the U.S. reportedly agreed to deliver 55 bunker-busting GBU-28 bombs to Israel, were widely viewed as an "down, boy" message to any adventurist bomb-Iran impulses on the part of Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak.
NORTH & SOUTH KOREA
South Korea’s new nuclear envoy heads to US for talks on North Korea’s atomic program
AFP - October 6, 2011
South Korea’s new chief nuclear envoy is heading to the United States for talks on North Korea’s nuclear ambitions. South Korea’s Foreign Ministry says Lim Sung-nam left on a three-day trip Thursday to meet with State Department and White House officials.
S. Korean Navy Says New Base Will Not Host US Military Vessels
Steve Herman, VoA - October 5, 2011
South Korean defense officials say a controversial proposed naval base, off the southern coast on Jeju island, will not allow permanent stationing of U.S. naval vessels. And, they say the facility, to be completed in 2015, is meant to deter North Korea, not China.
U.S. warns NATO over spending cuts, security: What We're Reading Now
Oct 05, 2011
IRAN
Iran ready to halt 20% nuclear enrichment: Ahmadinejad
AFP – October 5, 2011
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday reiterated Tehran's readiness to "immediately" stop production of low enriched uranium of 20 percent, provided world powers give it the nuclear material.
U.K. Defense Chief Cites Iran's Nuclear Risk
Alistar MacDonald, WSJ – October 4, 2011
U.K. Defense Minister Liam Fox said a nuclear-armed Iran would trigger an arms race in the Middle East, one of the world's most unstable regions. Speaking at the Conservative Party's annual conference, Mr. Fox said Iran was a huge danger to the U.K. and that the world shouldn't rule out any option, including military action, to stop its advance.
Iran Could Boost Uranium Enrichment if Exchange Plan Fails
Global Security Newswire – October 4, 2011
Iran on Tuesday warned it would begin manufacturing atomic fuel at a faster pace if other governments continue to reject an exchange of nuclear material the Middle Eastern nation proposed last year with Turkey and Brazil, Deutsche Presse-Agentur reported.
SOUTH & NORTH KOREA
Seoul taps Wi as ambassador to Russia
Kim Young-jin, Korea Times – October 4, 2011
Seoul has tapped its chief nuclear envoy as its new ambassador to Russia, promoting his deputy to take his place, the foreign ministry said Wednesday. Wi, formerly the chief negotiator at the stalled six-party talks on North Korea’s denuclearization, will be replaced by Lim Sung-nam, who has served as diplomatic minister to Beijing.
N.Korea rejects preconditions for nuclear talks: What We're Reading Now
Oct 04, 2011
IRAN
Weapons-Grade Confusion: The Danger of Misreading Our Nuclear Adversaries
Patrick Disney, The Atlantic - October 4, 2011.
Miscommunication and mutual mistrust almost led us into an unwanted war with the Soviet Union - are we making similar mistakes with Iran today?
Iran Uranium Proposal Faces U.S. Skepticism
Global Security Newswire - October 3, 2011
The United States on Friday questioned Iran's stated willingness to halt production of higher-enriched uranium if it received the material from Western powers, Agence France-Presse reported
NORTH KOREA
N.Korea rejects preconditions for nuclear talks
AFP - October 4, 2011
North Korea on Tuesday rejected US preconditions for a resumption of long-stalled six-nation nuclear disarmament talks, saying Washington is trying to shift the blame for the failure to restart dialogue.
S.Korea abandons bid to send flood aid to North
AFP - October 4, 2011
South Korea said Tuesday it had abandoned efforts to send flood relief to North Korea after Pyongyang failed to respond to Seoul's offer, amid disagreement over what kind of aid to send.
Is Iran Ready to Compromise?: What We're Reading Now
Oct 03, 2011
IRAN
Iran and the Arab Uprisings
Jayshree Bajoria, CFR - October 3, 2011
The mass uprisings sweeping the Middle East have fed a competition for regional influence as the old order continues to totter. In the thick of things is Iran, which has great interest in the viability of its embattled Syrian allies, the Saudi role in Bahrain, and the leadership turnover in longtime rival Egypt.
Is Iran Ready to Compromise?
Robert Dreyfuss, The Diplomat - October 1, 2011
There are some encouraging signs Iran may be willing to compromise over its nuclear programme. But is the Obama administration willing to listen?
NORTH KOREA
US-NK nuclear talks likely after Lee-Obama summit
The Korea Times - October 1, 2011
The United States and North Korea are likely to hold their second round of nuclear disarmament talks later this month, after a summit meeting between the South Korean and U.S. presidents, a senior government official in Seoul said, stressing the allies' close cooperation on the issue.
Can Seoul make play for detainees in North Korea?
Kim Young-jin, Korea Times - October 3, 2011
Calls are growing for the government to step up efforts to rescue South Koreans detained in North Korea, including a 69-year-old woman stranded for decades after being lured there with her husband. But given North Korea’s dismal track record on human rights, does it stand any chance of securing their return?
Iran won't retaliate for nuclear scientist killings: What We're Reading Now
Sep 27, 2011
IRAN
Iran won't retaliate for nuclear scientist killings
Reuters -- September 27, 2011
Iran will not retaliate against its enemies who killed Iranian nuclear scientists but wants international action to help prevent further attacks, its envoy to the U.N. atomic agency said on Tuesday.
U.S. Sells Bunker Busters to Israel
NPR -- September 25, 2011
Two years ago, the Obama Administration secretly authorized the sale of 55 deep-penetrating bombs — or bunker busters — to Israel. That's according to an investigation by Newsweek magazine. The bombs could potentially be used in Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear sites. Weekends on All Things Considered host Guy Raz talks with Eli Lake, the reporter who broke the story.
NORTH KOREA
"Red Dawn" Remake to come out next year from FilmDistrict
Los Angeles Times -- September 26, 2011
A remake of the invasion movie "Red Dawn" — with its villains now digitally modified from Chinese to North Korean — will finally hit American shores next year.
Opinion: Pyongyang Looks for the Next Payoff
Andrei Lankov, The Wall Street Journal -- September 27, 2011
The lesson North Korean leaders learned from Libya is that there is no security without nuclear weapons.
North Korean prime minister in China on visit emphasizing economic ties: What We're Reading Now
Sep 26, 2011
IRAN
Security Expert: U.S. 'Leading Force' Behind Stuxnet
Tom Gjelten, NPR -- September 26, 2011
The sophistication of the worm, plus the fact that the designer had inside intelligence on the Iranian facility, led Langner to conclude the United States had developed Stuxnet, possibly with the help of Israeli intelligence.
Freed U.S. hikers describe harrowing ordeal in Iran
CBS -- September 26, 2011
Two American hikers being held in an Iranian prison got a big surprise one day after their exercise routine: Instead of being blindfolded and led back to their cell, they suddenly heard the words, "Let's go home."
NORTH KOREA
North Korean prime minister in China on visit emphasizing economic ties
The Washington Post -- September 25, 2011
China and its impoverished neighbor North Korea are emphasizing trade and investment ties during a visit this week by Pyongyang’s prime minister that also highlights China’s efforts to restart talks on ending the North’s nuclear programs.
Japan launches spy satellite to monitor North Korea
Julian Ryall, The Telegraph -- September 26, 2011
A new Japanese spy satellite has started beaming back images from North Korea as Tokyo steps up monitoring of its unpredictable neighbour.
Ahmadinejad: UN nuclear agency does US bidding: What We're Reading Now
Sep 23, 2011
IRAN
EU Seeks Unconditional Atomic Talks With Iran
Global Security Newswire - September 22, 2011
The European Union on Thursday said it is willing to engage Iran in direct discussions of its atomic program "without preconditions," Agence France-Presse reported.
NORTH KOREA
N. Korea and U.S. to talk on war remains next month: report
Reuters - September 23, 2011
North Korea and the United States will resume talks next month on recovering the remains of American troops killed during the 1950-53 Korean War, South Korean media reported on Friday.
It's not all doom and gloom in Pyongyang
Andrei Lakov, Asia Times - September 23, 2011
An acquaintance recently remarked, "Only bad news comes out of North Korea." Well, this is not quite true. The mainstream media are critical indeed, but this is not a full picture. Across the globe there is a number of pro-Pyongyang news outlets that publish news which presents North Korean life in a favorable light.
UN
Ahmadinejad: UN nuclear agency does US bidding
Anne Gearan, AP - September 22, 2011
ranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accused the U.N. nuclear watchdog of being in the pocket of the United States and illegally releasing the names of three nuclear scientists who were then assassinated by alleged Israeli-trained killers.
Obama: Iran, N. Korea face greater isolation: What We're Reading Now
Sep 22, 2011
IRAN
Obama: Iran, N. Korea face greater isolation
AFP - September 21, 2011
US President Barack Obama on Wednesday warned that Iran and North Korea would face even deeper isolation if they failed to bring their nuclear programs under international law.
Britain warns Iran over nuclear programme at UN meeting
AFP - September 21, 2011
Foreign Secretary William Hague on Wednesday warned his Iranian counterpart that Britain would resist any increase in Iran's nuclear capabilities, during a meeting at the UN in New York.
A Few Words With Iran’s President
Nicholas D. Kristof, OP-ED NYT - September 21, 2011
Interview with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran: “If they were willing to sell us the 20 percent enriched uranium, we would have preferred to buy it,” he said. “It would have been far less expensive. It’s as though you wish to purchase a vehicle for yourself. No one is willing to sell it to you, then you must set up your own production line to produce your own vehicle.”
NORTH KOREA
North Korea says wants to more talks with U.S.
Jeremy Laurence, Reuters - September 22, 2011
North Korea wants to hold a second round of dialogue with the United States, possibly next month, as part of renewed efforts to restart talks on disabling the North's nuclear weapons program, a South Korean official said on Thursday.
Koreas keep up appearances in Beijing: What We're Reading Now
Sep 21, 2011
IRAN
Iran Blasts Killing of Its Nuclear Scientists
George Jahn, TIME Magazine - September 21, 2011
Blaming Israel for assassinating its nuclear scientists, Iran said Tuesday it would not retaliate for the "ugly phenomenon" but would seek more international support against such killings.
U.S. Considers Crisis Communications Link to Iran
Global Security Newswire - September 20, 2011
Government officials in the United States are examining the potential creation of an emergency naval communications link to Iran following a number of "near-miss" confrontations between the sides in the Persian Gulf, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday
NORTH KOREA
Rival Koreas met, but no progress on nuclear talks
Scott McDonald, The Boston Globe - September 21, 2011
Representatives of North and South Korea met Wednesday, but showed no sign of bridging their differences to resume negotiations on ending Pyongyang's nuclear program after it walked out two years ago.
Koreas keep up appearances in Beijing
Sunny Lee, Asia Times - September 21, 2011
Some diplomacy is purely for public consumption, with little substance to back it up. This week's meeting in Beijing between the nuclear negotiators of North Korea and South Korea is one such example.
