NUCLEAR WEAPONS
Japan supports two UN statements against nuclear weapons
Ida Torres, Japan Daily Press – October 22, 2013
Japan has formally put its support behind a United Nations statement against nuclear weapons. The declaration, created by the New Zealand delegation, stated that it was in the interest of all of humanity to ensure that nuclear weapons are never used, under any circumstances. Japan also supported another UN declaration along similar lines that was proposed by Australia.

Scottish Leader: Nuclear Arms Could be Removed in 2016
Global Security Newswire – October 21, 2013
The head of the Scottish National Party has stated that he may give the order to expel the British nuclear weapons stockpile from Scotland in 2016 based upon how successful his part y is in the country’s first independent election next year. This altered time table would allow the British government more time to find alternative sites to store warheads and base their ballistic missile submarines.

SYRIA
US Sends Armored Cars to Arms Inspectors in Syria
Associated Press – October 22, 2013
The US has used $1.5 million from the State Department’s Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund to purchase 10 armored vehicles for chemical weapons inspectors in Syria. This decision comes after an increase in car bombings and mortar shelling near Damascus. The US has spent $6 million so far on efforts to neutralize Syria’s chemical weapons stockpile.

IRAN
Saudi spy chief says Riyadh to ‘shift away from US’ over Syria, Iran
Reuters – October 22, 2013
Saudi Arabia’s head of intelligence has stated that the country will make a “major shift” in relations with the US. The comments come after the US found a peaceful solution to Syria’s use of chemical weapons and negotiations with Iran, Saudi Arabia’s regional rival, have left US officials cautiously optimistic. What this shift will entail is unclear, but it has been hinted that Saudi Arabia may try to position itself in a position that is less dependent upon the US.

Iran’s Zarif on Nuclear Proposal: Secrecy Is Sign of Seriousness
Al-Monitor – October 18, 2013
Iran’s foreign minister has said that the secrecy surrounding Iran’s proposal made at last week’s P5+1 talks indicates the seriousness of the negotiations. He went on to say that all comments are made on the record by Iranian officials and that any comments or leaks from unidentified sources “have little in common with reality.”

Iran Nuclear Deal Could Allow It to Enrich up to 5%, Russia Says
Henry Meyer, Bloomberg – October 21, 2013
Russia’s negotiator for the P5+1 talks has stated that a deal may be put forth to allow Iran to enrich uranium up to 5% at the expense of enrichment to 20%. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov shared his optimism that an agreement can be reached where by unilateral sanctions could be lifted in exchange for Iran’s cooperation.

NORTH KOREA
North Korea reactor restart sets back denuclearization
Siegfried S. Hecker, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists – October 17, 2013
The restarting of North Korea’s Yongbyon plutonium production reactor has strengthened the country’s nuclear program by allowing for increased production of plutonium. Hecker argues that the restarting of this facility has also strengthened North Korea’s bargaining position in future six-party talks because it now has more it can give away in exchange for concessions from the five regional powers.

SYRIA
Cyprus to Help Syria’s Weapons Inspectors
Associated Press – October 18, 2013
Cyprus has announced that it will allow chemical weapons inspectors from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons access to Nicosia airport for the purpose of launching inspections missions in Syria. This plan will allow inspectors to fly directly from the airport into Syria. The Cyprus government has said that its goal is to assist weapons inspectors in their difficult mission ahead.

Good news from Syria (really): Chemical weapons being dismantled on schedule
Max Fisher, Washington Post – October 18, 2013
The dismantling of chemical weapons is currently on schedule in Syria, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has reported. Inspectors have currently looked at fourteen sites and are proceeding as planned despite the dangers posed by the ongoing civil war.

Norway mulls disposal of 600 tons of Syrian chemical weapons
United Press International – October 21, 2013
The United Nations has asked Norway to dispose of roughly 550 tons of nerve gas and 55 tons of mustard gas from Syria. The Norwegian government has yet to confirm whether it will participate in the destruction of the stockpile and has expressed concerns that Norway does not have the technical expertise necessary to handle the request.

IRAN
Iran sees nuclear talks with powers finishing within year: official
Yeganeh Torbati, Reuters – October 21, 2013
A member of Iran’s negotiation team was quoted by Iranian media outlets saying that a deal could be reached between the two countries in as little as a year. He stated that if the seriousness of upcoming talks mimics the seriousness of those held last week, it is possible that substantial progress can be made. He hopes that within three to six months, the first steps of a deal can formulated.

Signs of Rift Between Israel and US Over Iran
Josef Federman, Associated Press – October 20, 2013
Following talks between Iran and the US last week, a rift appears to be forming between the US and Israel. Throughout the past few weeks of discussions between Iranian and US officials, Israel has maintained that Iran is trying to trick the international community. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that the US step up pressure on Iran despite hints that the US will actually try to ease economic sanctions.

ISRAEL
Nuclear weapons are Israel’s ‘worst kept secret,’ says Israeli historian
Tom Kutsch, Al Jazeera America – October 18, 2013
Israeli nuclear historian Avner Cohen was recently interviewed by Al Jazeera and discussed his impressions of Israel’s secretive nuclear weapons program. He discussed his understanding of Israel’s lack of transparency pertaining to its nuclear weapons program as well as the prospects of Israel perhaps one day joining non-proliferation agreements.

NUCLEAR WEAPONS

Commentary: Nuclear arms wake-up call
Ramesh Thakur, Japan Times – October 21, 2013
Thakur highlights the details of the recently issued Ho Chi Minh City Declaration by the Asia-Pacific Leadership Network on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament. The article primarily focuses upon the expanding nuclear arsenals of China, India and Pakistan and has a focus on nuclear policymaking in Asia.

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IRAN
Russia says Iran nuclear talks were ‘quite promising’
Reuters – October 17, 2013
Russia described the P5+1 talks held in Geneva this week as “quite promising”. The news comes a day after the Russian delegation in Geneva had lamented the the lack of progress that had been made over the course of the two day talks.

White House Weighs Easing Iran Sanctions’ Bite With Slow Release of Assets
Mark Landler, The New York Times – October 17, 2013
Senior officials within the Obama administration are considering limited sanctions relief for Iran if the country takes specific steps to curb its enrichment program. The plan would entail freeing up frozen Iranian funds in incremental installments.

Iranian foreign minister accuses Israel of trying to undermine nuclear talks with world powers
Associated Press, The Washington Post – October 18, 2013
Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif accused Israel of “disturbing” ongoing diplomatic efforts with world powers on his Facebook page on Friday. This, he concluded, was a reflection of the country’s “frustration and warmongering”.

Iran’s nuclear resolve fueled by Iraq’s chemical assault in war
Ramin Mostaghim and Patrick J. McDonnell, The Los Angeles Times – October 17, 2013
During the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, chemical weapons were deployed on numerous occasions by the Iraqi army. Recent revelations about US assistance during these deployments has created resentment within the Iranian population towards the US and has complicated ongoing negotiations over Iran’s nuclear enrichment program between the two countries.

DISARMAMENT
Analyst: Disarming Syria Could Open Russia to More Nuclear-Arms Cuts
Global Security Newswire Staff – October 17, 2013
The US and Russia successfully cooperated in creating a framework for destroying Syria’s chemical weapons stockpile in recent months. This could set a precedent for future cooperation on weapons of mass destruction disarmament between the two countries.

NORTH KOREA
What’s behind South Korean president’s new strategy on North Korea?
Peter Ford, The Christian Science Monitor – October 17, 2013
Since winning office in February, South Korea’s new President Park Gyeun-hye has been promoting the policy of “trust building” towards North Korea. The policy attempts to use both carrots and sticks towards Pyongyang and, most notably, does not make closer links between the North and South contingent on an end to the North’s nuclear weapons program.

The North Korea threat
Stefan Soesanto, The Hill – 17 October, 2013
The Obama administration’s policy of “strategic patience” towards North Korea is the only feasible way to make Pyongyang comply with their denuclearization obligations. The policy, which amounts to non-cooperation with the North until it has taken steps to denuclearize, holds more promise than the largely unsuccessful South Korean policy of “trust building”.

NUCLEAR WEAPONS
U.S. nuclear arms modernization plan misguided: scientists’ group
David Alexander, Reuters – October 17, 2013
The Union for Concerned Scientists released an 81-page report on Thursday arguing that the Obama administration’s nuclear modernization plan is misguided and in violation of the spirit of recent pledges not to develop new nuclear weapons.

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