Nuclear Policy News - January 25, 2010

FISSILE MATERIAL

North Korea accuses Seoul of 'open declaration of war'
London Times

Ahmadinejad hints Iran resolved to make 20 pct nuclear fuel
AFP by Jay Deshmukh

New nuclear deal "95 pct" agreed-Russia's Medvedev
Reuters

U.S. Should Embrace Using Nukes for Nuclear Threat Only, Experts Say
Global Security Newswire  by Martin Matishak

Three steps to reducing nuclear terrorism
CSM by Micah Zenko and Michael Levi

EAST ASIA
1. Talks for peace treaty, lifting of sanctions should be based on progress in denuclearization: S Korean official
Xinhua News
Talks for a peace treaty on the Korean Peninsula and lifting of sanctions on the Democratic People 's Republic of Korea (DPRK) should be based on achieving progress in the process of the DPRK's denuclearization, Wi Sung-lac, Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs, said on Sunday.

2. North Korea accuses Seoul of 'open declaration of war'
London Times
North Korea has reacted with familiar bellicosity at South Korea's suggestion last week that it might launch a "pre-emptive strike" to thwart a possible nuclear attack from Pyongyang, labelling Seoul's announcement as an "open declaration of war" and threatening immediate reprisals.

3. S. Korea Seeking to Amend Nuclear Accord With US
Korea Times by Kim Sue-young
South Korea is moving to hold behind-the-scenes discussions with the United States in a bid to amend an agreement on cooperation in nuclear energy.

MIDDLE EAST
4. Ahmadinejad hints Iran resolved to make 20 pct nuclear fuel
AFP by Jay Deshmukh
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad hinted on Sunday that Tehran would itself pursue uranium enrichment to higher levels if the West spurns its offer of a phased fuel swap, promising Iranians "sweet" news soon.
 
5. Iranian statesman to go to Moscow on three-day visit for talks
Itar-Tass
Secretary of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili goes to Moscow on Tuesday for a three-day visit, reported Iranian news agencies on Sunday.

6. Tunisia: creation of an Arab nuclear inspectors network
Tunisia Online News
The Tunis-based Arab Atomic Energy Agency (AAEA) announced, on Wednesday, the creation of an Arab nuclear inspectors’ network. The decision to create this network was announced at the end of a meeting held on January 20, in Tunis.

7. France says U.N. must take tough action against Iran
Washignton Post by Crispian Balmer (Reuters)
The United Nations should adopt "strong measures" against Iran to persuade Iranian leaders to engage in meaningful discussion about their nuclear program, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Friday.

SOUTH ASIA
8. Indian State Calls for Specialized Security Force
Global Security Newswire
The Indian state of Maharashtra is considering creation of a security force to combat nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons, the Indo-Asian News Service reported Thursday (see GSN, Nov. 16, 2009).

9. Korea-India Summit to Discuss Nuclear Pact
Korea Times by Na Jeong-ju
President Lee Myung-bak arrived here Sunday for a summit today with India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on boosting bilateral relations and partnerships on the global stage.

RUSSIA/FSU/EUROPE
10. New nuclear deal "95 pct" agreed-Russia's Medvedev
Reuters
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Sunday that a deal with the United States on a landmark nuclear arms reduction treaty was "95 percent" agreed, news agencies reported on Sunday.

11. Russian Foreign Minister Perplexed by U.S. Missile Location Plan
Global Security Newswire
The decision to locate U.S. Patriot missile systems in Poland near the Russian territory of Kaliningrad is puzzling, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said today (see GSN, Jan. 21).

12. Activists block nuclear shipment in France
AFP
Greenpeace activists said Monday they were blocking a train transporting nuclear waste to the French port of Cherbourg from where it was to be shipped to Russia.

MULTILATERAL ARMS CONTROL AND NONPROLIFERATION
13. EXCLUSIVE-Pakistan rules out fissile talks for now-diplomats
Reuters by Stephanie Nebehay
Pakistan has quietly informed world powers that it cannot accept the start of global negotiations to halt production of nuclear bomb-making fissile material in the near future, diplomats told Reuters on Friday.
 
U.S. NUCLEAR WEAPONS STRATEGY AND POLICY
14. Construction Begins on New Radar Lab
Global Security Newswire
The U.S. Navy announced last week that construction of a laboratory intended to support development of radar technology had started at the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii (see GSN, Nov. 3, 2008).

15. U.S. Should Embrace Using Nukes for Nuclear Threat Only, Experts Say
Global Security Newswire  by Martin Matishak
The greatest contribution the Obama administration's forthcoming review of U.S. nuclear strategy could make to nonproliferation is to establish a doctrine that pledges to use such weapons only against atomic threats, a leading disarmament advocate said last week (see GSN, Jan. 19).

16. Securing the Cities Initiative to Receive $18.5M
Global Security Newswire
The Obama administration plans to provide $18.5 million in fiscal 2010 funds for a pilot program aimed at protecting New York City from nuclear and radiological terror threats, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced Friday (see GSN, Nov. 23, 2009).

OPINIONS
17. Three steps to reducing nuclear terrorism
CSM by Micah Zenko and Michael Levi
The United States is on the cusp of making a needed shift on policy related to nuclear weapons.The last time the US had a congressionally mandated review of its nuclear status was in 2002. In that Nuclear Posture Review, declassified portions contained no mention of “preventing nuclear terrorism.” The latest review, slated to be finished in March, appears to indicate that America’s nuclear arsenal and the threat of nuclear terrorism are interconnected issues. That means that how the US handles its nuclear weapons will have to change.
 
18. To Obama's Pile of Woes, Add a Failing Iran Policy
Time by Massimo Calabresi
As if President Barack Obama didn't have his hands full at home with his party's loss of Ted Kennedy's seat in Massachusetts, the collapse of health care reform and a disorganized war against the banks, he now faces a major foreign policy setback. Since the 2008 presidential campaign, Obama has promised to curtail Iran's nuclear program by simultaneously offering talks and threatening sanctions. After a year of trying, both approaches appear on the verge of failure.

19. Stop Rushing START: How to fight nuclear proliferation without waiting on Moscow.
National Review by Henry Sokolski
Sometimes, coming late is just as bad as not arriving. Consider the Obama administration’s effort this week to conclude a Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) with Moscow.

20. Iran's unspoken nuclear victory
PressTV by Anoush Maleki
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Sunday announced that he would have "good news" regarding the country's nuclear drive in the next two weeks.

21. Take Initiative
Korea Herald Editorial
Pyongyang, in recent weeks, has expressed several times a desire to engage in dialogue with Seoul, the latest being last Friday's call for military talks concerning issues at the Gaeseong Industrial Complex located north of the border.