UNITED STATES
Obama to Renew Drive for Cuts in Nuclear Arms
David E. Sanger, The New York Times – Feb 10, 2013
President Obama will use his State of the Union speech on Tuesday to reinvigorate one of his signature national security objectives — drastically reducing nuclear arsenals around the world — after securing agreement in recent months with the United States military that the American nuclear force can be cut in size by roughly a third.
US reaffirmed that development works at Deveselu Military Base will continue
Actmedia – Feb 11, 2013
The U.S. have reaffirmed, on Sunday, its commitment towards the anti-missile shield and assured that plans for development works at Deveselu Military Base will continue according to the set timetable, the U.S. Embassy to Bucharest said in a statement, at the request of AGERPRES.
IRAN
Iran rejects Western pressure on revolution anniversary
Yeganeh Torbati, Reuters – Feb 10, 2013
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Sunday Tehran would not negotiate about its disputed nuclear programme under pressure, but would talk to its adversaries if they stopped “pointing the gun”.
Understanding Khamenei’s “rejection” of nuclear negotiations with the United States
The International – Feb 11, 2013
Analysis of the Supreme Leader of Iran’s statements and position regarding nuclear talks with the U.S.
Timeline for an Iranian Solid-fuel ICBM?
David Wright, All Things Nuclear – Feb 10, 2013
David Wright, co-director and senior scientist of the Union of Concerned Scientists, looks at the state of Iran’s solid missile development program to get a rough sense of how long it might take Iran to develop an ICBM, based on the historical development programs of other countries.
NORTH KOREA
Tension over N. Korea’s nuclear test set to climax this week: official
Yonhap News – Feb 11, 2013
The timing of North Korea’s possible nuclear test still remains unclear, with the tension expected to enter the most critical phase this week, a senior official in Seoul said Monday. The official said that South Korea is keeping close tabs on the North’s nuclear test site in its northeastern region, as Pyongyang is likely to carry out the test before President-elect Park Geun-hye is sworn in on Feb. 25.
China’s patience with North Korea wearing thin
Christopher Bodeen, Associated Press – Feb 11, 2013
While China isn’t expected to abandon its communist neighbor, it appears to be reassessing ties a year after new North Korean leader Kim Jong Un took office. The question is for how long China, itself under new leader Xi Jinping, will continue to back North Korea’s nettlesome policies.
PAKISTAN
Pakistan test-fires Hatf-IX missile
Livemint – Feb 11, 2013
Pakistan on Monday successfully tested the nuclear-capable Hatf-IX tactical missile with a range of 60 km, designed to defeat all known anti-tactical missile defence systems.
