Nonproliferation News - October 27, 2009

FISSILE MATERIAL
Iran to accept nuclear fuel deal: TV
AFP by Jay Deshmukh and Farhad Pouladi

Iran officials appear split on nuclear plan
WP by Thomas Erdbrink

Why it's sane for Kim Jong-il to be mad
Reuters by Andrew Marshall

Concern mounting in U.S. over Japan's foreign policy
Kyodo News

EAST ASIA
1. Empress of Japan speaks against nuclear weapons
Telegraph by Jonathan Liew
Empress Michiko of Japan has called for “a world free of nuclear weapons” and praised President Obama’s moves towards nuclear disarmament.

2. Concern mounting in U.S. over Japan's foreign policy
Kyodo News
The United States appears increasingly concerned about the new course of Japan's foreign policy, raising the specter of a showdown between Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and U.S. President Barack Obama at their summit in Tokyo next month.

3. N. Korea completes construction of top missile base: officials 
Yonhap by Sam Kim
North Korea has completed the construction of its largest and most sophisticated missile base on the west coast, laying the groundwork for improved intercontinental ballistic missiles, senior officials here said Monday.

4. N. Korea 'listened to' U.S. position in first talks: Seoul minister 
Yonhap by Lee Chi-dong
In its first government-level meeting with North Korea under the Obama administration, the United States delivered its position on the resumption of the six-way nuclear talks and Pyongyang's invitation to Stephen Bosworth, its special representative for North Korea policy, South Korea's foreign minister said Monday.

5. N Korea completes launch site for larger missiles: Report
Zee News
North Korea has completed work on a new west coast site capable of launching improved intercontinental ballistic missiles, according to senior South Korean officials quoted by Yonhap news agency.

6. NKorea blasts US over 'bunker-buster' bombs
AFP
North Korea accused the United States Tuesday of stepping up production and deployment of "bunker-buster" bombs to mount a pre-emptive attack on its nuclear sites.

MIDDLE EAST
7. Iran hints it could ship some uranium abroad
AP by Ali Akbar Dareini
Iran hinted Monday it could agree to ship some low-enriched uranium abroad for processing as reactor fuel as the world awaited its reply on a U.N.-drafted nuclear plan aimed at easing tensions with the West.

8. Iran to accept nuclear fuel deal: TV
AFP by Jay Deshmukh and Farhad Pouladi
Iran will accept the broad framework of a UN-brokered uranium deal but wants "very important changes," state television said Tuesday, adding Tehran will offer its formal response within 48 hours.

9. Iran officials appear split on nuclear plan
WP by Thomas Erdbrink
High-ranking Iranian officials appear divided over a draft proposal with the United States and other countries that would transfer the bulk of the Islamic republic's enriched uranium stockpile out of the country.

10. Ahmadinejad reiterates Iran right to nuke program
AP by Nasser Karimi
Iran will persist with its nuclear program despite international concerns, the country's president said Tuesday, as the world awaited Tehran's response to a nuclear deal that could ease tensions with the West.

11. Iran expects Russia to honor Bushehr commitments on time
RIA Novosti
Tehran expects Moscow to launch Iran's first nuclear power plant as scheduled, the Iranian foreign minister said on Monday.

12. Iran ready to buy enriched uranium from China
RIA Novosti
Tehran may consider buying uranium for its nuclear research reactor from China, the Iranian foreign minister said on Monday.

13. World powers discuss unity on Iran nuclear deal: US
AFP
The United States said world powers had spoken Monday of the need to maintain united pressure on Iran as Tehran weighs a UN-brokered deal aimed at ending the crisis over its nuclear program.

14. Iran would need 18 months for atom bomb - diplomats
Reuters by Louis Charbonneau
Intelligence agencies estimate that it would probably take Iran a minimum of 18 months to develop a nuclear weapon if it chose to build one, Western diplomats and intelligence officials said.

15. Bernard Kouchner: Iran and Israel in 'race to confrontation'
Telegraph by David Blair
Bernard Kouchner stressed the urgency of reaching agreement with Iran over its nuclear programme and removing the risk of a pre-emptive strike by Israel.

SOUTH ASIA

RUSSIA/FSU
16. Russia calls for 'maximum patience' on Iran
AFP
World powers should show maximum patience in the Iranian nuclear crisis, a top Russian foreign ministry official said Monday, in the latest sign of Moscow's unwillingness to give Tehran ultimatums.

EUROPE

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

MISCELLANEOUS

OPINION
17. Dickering Over Uranium
WSJ
One sign that an adversary isn't serious about negotiating is when it rejects even your concessions. That seemed to be the case yesterday when Iran gave signs it may turn down an offer from Russia, Europe and the U.S. to let Tehran enrich its uranium under foreign supervision outside the country. The mullahs so far won't take yes for an answer.

18. Why it's sane for Kim Jong-il to be mad
Reuters by Andrew Marshall
For those who see North Korean leader Kim Jong-il as a dangerous lunatic prepared to risk the annihilation of his regime by launching a devastating attack on his neighbours, there is no shortage of supporting evidence. But for analysts and policymakers trying to gauge the chance of a catastrophic war, game theory offers a crucial insight. In Kim's position, it is perfectly sane to seem mad. And it would be a disaster for him if the world believed he was rational.

19. Mr. Kim's scam
WP
SUPPOSE THAT North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il decided last January to try luring the Obama administration into the same lucrative and fraudulent transaction his regime pulled off with the two previous U.S. presidents. In that case, Mr. Kim may feel he's getting close to executing another sting.

20. How Can We Break the N.Korean Nuclear Impasse?
Chosun Ilbo by Kim Chang-ki
The government has maintained that the North Korean nuclear issue must be on the agenda of any inter-Korean summit. But simply raising the issue alone is insufficient. A strategy has to be established in advance for the kind of response North Korean leader Kim Jong-il can be expected to give.