NORTH KOREA
North Korea’s military threatens to attack South Korean border area over activists’ leaflets
AP, Washington Post – October 19, 2012
North Korea’s military threatened Friday to strike a South Korean border area where anti-Pyongyang activists plan to launch leaflets from balloons next week. South Korea immediately vowed to retaliate if attacked.
SENATE ELECTION NEWS
McCain, Graham join Thompson to knock Baldwin’s record on national security
Arthur Thomas, Wisconsin Politics – October 18, 2012
Appearing with fellow Republican Tommy Thompson, U.S. Sen. John McCain said Dem Tammy Baldwin’s voting record on national security does not keep up with most Americans’ views on the issue.
IRAN
EU leaders tell Iran to negotiate or face more pain
Reuters, Chicago Tribune – October 19, 2012
The European Union will further tighten economic sanctions if Iran does not curb its nuclear activities, EU leaders said on Friday, urging Tehran to engage in “meaningful” negotiations. Europe imposed new sanctions on the Islamic Republic this week, targeting trade, energy and shipping, as part of a Western push to force Iran to make concessions over the nuclear work.
Iran nuclear threat: More Americans want ‘firm stand,’ poll says
Paul Richter, Los Angeles Times – October 18, 2012
As international efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear development program continue, a growing share of Americans say they want firm action to end the threat of the Tehran regime building a nuclear bomb, according to a new poll from the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press.
MISSILE DEFENSE
US missile defense: ‘global, mobile and threatening’ – Russia
Robert Bridge, RT – October 18, 2012
NATO’s missile defense system presents a threat to Russia’s national security and may trigger the militarization of Europe, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin told a NATO Parliamentary Assembly delegation on Thursday.”This missile defense concept is global and mobile, and it creates unpredictability,” Rogozin said at a meeting with NATO officials at the Federation Council. “That is the real Figaro; Figaro here and Figaro there.”
AFGHANISTAN
NATO chief calls for free elections in Afghanistan
Adrian Croft, Reuters – October 19, 2012
ATO’s chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen urged the Afghan government on Friday to strive for free, fair and transparent elections in the 2014 presidential poll, saying they marked a critical juncture in the country’s quest for peace.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
Candidates must tackle issue of nuclear terrorism
Lee Hamilton, Miami Herald – October 18, 2012
The prospect of nuclear terrorism is at once one of the biggest threats to American security and one of the most preventable. But, like many foreign policy issues in 2012, nuclear terrorism has been overlooked. That is both unfortunate and unacceptable. Now, as focus turns to foreign policy issues, President Obama and Gov. Romney owe it to the American people to clearly articulate their vision to prevent these materials from falling into the wrong hands.
NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION
Japan will not join initiative put before U.N. to make nuclear weapons illegal
The Japan Times – October 19, 2012
Japan will not join an initiative led by 16 countries at the United Nations to make atomic weapons illegal, out of concern it would affect Tokyo’s security arrangement under the U.S. nuclear umbrella, government sources said Thursday.
