NORTH KOREA
N. Korea warns Seoul not to abet U.N. sanction resolution
Yonhap News Agency – Jan 29, 2013
North Korea warned Seoul Tuesday not to take rash steps of abetting the latest resolution passed by the United Nations Security Council, by stressing it views all sanctions as a declaration of war.
UN Atomic Monitor Ready for North Korea Nuclear-Bomb Test
Jonathan Tirone, Bloomberg News – Jan 29, 2013
The United Nations agency that detects and reports on nuclear-weapon explosions is ready to respond to North Korea’s planned testing of an atomic bomb. The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization runs 285 monitoring sites and can verify a successful North Korean atomic explosion the day it occurs, Annika Thunborg, a spokeswoman, told journalists today.
China, Japan and the US expanding missile interceptor technology as tensions rise in Northeast Asia
Park, Park, and Jung, The Hankyoreh – Jan 29, 2013
As the intensity of the North Korean nuclear crisis soars and the strategic competition between the US and China, and between China and Japan, heats up in the Asia-Pacific region, military tensions are on the rise in Northeast Asia.
Confirming North Korean N-test almost impossible
Hyung-jin Kim, Monterey Herald – Jan 28, 2013
North Korea appears all set to detonate an atomic device, but confirming the explosion when it takes place will be virtually impossible for outsiders, specialists said Tuesday.
IRAN
Why Has Iran Slowed Its Nuclear Program—on Purpose?
Brian Fung, The Atlantic – Jan 29, 2013
According to Israeli intelligence, cyberattacks and malfunctions were only part of the reason for the deceleration.
Egypt’s (missed) chance in nuclear diplomacy
Kaveh L. Afrasiabi, Asia Times – Jan 29, 2013
Egypt is about to miss a golden opportunity to enhance its stature in global diplomacy, which has presented itself in the form of Iran’s suggestion of Cairo as the venue for the next round of multilateral nuclear negotiations. Despite unconfirmed reports that Cairo has turned a cold shoulder to this idea, it is still not too late for the embattled government of Mohammed Morsi to embrace it, thus gaining diplomatic and political capital.
UNITED STATES
Hagel’s nuclear abolition endorsement spurs GOP questions on deterrence
Tom Curry, NBC News – Jan 29, 2013
In addition to existing grievances, Republican opposition to Hagel’s nomination are likely to address his support of nuclear abolition efforts.
RUSSIA
Russia may resurrect its missile trains by 2020
Andrei Lvov, Russia beyond the Headlines – Jan 29, 2013
“Russia’s political leadership has made the decision to start the development of a military railroad missile complex for the Strategic Missile Forces, as a response to the threat the European Missile Defense System will present between 2018 and 2020,” said Igor Korotchenko, editor-in-chief of the Natsionalnaya Oborona magazine and director of the Center for Analysis of World Arms Trade (CAWAT).
‘No flexibility’ in US Missile Talks – Medvedev
Ria Novosti – Jan 27, 2013
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Sunday he sees “no flexibility” in a dispute over US missile defense plans, warning that a new arms race could emerge if talks fail.
