Investigators in Haselau, Germany, suit up yesterday to collect evidence in the polonium poisoning death of former Russian intelligence officer Alexander Litvinenko. Following his death in London last month, traces of polonium have been detected in multiple European locations (Roland Magunia/Getty Images). Polonium Poisoning Could Be Linked to Nuclear Smuggling The death of former Russian intelligence officer Alexander Litvinenko after exposure to polonium 210 might be connected to nuclear smuggling, RIA Novosti reported yesterday (see GSN, Dec. 11). Litvinenko reported feeling ill on Nov. 1 in London, shortly after meeting with former colleague Dmitry Kovtun.  He died on Nov. 23. Kovtun himself is being treated for radiation poisoning.  Authorities in Germany have found radiation traces in multiple locations that Kovtun visited between Oct. 28 and Nov. 1, and suspect that he might be involved in nuclear smuggling, RIA Novosti reported...Full Story

North Korea Could Receive Security Guarantee North Korea could receive a written security guarantee from the United States in exchange for its pledge at negotiations next week to make tangible moves on eliminating its nuclear weapons program, the Yonhap News Agency reported today (see GSN, Dec. 13)...Full Story

“Substantial Progress” Made in Iran Sanctions Talks U.N. powers made significant headway yesterday toward reaching agreement on imposing sanctions against Iran, Reuters reported.  Representatives from the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and Germany met in New York to hammer out differences on how to respond to Iran’s refusal to curb its nuclear program (see GSN, Dec. 13)...Full Story

	Thursday, December 14, 2006

North Korea Could Receive Security Guarantee North Korea could receive a written security guarantee from the United States in exchange for its pledge at negotiations next week to make tangible moves on eliminating its nuclear weapons program, the Yonhap News Agency reported today (see GSN, Dec. 13). U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, Washington’s lead negotiator with Pyongyang, made the offer last month during a meeting with North Korean envoy Kim Kye Gwan, sources said. “Such written security guarantees are seen as a prelude to the normalization of diplomatic ties between North Korea and the U.S.,” a source said (Yonhap News Agency I/BBC Monitoring, Dec. 14). Hill said yesterday that Pyongyang has indicated its willingness to consider real action on disarmament during the upcoming talks, Reuters reported. “We need concrete progress,” he said. During his meeting in November, “there were indications that the … North Koreans would be prepared to deal in specifics at the coming round,” Hill said. “The Chinese have also been in direct contact with the North Koreans on several occasions and they also have reason to believe that we will see some specific ideas for moving ahead,” he added. Hill declined to say what specific actions Washington expects of Pyongyang, Reuters reported (Mohammed/Pleming, Reuters/Washington Post, Dec. 13). Proposals floated at the November meeting included halting work at the Yongbyon nuclear reactor, allowing international nuclear inspectors back into the country, and shuttering North Korea’s nuclear testing site, Asian diplomats and U.S. officials told the Washington Post. “They understand that that was suggested, and we have to see some early results,” a senior Bush administration official said. There is significant skepticism among U.S. officials and analysts that Pyongyang is ready to undo its nuclear weapons effort.  However, China’s clear displeasure with North Korea’s Oct. 9 nuclear test could be an important new factor in the negotiations, according to some officials.  Beijing is the country’s last major supporter (Glenn Kessler, Washington Post, Dec. 14). There is no set date for the next round of six-party talks in Beijing to end, the Associated Press reported today.  Negotiations could include bilateral and multilateral meetings, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang. “As long as we have the will and desire, there can be contact and exchanges in all forms,” he said (Alexa Olesen, Associated Press I/B92-News, Dec. 14). Meanwhile, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson is scheduled to meet Friday with two senior North Korean officials in New Mexico to discuss the six-party talks.  The former U.N. ambassador to the United Nations has made five trips to North Korea. “I believe that we have an opportunity to use diplomacy to end this crisis and bring stability to the Korean Peninsula,” Richardson said.  “I will press the North Koreans to start dismantling their nuclear weapons” (Associated Press II/CNN.com, Dec. 14). North Korea could have 50 nuclear weapons by 2010, a former South Korean general said yesterday, according to Yonhap. Jang Joon-ik also said that Pyongyang is likely to have 55 kilograms of weapon-grad plutonium by the end of 2006, enough for 11 20-kiloton weapons (Yonhap News Agency II, Dec. 14). Elsewhere, the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization has agreed to liquidate a $1.65 billion project that was intended to end North Korea’s nuclear program, Agence France-Presse reported today. The United States in 1994 agreed to give North Korea two light-water nuclear reactors and other economic incentives in exchange for the Stalinist state’s denuclearization.  Washington halted the initiative in 2002, stating that Pyongyang had acknowledged operating a secret uranium enrichment effort (Agence France-Presse/Yahoo!News, Dec. 14). Back to top       “Substantial Progress” Made in Iran Sanctions Talks U.N. powers made significant headway yesterday toward reaching agreement on imposing sanctions against Iran, Reuters reported.  Representatives from the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and Germany met in New York to hammer out differences on how to respond to Iran’s refusal to curb its nuclear program (see GSN, Dec. 13). The group made “substantial progress,” said British U.N. Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry, who added that he hoped the closed-door discussions could end this week in time for a full Security Council vote next week. A draft resolution crafted by France, Germany and the United Kingdom would ban U.N. nations from trading nuclear or missile technology with Iran.  In addition, the current draft calls for barring the international travel of 12 Iranian officials and freezing the assets of 11 Iranian firms and agencies, Reuters reported. Russia has sought to ease some of those measures. “The travel ban, we think it does not fit,” said Russian U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin. Furthermore, Russia is seeking to have a Security Council committee select the Iranian organizations that should have their assets frozen, a process that could take months, according to Reuters.  The United States, on the other hand, has backed the travel ban strongly and would prefer to give council the authority to exempt Iranian organizations from a frozen assets list set by the resolution. Also in dispute is the mechanism for ending the sanctions. The European draft calls for the sanctions to be suspended if the International Atomic Energy Agency determines that Iran has met the Security Council’s demands by halting work to develop uranium enrichment sites or a heavy-water nuclear reactor, Reuters reported. Russia would like the sanctions to be fully lifted if Iran takes those steps.  The United States would prefer to have no automatic sanctions relief, but would rather have the council debate the sanctions again if Iran complies, according to Reuters (Reuters/New York Times, Dec. 13). Iran Will Not Freeze Nuclear Program, Official Says The council debate on how to lift any future sanctions could be moot in light of Iran’s consistent stand that it will not cave in to U.N. pressure. “The latest draft resolution of the U.N. Security Council is unacceptable to Iran, as it restricts Iran’s right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes,” top nuclear negotiation Ali Larijani said yesterday.  “The U.N. Security Council should not be involved in resolving the Iranian nuclear problem, as that is a technical problem that should be resolved under IAEA control” (RIA Novosti, Dec. 13). Back to top       China Supports U.S.-Indian Nuclear Deal China publicly backed a U.S.-Indian nuclear trade deal yesterday, indicating that it could seek to take advantage of relaxed nonproliferation rules to cooperate with New Delhi in the nuclear field (see GSN, Nov. 22). The U.S.-Indian deal has been backed by the U.S. Congress, which exempted India from U.S. nonproliferation laws.  International guidelines on nuclear export controls must also be eased before nations can begin selling atomic technology and material to India, which is not party to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (see GSN, Dec. 13). “We consider the cooperation between countries to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes will be beneficial to maintain the principles and effectiveness of international nuclear nonproliferation,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang in response to a question on the U.S.-Indian deal. The statement appeared to clarify China’s official position on the deal, the Press Trust of India reported.  Recent statements had appeared to be contradictory. In a late-November summit in India, China and India agreed to increase their nuclear cooperation. “Considering that for both India and China, expansion of civilian nuclear energy program[s] is an essential and important component of their national energy plans to ensure energy security, the two sides agree to promote cooperation in the field of nuclear energy, consistent with their respective international commitments,” said an official joint statement. On the other hand, recent commentaries in the official Xinhua News Agency suggested China opposed the U.S.-Indian agreement and the recent congressional bill to ease U.S. export laws. “The legislation is also in contradiction to the obligations of Washington as a lead signatory of the NPT,” said one Xinhua commentary.  “The treaty obligates its signatories not to provide assistance to the nuclear programs of states that did not sign the NPT” (Press Trust of India, Dec. 13). Indian Scientists Applaud Deal Indian nuclear scientists yesterday supported the pending trade deal with the United States.  Their views countered those expressed earlier this year by a group of former nuclear officials (see GSN, Aug. 15). “You want to be really energy independent in the long term, there’s no doubt about that,” Srikumar Banerjee, director of the Bhabha Atomic Research Center, said yesterday.  “If any additional inputs come from other countries, that’s also welcome.” “Partnership with [the] United States is very good,” said top Indian scientist Chaitanyamoy Ganguly, who heads the International Atomic Energy Agency’s nuclear fuel cycle and materials section. “Not only that, we should have global partnership not only with the U.S. but with other advanced countries in the field of nuclear power reactors,” Ganguly added.  “For example, [the] Russian Federation is another country, France is another country.  Why not Japan and South Korea?” “But it’s a win-win situation,” he continued.  “India also has a lot of expertise and lots of expert manpower, and if you make the whole thing global, everyone will be benefited” (Asian News International/Hindustan Times, Dec. 13). Back to top       EU Wants Clarification on Olmert Comment The European Union is seeking clarification of a recent comment by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in which he seemingly acknowledged his nation’s previously unacknowledged nuclear weapons program, United Press International reported yesterday (see GSN, Dec. 13). “Mr. Olmert should further explain what this information really means,” said Finnish Defense Minister Seppo Kaariainen, head of the EU defense council. “I hope that the international crisis management that began this summer in Lebanon can be continued without disturbances,” he said.  “The EU will carefully observe what reactions the Israeli explanation sparks in the region” (United Press International, Dec. 13). The United Nations and the international community should demand that Israel allow access to its nuclear sites, the Arab league said yesterday. “Pressure must be exerted on Israel through the International Atomic Energy Agency to open its nuclear facilities in a transparent manner,” said Mohammed Sobeih, assistant secretary general in charge of Palestinian affairs.  “It is essential that Israel comply with international resolutions.” “Everyone knows that Israel possesses weapons of mass destruction which could reach as far as 2,000 kilometers and all Arab capitals are within this range,” he added (Agence France-Presse, Dec. 13). The International Atomic Energy Agency indicated that it would not respond to Olmert’s statement, in which he listed Israel alongside several known nuclear powers while addressing suspicions about Iran’s atomic program, RIA Novosti reported today. Acknowledgement of Israel’s nuclear arsenal could press other Middle Eastern nations to seek their own atomic weapons, according to experts. “This may lead to a further softening of the nuclear nonproliferation regime, which, unfortunately, would be a very dangerous development indeed,” said Sergei Markov of the Russian Public Chamber (RIA Novosti/SpaceWar.com, Dec. 14). Former chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix said yesterday that Olmert’s indirect comments are not likely to produce such a response, the Associated Press reported. “So long as it’s muted and not acknowledged … it might be easier for [Arab nations] to refrain from, or hold back, proposals that they too acquire nuclear weapons,” he said. Israel’s Middle Eastern neighbors are already aware of its reputed arsenal, Blix said. “The whole world is fairly sure that they have about 200 weapons, and beating around the bush I think doesn’t change very much they are part of the nuclear landscape,” he said (Mike Corder, Associated Press/Yahoo!News, Dec. 13). Back to top

New Jersey Aims to Protect “Chemical Alley” New Jersey hopes to prevent terrorist attacks on trains carrying toxic chemicals such as chlorine by erecting fencing between the New Jersey Turnpike and rail lines, Bloomberg reported yesterday (see GSN, Oct. 20, 2005). The state expects to spend $6 million on 2.6 miles of high-security fencing, along with closed-circuit television and motion sensors in the stretch of the turnpike known as “Chemical Alley.” Trains carrying chlorine, ammonia or other dangerous materials have been called rolling chemical weapons that could make attractive targets for terrorists. Train cars are empty when stopped near the roadway’s northbound lanes.  However, they have become a public concern that must be dealt with, said state homeland security chief Richard Canas. “They are no more than a stone’s throw away from the roadway,” he told Bloomberg.  “Mass transit security has come out by far, especially in northern New Jersey, as our No. 1 priority.” The fence will be divided into three sections:  a one-mile portion will be erected near an oil refinery in the city of Linden, while 1.1-mile and half-mile stretches are to be built near Newark Liberty International Airport. “What we’re doing is a very simple, low-cost effort to make slightly more difficult somebody actually taking advantage of our infrastructure as a weapon,” said Governor Jon Corzine (Terrence Dopp, Bloomberg, Dec. 13). Back to top       Yemen Moves to Establish CW Oversight Rules Yemeni industry and military representatives met this week with international officials to discuss national implementation and enforcement of the Chemical Weapons Convention, the Yemen Times reported yesterday (see GSN, May 1). In a seminar organized by the National Committee for the Prohibition of Chemical, Biological and Toxic Weapons, the group heard presentations by international legal experts on how to craft domestic legislation to ensure the treaty’s terms are met, according to the Times. The Yemeni industrial representatives are expected to provide the committee with data on their activities and procedures to help the committee develop domestic rules. “This committee’s future tasks include collecting information about biological and chemical production institutions, which are relative to the treaty,” said Qasim Abdulsallam al-Shaibani, deputy chairman of the committee.  “We’ll also supervise the import and trade of biological and chemical materials used for peaceful purposes, as well as establish restraints for their use in a way that doesn’t harm Yemen’s economic development” (Mohammed bin Sallam, Yemen Times, Dec. 13) Back to top

Russia Complains of U.S. Missile Defense Plans Russia has renewed its criticism of U.S. plans to deploy missile defense systems in Eastern Europe, saying Moscow would be forced to enhance its own missile systems to ensure they could not be shot down by U.S. interceptors (see GSN, Nov. 2). “The deployment of missile defenses in Europe near Russian borders is an unfriendly move, to put it mildly,” Gen. Yuri Baluyevsky, chief of the Russian military’s general staff, said yesterday.  “Its interception range will cover a significant portion of the European part of Russia, and its integration with U.S. information resources will further strengthen the anti-Russian potential of this facility.” The United States reportedly plans to deploy missile tracking radars and interceptors in Poland and the Czech Republic.  It has argued the systems would be intended to shoot down missiles launched from North Korea and hostile Middle Eastern nations, such as Iran (see GSN, Sept. 21). Baluyevsky warned that interceptor silos could also be used to house offensive missiles. The missile defense installations would force Moscow “to search for countermeasures which would be asymmetrical and clearly much cheaper,” he said (Associated Press/International Herald Tribune, Dec. 13). Back to top       Raytheon Completes Second X-Band Radar U.S. defense contractor Raytheon has finished building a second transportable X-band radar, the company announced Monday.  The first missile defense radar, deployed in Japan, became operational in September (see GSN, Sept. 28). The latest radar has been delivered to Vandenberg Air Force Base in California for final testing and acceptance, according to a company release. “With the completion of the factory testing and acceptance of the second FBX-T radar, we’ve taken another significant step toward implementing an effective capability to protect the U.S., deployed forces and allies from ballistic missile threats,” Raytheon official Pete Franklin said in the release (Raytheon release, Dec. 11). Back to top

Polonium Poisoning Could Be Linked to Nuclear Smuggling The death of former Russian intelligence officer Alexander Litvinenko after exposure to polonium 210 might be connected to nuclear smuggling, RIA Novosti reported yesterday (see GSN, Dec. 11). Litvinenko reported feeling ill on Nov. 1 in London, shortly after meeting with former colleague Dmitry Kovtun.  He died on Nov. 23. Kovtun himself is being treated for radiation poisoning.  Authorities in Germany have found radiation traces in multiple locations that Kovtun visited between Oct. 28 and Nov. 1, and suspect that he might be involved in nuclear smuggling, RIA Novosti reported. “Alongside several other versions behind this crime, we are seriously considering the possibility that Litvinenko’s death could have been connected to the illegal trade in nuclear materials,” a police official told the Berliner Zeitung newspaper. German officials estimated the value of the polonium dose used to poison Litvinenko at $25 million. Russian press outlets have speculated that Litvinenko, a vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, might have been aiding Chechen separatists in producing a radiological “dirty bomb.” “We know that there has been a demand for nuclear materials in terrorist circles for several years,” the German police source said.  “So we are carefully watching these circles now.” Investigators have not verified any black market offers for polonium 210 due to its high cost, the official said (RIA Novosti, Dec. 13). Authorities in the United Kingdom, Russia and Germany are investigating Litvinenko’s death.  Interpol has been brought in to help coordinate the investigations, Reuters reported. Litvinenko is believed to have been investigating the shooting death of Russian journalist and Putin critic Anna Politkovskaya.  In a deathbed statement, he accused Putin of involvement in his poisoning.  The Kremlin has rejected that claim, Reuters reported (Christian Lowe, Reuters/Washington Post, Dec. 12). The exact time and place of Litvinenko’s poisoning remains in question. On Nov. 1, he met with Kovtun and former KGB officer Andrei Lugovoi at the Pine Bar of the Mayfair Millennium Hotel in London.  He also ate sushi that day with an Italian security consultant, USA Today reported yesterday.  Traces of radiation have been found at both sites. Radiation has also been found at Litvinenko’s home, on three British Airways jets that fly between Moscow and London, and in the London offices of exiled Russian businessman Boris Berezovsky, an associate of the former spy (Tumposky/Nichols, USA Today, Dec. 13). Seven employees of the Pine Bar were found to have low levels of radiation contamination, the New York Times reported last week (Cowell/Myers, New York Times, Dec. 8). Kovtun in recent interviews has claimed that he and Litvinenko suffered radiation poisoning during meetings in mid-October with Lugovoi, the Associated Press reported.  British investigators have questioned both men, who deny any involvement in the death (Maria Danilova, Associated Press/Washington Post, Dec. 13). Berezovsky has also alleged that Putin was behind Litvinenko’s poisoning, USA Today reported.  Other theories are that it was carried out by rogue Russian spies or that Berezovsky himself ordered the murder in order to pin the blame on Putin (USA Today).   Back to top

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