Nuclear Policy News – February 1, 2010

FISSILE MATERIAL
North Korean weapons mystery continues
AP by Jane Fugal

U.S. Speeding Up Missile Defenses in Persian Gulf
NYT by David E. Sanger and Eric Schmitt

Japan emerges as key player on Iran
Politico by Laura Rozen

UN nuclear chief hopes for Iran agreement
WP by Edith M. Lederer (AP)

EAST ASIA
1. Japan, U.S. to launch talks on cooperation in nuclear forensics+
Kyodo by AP
Japan and the United States will launch working-level talks in February aimed at promoting cooperation in the field of nuclear forensics, a sophisticated process to analyze the composition of nuclear materials, sources of both governments said Saturday.

2. 2 Koreas hold talks days after exchanging gunfire
AP by Hyung-Jin Kim
Officials from the two Koreas met Monday in North Korea to discuss their joint industrial complex just days after an exchange of gunfire at sea emphasized the constant security threat on the divided peninsula.

3. North Korean weapons mystery continues
AP by Jane Fugal
Thailand said Monday that an aircraft loaded with North Korean weapons was flying to Iran when it was intercepted in December but the ultimate destination of the arms is still not known.

4. N.K. may have interest in 'Grand Bargain': Lee
Korea Herald
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said North Korea would have interest in his "Grand Bargain" proposal, if the country intends to drop its nuclear program, according to Yonhap News.

MIDDLE EAST
5. U.S. Speeding Up Missile Defenses in Persian Gulf
NYT by David E. Sanger and Eric Schmitt
The Obama administration is accelerating the deployment of new defenses against possible Iranian missile attacks in the Persian Gulf, placing special ships off the Iranian coast and antimissile systems in at least four Arab countries, according to administration and military officials.

6. UN nuclear chief hopes for Iran agreement
WP by Edith M. Lederer (AP)
The U.N. nuclear agency's new chief and Iran's foreign minister expressed hope Friday that an agreement will be reached on a swap of most of Tehran's stockpile of enriched uranium for research reactor fuel.

7. Iran's enrichment plan 'hinders solution' to nuclear issue
RIA Novosti
Tehran's decision to enrich uranium for its research reactor could impede the resolution of Iran's nuclear issue, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said Friday.

8. Peres to IAEA chief: Iran threat to entire world
YNet News by Roni Sofer
During meeting on sidelines of World Economic Forum in Davos, president tells Amano 'fanatical' regime in Tehran 'not respecting' nuclear watchdog's decisions

9. Clinton Warns China on Iran Sanctions
NYT by Mark Landler
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton warned China on Friday that it would face economic insecurity and diplomatic isolation if it did not sign on to tough new sanctions against Iran for its nuclear program, seeking to raise the pressure on Beijing to fall in line with an American-led campaign.

10. Japan emerges as key player on Iran
Politico by Laura Rozen
As the diplomatic fallout from Beijing over the $6.4 billion U.S. arms sale to Taiwan is still being measured, rival Asian power Japan has emerged as an increasingly important player in international negotiations on Iran, U.S. officials and foreign policy experts said.

SOUTH ASIA

RUSSIA/FSU/EUROPE
11. US, Russia resume talks on nuclear arms deal
AP
U.S. officials say they have resumed talks with Russian negotiators in Geneva on a new nuclear arms reduction deal.

MULTILATERAL ARMS CONTROL AND NONPROLIFERATION

U.S. NUCLEAR WEAPONS STRATEGY AND POLICY

OPINIONS
12. Medvedev, Obama should Beware of the START Pitfalls
RIA Novosti by Ariel Cohen
The Obama administration has failed to complete the negotiation of a treaty to replace the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), which expired on Dec. 5. The two superpowers are now in unchartered waters.

13. The key to dealing with Iran: Press ties with opposition
WP
From the outside, the results of its talks this far with China and Russia, the keys to such a vote, have looked mixed at best: China, in particular, has been public about its recalcitrance. Yet administration officials continue to express optimism that they will be able to bring tough new sanctions to bear.

14. Iran, After the Deadline
NYT
Iran has again proved to be a master at playing for time. Six months after a new diplomatic overture from Washington and its partners, Tehran has shown no interest in resolving the dispute over its nuclear program. It is time for President Obama and other leaders to ratchet up the pressure with tougher sanctions.

15. Senate Votes to Undermine Obama and Punish Innocent Iranians
Huffington Post by Jamal Abdi
Last night, the Senate voted to pass disastrous legislation under the auspices of getting "tough" on Iran. Unfortunately, the bill is only "tough" on the Iranian people, punishing them in the midst of their historic struggle for rights while hamstringing the President as he deals with Iran's nuclear program.