NORTH KOREA
Incoming South Korean President Steps Up Criticism of Pyongyang
Choe Sang-hun, The New York Times – Feb 13, 2013
In her harshest criticism yet of North Korea, the incoming President Park Geun-hye of South Korea warned on Wednesday that the North’s pursuit of nuclear weapons will bring its regime “self-destruction.”
Security dynamics take on new aspect
Shin Hyon-hee, The Korea Herald – Feb 13, 2013
In the wake of North Korea’s third nuclear test, the security dynamics in the region appears to be entering a new phase as Seoul and Washington push for more potent sanctions and craft ways to beef up their deterrence capabilities.
China’s delicate balancing act with North Korea
Celia Hatton, BBC News – Feb 13, 2013
North Korea’s nuclear test came at an inconvenient time for Chinese diplomats. While millions across China celebrate the Lunar New Year, Beijing’s foreign ministry workers were forced to grapple with Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions.
China Internet Users Blast Official Stance on N. Korea
Naharnet – Feb 13, 2013
Chinese social media users berated authorities Wednesday for their relatively mild response to North Korea’s nuclear test, with one likening Pyongyang to a “crazy dog” that had humiliated Beijing.
IRAN
Iran says it has begun upgrading uranium centrifuges
Hosseinian, Torbati, and Dahl, Reuters – Feb 13, 2013
Iran said on Wednesday it had started installing a new generation of machines for enriching uranium, an announcement likely to annoy the West and complicate efforts to resolve a decade-old dispute over its nuclear programme. It came on the day the U.N. nuclear watchdog began talks in Tehran to try to advance a long-stalled investigation into suspected military dimensions of the programme.
IAEA experts hold talks on nuclear ‘differences’ in Iran
AFP, Yahoo! News – Feb 13, 2013
Experts from the UN atomic watchdog were holding talks in Tehran Wednesday aimed at reaching accord on inspections that would allow investigations into a possible military dimension of Iran’s nuclear drive. The discussions are taking place two weeks ahead of a new round of talks between Iran and six world powers in parallel diplomatic efforts, which are due to resume in Kazakhstan on February 26 after an eight-month hiatus.
