Korean Peninsula
N. Korea Vows To Turn South’s Leadership To Ashes
Associated Press – April 23, 2012
North Korea sharply escalated the rhetoric against its southern rival, claiming it will soon conduct “special actions” that would reduce South Korea’s conservative government to ashes within minutes.
North Korea’s nuclear test ready ‘soon’
Benjamin Kang Lim, Reuters – April 24, 2012
North Korea has almost completed preparations for a third nuclear test, a senior source with close ties to Pyongyang and Beijing told Reuters, which will draw further international condemnation following a failed rocket launch if it goes ahead.
Iran
Obama announces new sanctions on Syria and Iran
Lesley Clark, McClatchy Newspapers – April 23, 2012
President Barack Obama took aim Monday at Syria and Iran, imposing new sanctions on the two regimes as well as the “digital guns for hire” that develop technology enabling the two governments to monitor, track and harass their own people.
Facing Cyberattack, Iranian Officials Disconnect Some Oil Terminals From Internet
Thomas Erdbrink, New York Times – April 23, 2012
Iran disconnected several of its main Persian Gulf oil terminals from the Internet on Monday, local news media reported, as technicians were struggling to contain what they said were intensifying cyberattacks on the Oil Ministry and its affiliates.
Afghanistan
NATO Shows Confidence in Afghan Security Forces
Graham Bowley, New York Times – April 23, 2012
A week after a complex insurgent attack paralyzed the capital, NATO commanders on Monday offered a startlingly buoyant assessment of security gains across the country and of the readiness of the Afghan police and the army to take full control of their country as American and other international forces leave.
Middle East
U.N. Observers Prove Little Deterrent to Syrian Attacks
Neil MacFarquhar, New York Times – April 21, 2012
Syrian government forces engaged in a bloody game of cat and mouse against United Nations observers on Monday, seeming to punish cities like Hama after the monitors left for daring to protest, and adopting a low profile as the monitors visited the Damascus suburbs.
