Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) have reached the end of their presidential campaigns (Getty Images). U.S. Election Sparks Calls for Nuclear Disarmament The approach of the next U.S. president has prompted calls from some prominent defense experts to work toward eliminating the nuclear arsenals held by the United States and other nations, Reuters reported yesterday (see GSN, Oct. 29)...Full Story

North Korea Open to Alternative Energy Suppliers Nations that are not involved in the six-party process are welcome to provide energy assistance to North Korea, a diplomat from the Stalinist state said today (see GSN, Nov. 3)...Full Story

Missile Site Being Developed in N. Korea, South Says North Korea is nearing completion of an installation to launch more advanced long-range missiles, South Korean Defense Minister Lee Sang-hee said today (see GSN, Oct. 9)...Full Story

	Tuesday, November 4, 2008

U.S. Election Sparks Calls for Nuclear Disarmament The approach of the next U.S. president has prompted calls from some prominent defense experts to work toward eliminating the nuclear arsenals held by the United States and other nations, Reuters reported yesterday (see GSN, Oct. 29). Nuclear disarmament returned as a serious topic of discussion in Washington as the presidential election took off early last year, Reuters reported.  It was spurred by a commentary from four veterans of Washington politics who supported an atomic rollback (see GSN, Jan. 4, 2007). Critics have derided disarmament as an idealistic aspiration, noting the vital role that nuclear weapons play in national defense strategies, the mutual suspicion among nuclear-armed states and arsenal modernization efforts now under way in nations such as China and Russia. Still, Senator Barack Obama (Ill.), the Democratic presidential candidate, backed the goal in September:  "I will not authorize the development of new nuclear weapons. … And I will make the goal of eliminating nuclear weapons worldwide a central element of U.S. nuclear policy." Senator John McCain (Ariz.), the Republican contender, has said he wants to reduce the U.S. nuclear arsenal to “the lowest possible number.” U.S. voters decide today which man will next occupy the White House. One nuclear policy expert suggested that disarmament is feasible by comparing the devastating weapons to the gas chambers of the Holocaust. "Those (gas chambers) haven't been disinvented but we don't have them around now and don't think they should be around and we're prepared to take action to enforce that," George Perkovich, nonproliferation program chief at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said during a talk last week.  "The next American president should emphasize the goal of a world without nuclear weapons — and really mean it." In the most recent edition of Foreign Affairs, two policy experts urged the United States to voluntarily reduce its nuclear stockpile to 1,000 warheads while persuading the international community of “the logic of zero.” Brookings Institution senior fellow Ivo Daalder and former Atlantic Council head Jan Lodal added that it is “remarkable” how support for disarmament has transcended political boundaries (Susan Cornwell, Reuters, Nov. 3). Meanwhile, both of the main presidential contenders have expressed support for existing missile defense programs, the Huntsville (Ala.) Times reported Sunday (see GSN, October 30). In a statement, Obama’s campaign said he would "ensure that [missile defense] is developed in a way that is pragmatic and cost-effective, and, most importantly, does not divert resources from other national security priorities until we are positive the technology will protect the American public." A McCain campaign statement says the Republican senator "strongly supports the development and deployment of theater and national missile defenses" to help protect the United States and its military and strategic partners. "Effective missile defenses are also necessary to allow American military forces to operate overseas without being deterred by the threat of missile attack from a regional adversary," the statement adds. Riki Ellison, head of the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, said the main U.S. missile defense programs are already deployed, have extended contracts "and would not be worth the political capital to cut." "The fact is, our military is deployed around the world and it requires missile defense, so it won't be off the board regardless of who is in the White House," Ellison said. However, Ellison said that spending for the Kinetic Energy Interceptor and Airborne Laser programs could be drastically reduced or entirely eliminated (see GSN, Oct. 21). "KEI is one those that are unproved concepts and it is at the bottom of the priority list," he said.  "If the money is going to go, that would be one of the first ones to go" (Shelby Spires, Huntsville Times, Nov. 2). Back to top

North Korea Open to Alternative Energy Suppliers Nations that are not involved in the six-party process are welcome to provide energy assistance to North Korea, a diplomat from the Stalinist state said today (see GSN, Nov. 3). Five nations promised to provide North Korea with 1 million tons of heavy fuel oil or related aid in exchange for Pyongyang’s pledge last year to give up its nuclear sector.  While China, Russia, South Korea and the United States have moved to meet that promise, Japan has refused to supply its portion until it is satisfied that North Korea has addressed the status of all Japanese citizens abducted in the 1970s and 1980s. Recent reports indicate that Australia, New Zealand and the European Union might step in to provide the energy aid in place of Japan. “As long as 1 million tons are ensured, it does not matter who gives it to us,” North Korean Foreign Ministry researcher Ri Pyong Dok told Kyodo News. Ri reaffirmed Pyongyang’s desire to push Japan out of the negotiations. “Japan has been obstructing the six-party process at every phase by bringing up the abduction issue, which is not in harmony with the goals and nature of the multilateral talks,” he said.  “Japan is refusing its obligations under the six-way talks.  We have reached a point where Japan’s qualifications as a participant should be discussed.” North Korea is ready to carry out its August pledge to look into the abductions again, but only when Japan lifts some economic penalties against the nation, Ri said. “If Japan is willing to go ahead with the partial lifting of sanctions tomorrow, we are ready to carry out our actions,” he said.  “That depends on the Japanese government’s attitude” (Kyodo News, Nov. 4). Meanwhile, North Korea on Sunday issued additional photographs of leader Kim Jong Il in another attempt to quash reports that he was in poor health, the New York Times reported. Kim is believed to have suffered a stroke in August and to subsequently have undergone brain surgery.  Pyongyang’s temporary halt and reversal of the denuclearization process, which also began in August, was seen as a possible sign that he was not in charge of the government.  Intelligence reports since then have indicated that he remains in authority. The images of Kim were taken as he watched a soccer game, according to state-operated media.  The match appeared to have occurred in fall, though no specific information was available about the date or location of the game. The photographs show Kim smiling and in possession of a full head of hair.  He was not using his left hand in either of the two images, according to the Times (Choe Sang-Hun, New York Times, Nov. 2). Back to top       No New Warhead Yet, British Official Says The United Kingdom has not begun to develop a new nuclear warhead, Defense Secretary John Hutton said yesterday in response to a lawmaker’s query (see GSN, July 25). The House of Commons discussion took place after protesters gathered last week at the nation’s top nuclear-weapon laboratory, AWE Aldermaston, to express concern about plans to modernize British nuclear warheads. “Could you give us a clear assurance that the phenomenal amounts of money being spent on [the Atomic Weapons Establishment in] Aldermaston are not being used for the development of a new generation of nuclear weapons, which has not yet been debated on or decided upon in the House?” asked Member of Parliament Jeremy Corbyn of the Labor Party. “There’s no question about it,” Hutton replied.  “There will be decisions in this House at the right time on these matters.” “But I would say to you that it is vitally necessary for the long-term strategic security of the U.K. that we maintain our minimum nuclear deterrent.  We are absolutely committed to doing that and that will not change,” he added (Press Association, Nov. 3). Back to top       Air Force Opens Nuclear Policy Office at Pentagon The U.S. Air Force on Saturday opened a new office at its Pentagon headquarters to oversee and integrate the service’s nuclear weapons policy (see GSN, Oct. 27). Maj. Gen. Donald Alston, who recently directed a task force aimed at “reinvigorating” the service’s nuclear enterprise, has been named assistant chief of staff for strategic deterrence and nuclear integration and will lead the Air Staff office, according to a release issued yesterday. The initiative is one of many the service is undertaking following a string of operational and management lapses in its nuclear sector, including a mistaken shipment of weapons parts to Taiwan and the accidental transfer of nuclear-armed cruise missiles between two U.S. bases.  Last week, the Air Force disclosed that a fire had occurred at one of its nuclear weapons silos (see GSN, Oct. 31). One of Alston’s first tasks will be to help create a new Air Force Global Strike Command, which is to take charge of the service’s nuclear weapons operations by next September (Elaine M. Grossman, Global Security Newswire, Nov. 4). Back to top       India Considers Military Tunnels on Borders Indian military officials have begun discussions on building hardened underground shelters near key borders with China and Pakistan to protect troops from strikes involving nuclear or other unconventional weapons, the Times of India reported Saturday (see GSN, June 1, 2005). The concept was on the agenda for recent talks among India’s army leadership, the Times reported, as Northern Command officers have sought ways to survive nuclear attacks and to better conceal military operations. “Instead of making visible bunkers on hilltops, it would be much better if tunnels were drilled into mountains,” said one senior officer involved with the talks.  “China has resorted to tunneling on a large-scale along the [Chinese-Indian Line of Actual Control], especially in the Tibetan Autonomous Region.” The tunnels could protect troops from the initial shock of a nuclear attack as well as the subsequent radiation, the Times reported (Times of India, Nov. 1). Back to top       IAEA Praises Gulf Consortium’s Nuclear Policy The International Atomic Energy Agency yesterday praised six Middle Eastern countries for adhering to nuclear safeguards measures in their pursuit of atomic energy, stressing that a strong nonproliferation regime would enable more nations to develop civilian nuclear power capabilities, Arab News reported (see GSN, April 21). “We commend the [Gulf Cooperation Council] countries for their policy decisions and undertakings in pursuit of peaceful uses of nuclear technology in line with all IAEA and international standards and obligations,” IAEA official Peter Salema told a conference on civilian nuclear energy development in the six countries. The council consists of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. “The IAEA predicts a 50 percent increase in global energy consumption by 2030.  About 70 percent of that increase is expected to come from developing countries; the use of electricity is expected to double globally and triple in developing countries.  For many countries, nuclear power is a way to ensure secure energy supplies,” he said at the meeting in Saudi Arabia. Acquisition and use of nuclear material by terrorists could significantly hinder international access to the nuclear power sector, Salema said.  “Any safety or security incidents will have a very negative impact on the nuclear industry.  It will undermine the access of nuclear technology for many countries that need it for development.” IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei supports the use of international enrichment stations to guarantee nations access to nuclear power plant fuel without providing them with technology they could use to develop nuclear weapons, Salema added. “The director general has been advocating consideration for a multinational approach to enrichment and reprocessing to ensure that no country has the capability to independently produce sensitive nuclear material,” he said (Samir al-Saadi, Arab News, Nov. 4). Back to top

Activists Sue to Halt Umatilla Mustard Incineration A coalition of activists has filed suit in an attempt to halt mustard agent incineration set to begin at the Umatilla Chemical Depot in Oregon, the Associated Press reported yesterday (see GSN, Sept. 26). The lawsuit — filed by the Government Accountability Project on behalf of the Oregon Wildlife Federation, the Sierra Club and a few local residents — contends that the incineration process would expose the surrounding area to mercury and other contaminants. The disposal plant at the depot has already burned supplies of sarin and VX agents.  Mustard agent disposal is scheduled to begin several months after the site completely eliminates its VX stockpile (Associated Press/Seattle Times, Nov. 3). Back to top       NIST Scientists Create Advanced Chemical Detector Scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology have developed a new detection unit capable of identifying nerve agents among hundreds of other chemicals, United Press International reported yesterday (see GSN, Sept. 17). The device, which incorporates 16 microheater elements and eight kinds of sensors, identifies chemicals in a process similar to scent recognition in animals, the team said in a release. "The detector could be a potent tool for applications such as sniffing out nerve agents, environmental contaminants, and trace indicators of disease, in addition to monitoring industrial processes and aiding in space exploration," the release states (United Press International, Nov. 3). Back to top

Missile Site Being Developed in N. Korea, South Says North Korea is nearing completion of an installation to launch more advanced long-range missiles, South Korean Defense Minister Lee Sang-hee said today (see GSN, Oct. 9). The facility along the west coast of North Korea has been under development for eight years and is roughly 80 percent finished, Lee told lawmakers.  He said the site is probably intended to fire “a bigger-sized missile or satellite projectile” than is possible at the nation’s east coast missile site, the Associated Press reported. North Korea is believed to possess roughly 200 Nodong missiles that could be used to hit Japan, along with more than 600 shorter-range Scud-type weapons that could be fired at South Korea. The regime’s Taepodong 2 missile is intended to have a range of more than 4,160 miles, meaning it could strike the western United States,  AP reported.  However, the missile failed in a July 2006 test and is believed to be inaccurate and to have a limited payload (see GSN, July 5, 2006). Tests this year of a long-range missile engine indicate North Korea’s continued interest in producing a weapon able to reach distant targets, according to AP (Associated Press/Google News, Nov. 4). Back to top

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