North Korea
Obama urges North Korea and Iran to drop nuclear programs
Kathleen Hennessey, Los Angeles Times – March 26, 2012
President Obama on Monday made a direct appeal to the leaders of North Korea and Iran, urging them to “have the courage” to step away from their nuclear weapons programs, rather than follow a path toward greater isolation and economic distress.
Obama Urges China to Restrain North Korea
Mark Landler, New York Times – March 26, 2012
President Obama took North Korea’s new leader, Kim Jong-un, to task on Monday, urging China to curb his recent behavior and declaring that the successes of South Korea will inevitably swamp the isolation and failure of the North, a White House adviser said.
Obama Warns N. Korea Against Rocket Launch
Daniel Politi, Slate Magazine (Blog) – March 25, 2012
If Pyongyang decides to go ahead with its plan to launch a satellite using a long-range missile next month, it would jeopardize a food aid deal signed in February, warned Obama. “North Korea needs to understand that bad behavior will not be rewarded,” Obama said during an evening news conference with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak.
South Korea warns it might shoot down North Korean rocket if it strays into territory
Associated Press – March 25, 2012
Seoul warned Monday that it might shoot down parts of a North Korean rocket that violate South Korean territory, as worries about what Washington calls a long-range missile test overshadowed an international nuclear security summit.
Arms Control
Obama vows to pursue further nuclear cuts with Russia
Matt Spetalnick and Jeremy Laurence, Reuters – March 26, 2012
U.S. President Barack Obama vowed on Monday to pursue further nuclear arms cuts with Russia, urged China to follow suit and issued stern warnings to North Korea and Iran in their nuclear standoffs with the West.
Non-Proliferation
Obama’s goal of nuclear security still far off
Anne Gearan, Associated Press – March 24, 2012
Halfway into an ambitious four-year effort to safeguard nuclear materials from terrorists, President Barack Obama and other world leaders are lagging behind their self-imposed goals and facing renewed threats from Iran and North Korea. They’re giving themselves a checkup at next week’s summit in the South Korean capital, Seoul.
Middle East
U.S. and Turkey to Step Up ‘Nonlethal’ Aid to Rebels in Syria
Anne Barnard, New York Times – March 26, 2012
Turkey and the United States plan to provide “nonlethal” assistance, like communications equipment and medical supplies, directly to opposition groups inside Syria, and will urge other allies to do so as well, the White House deputy national security adviser said on Sunday, after President Obama met with the prime minister of Turkey at a nuclear security conference in Seoul, South Korea.
