North Korean nuclear envoy Kim Kye Gwan and his U.S. counterpart plan to meet next week (Claro Cortes/Getty Images). Resolution Reported for North Korean Deadlock North Korea and the United States appear to have found an answer to the issue that in recent months has dogged a 2007 denuclearization deal, Agence France-Presse reported today (see GSN, April 3). The second phase of the agreement calls for Pyongyang to fully declare its atomic activities as its moves toward shuttering its nuclear sector in exchange for economic, security and diplomatic benefits.  ..Full Story

Iran Installing Advanced Centrifuges Iran has placed next-generation uranium enrichment centrifuges at its Natanz enrichment facility as part of a program it could tap to produce a nuclear weapon ingredient, Reuters reported today (see GSN, April 3)...Full Story

State Department Concedes Possibility of Major Delay on Nuclear Trade Deal With India A U.S. State Department spokesman conceded yesterday that a nuclear trade agreement with India might not be completed by the Bush administration, raising questions about whether the deal would ever be finalized, news agencies reported (see GSN, April 1)...Full Story

	Friday, April 4, 2008

Resolution Reported for North Korean Deadlock North Korea and the United States appear to have found an answer to the issue that in recent months has dogged a 2007 denuclearization deal, Agence France-Presse reported today (see GSN, April 3). The second phase of the agreement calls for Pyongyang to fully declare its atomic activities as its moves toward shuttering its nuclear sector in exchange for economic, security and diplomatic benefits.  However, Washington has said North Korea missed the Dec. 31 deadline to submit the declaration and did not want to address its suspected uranium enrichment effort and nuclear support for Syria (see GSN, April 1). The compromise plan calls for Pyongyang to deliver a “confidential minute” addressing those issues, according to the South Korean Hankyoreh daily.  A separate document would cover North Korea’s known plutonium-based weapons program and planned nuclear dismantlement efforts. Washington has agreed that the secret document would not be released to the public or used for political gain, the newspaper reported. Top U.S. negotiator Christopher Hill and North Korean envoy Kim Kye Gwan are expected to meet nearly next week in a Southeast Asian city to discuss the matter, the Yonhap News Agency reported. “If there is a meeting with them it will not be before I go to East Timor (on Sunday) … maybe after that visit we’ll see what the schedule is,” Hill, assistant secretary of state, said while visiting Indonesia. Resolving the declaration deadlock could help reignite nuclear negotiations involving China, Japan, Russia, the United States and both Koreas (Agence France-Presse/Spacewar.com, April 4). The envoys’ meeting appears set to occur Monday in Singapore, Reuters reported (Reuters/Yahoo!News, April 4). Back to top       Iran Installing Advanced Centrifuges Iran has placed next-generation uranium enrichment centrifuges at its Natanz enrichment facility as part of a program it could tap to produce a nuclear weapon ingredient, Reuters reported today (see GSN, April 3). Tehran in recent months has added 300 centrifuges to its existing installation of 3,000 machines at the site.  Some of the new devices are older, less efficient P-1 centrifuges, similar to those already deployed, while some are newer, advanced models.  The centrifuges are split between two networks, or “cascades” (see GSN, Feb. 25). “One of the two cascades is using the advanced model, the older the other one.  There are more machines in the advanced cascade than the 164 typically used for the (older model),” one diplomat said. The diplomats suggested that the new installation was intended to “state a fait accompli” that Iran would maintain its uranium enrichment program in defiance of U.N. Security Council demands.  Tehran insists the program is only intended to generate nuclear power plant fuel. “Iran may not have had enough of the advanced one ready yet to put into two cascades.  But they wanted to show the world they could go beyond the threshold of 3,000 now enriching at Natanz (despite international pressure) to stop,” the diplomat added. Iran is preparing to test the high-speed advanced centrifuges with uranium gas following preliminary checks, but it remains uncertain when the machines will enter operation, the diplomat said. “Iran has already done most of the necessary vacuum tests, including leakage checks, to make sure the (latest) centrifuges are in working order and to activate them,” he said. According to analysts, Iran seeks to upgrade its existing centrifuge fleet to use increasing numbers of the advanced centrifuge, a modified version of an advanced Pakistani design obtained from the West through nuclear smuggling channels.  The new model can enrich uranium between two and three times faster than the older P-1 machine. A high-level diplomat close to an International Atomic Energy Agency probe of Iran’s nuclear activities did not contest the report that the advanced centrifuges had been installed, but said it remains uncertain if Iran can operate them efficiently (Mark Heinrich, Reuters, April 4). Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has again rejected any consideration of suspending Iran’s uranium enrichment program in exchange for new political and economic incentives put forward by the five permanent Security Council member nations and Germany, Agence France-Presse reported. “This is a non-negotiable subject,” Ahmadinejad told Kyodo News.  “Iran is a nuclear country and has no reason to give up the technology.  If there are to be any preconditions, we must propose preconditions” (Agence France-Presse/ChannelNewsAsia, April 4). Meanwhile, China said yesterday that it had provided no new intelligence on Iran’s nuclear program to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Associated Press reported. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said a Wednesday AP report that Beijing had disclosed new information was “totally groundless and out of ulterior motives” (Associated Press/Google News, April 3). Back to top       State Department Concedes Possibility of Major Delay on Nuclear Trade Deal With India A U.S. State Department spokesman conceded yesterday that a nuclear trade agreement with India might not be completed by the Bush administration, raising questions about whether the deal would ever be finalized, news agencies reported (see GSN, April 1). The pact would enable New Delhi to purchase U.S. nuclear materials and technology, but it has been opposed by key supporters of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.  The critics have threatened to force early elections if Singh moves to implement the deal by signing a corresponding oversight agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency. “We certainly believe it is still possible for this deal to move forward and for our Congress to have an opportunity to consider it” in this final year of President George W. Bush’s term in office, State Department spokesman Tom Casey said yesterday.  “Obviously, though, there would be opportunities in future Congresses and with the future administration to move forward on this.” “And frankly, regardless of whether this arrangement is passed in the next year or not, one thing that I don't think will change is the continuing strengthening and deepening of the U.S.-Indian relationship that has begun under this administration, and we certainly hope will continue into the future," he added. Despite the possible delay, “We certainly haven't given up on the idea that it, in fact, could move forward during the course of the coming year.  So let's see where we wind up before we start issuing any kind of final judgments on it,” Casey said (Indo-Asian News Service/Times of India, April 4). A delay into next year, however, would endanger the agreement, one analyst who has actively promoted it told the Associated Press. “It just becomes much more burdensome, because the principal players who were involved in the negotiations will have moved on; there will be a loss of collective memory,” said Ashley Tellis of Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.  “It's entirely possible, for someone who doesn't like the agreement, to simply say, if they were to come into office:  ‘Thank you very much; this is the policy of the last administration; I don't want to have any part of it.'" Tellis predicated that Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) might support the deal if he wins the presidency in November, but Democratic contenders Senator Hillary Clinton (N.Y.) and Senator Barack Obama (Ill.) might not. Those two “were very uncomfortable supporters of the agreement” in late 2006 when they endorsed the deal by voting to exempt India from many U.S. nuclear nonproliferation restrictions, Tellis said (Associated Press/International Herald Tribune, April 4). Back to top       U.S. Air Force Recertifies Nuclear-Weapon Air Base The U.S. Air Force on Monday recertified the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., to handle nuclear weapons following its accidental transfer of six nuclear-armed cruise missiles across the country last year, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, Feb. 27). Following a one-week inspection, the unit was recertified by Gen. John Corley, Air Combat Command chief at Langley Air Force Base, Va. “Basically, the wing was graded and found ready to perform their strategic mission,” said Maj. Tom Crosson, an Air Force spokesman at Langley. The inspections came after months of retraining, disciplinary measures and dismissals among the unit’s personnel. “I've never heard of (decertification) happening before,” he said, adding that the measure did not compromise the base’s combat capabilities. “This is like a load that has been lifted off our unit,” said Col. Joel Westa, who took command at Minot following the August incident.  “It has really boosted morale here” (James MacPherson, Associated Press/Google News, April 3). Back to top       Russia Invites Slovakia to Join Fuel Bank Plan Russia is seeking Slovakian participation in the international enrichment station being prepared at Angarsk in eastern Siberia, RIA Novosti reported yesterday (see GSN, May 9, 2007). Under a nonproliferation plan put forward by Russian President Vladimir Putin in early 2007, the Angarsk facility would become a multilaterally operated center to enrich uranium and dispose of nuclear waste for developing countries, reducing the need for those nations to produce nuclear fuel themselves. Under the Russian “fuel bank” initiative, the site would become one of several international nuclear fuel production centers. “We propose our Slovakian partners join the international uranium enrichment center that is being built by Russia,” Russian Prime Minister Victor Zubkov said after meeting with Robert Fico, his Slovakian counterpart.  Fico added that the sides also discussed the possible repatriation of spent nuclear fuel to Russia (RIA Novosti, April 3). Back to top       U.S. Nuclear Officials Spar With Lawmakers Over Management of Plan to Dispose of Surplus Plutonium The U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration argued this week that it could not implement congressional demands to transfer a nuclear fuel production program to new management within the Energy Department, Environment and Energy Daily reported yesterday (see GSN, Nov. 19, 2007). The fiscal 2008 Energy Department funding bill called for moving the mixed-oxide fuel program out of the NNSA nonproliferation program because Russia has not acted quickly enough to implement what was to be a reciprocal U.S.-Russian effort to dispose of surplus weapon-grade plutonium.  The plan, which has evolved over more than 10 years, calls for the United States and Russia to mesh the plutonium with uranium to create a mixed-oxide that can be used to fuel nuclear power plants.  Progress has been slow, however, as the two nations have debated different technologies and cost-sharing models. The fiscal 2009 funding request has moved the money as demanded, but the management of the program cannot shifted, said NNSA Administrator Thomas D’Agostino in testimony Wednesday before the House Appropriations Energy and Water Development Subcommittee. The decision, he said, was based on a legal analysis that determined the move was impossible. Senior Republican committee member David Hobson (Ohio) ridiculed D’Agostino’s analysis, calling it an “Alice in Wonderland” moment. “You have told us we have told ourselves that we can’t do this,” Hobson said, demanding a written explanation of D’Agostino’s assertion (Katherine Ling, Environment and Energy Daily, April 3). Back to top       U.S. Weapons Site Remains Idle, Despite Green Light Funding shortages could delay the complete resumption of operations of a U.S. facility designed to process uranium oxides into metallic form for use in weapons, the Knoxville News Sentinel reported yesterday (see GSN, March 19). The Oxide Conversion Facility at the Energy Department’s Y-12 site in Tennessee has seen limited action in the post-Cold War era, but it has received regulatory approval to resume operations.  Financial considerations, however, could slow that process. “While all readiness reviews have been successfully completed, the (fiscal year 2008) budget adjustments may not support full-scale operations of OCF for the remainder of the year,” said Y-12 spokesman Steven Wyatt.  Fiscal year 2008 ends Sept. 30. Work would remain stalled while Energy Department officials reviewed the situation, he said (Frank Munger, Knoxville News Sentinel, April 3). Back to top

Pakistan Launches Chemical Reporting System Pakistan yesterday launched an automated system for firms to report transfers of chemical agents listed under Chemical Weapons Convention schedules, Pakistani Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammed Khan said (see GSN, April 3). The wide area network is designed to prepare periodic lists of chemical imports and exports for filing with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the Press Trust of India reported. Establishment of the network demonstrates Islamabad’s commitment to fighting WMD proliferation, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said in a statement.  Pakistan joined the Chemical Weapons Convention in 1997 (Press Trust of India/The Hindu, April 3). Back to top

U.S. Tests Missile Defense Components A U.S. Air Force launch of a long-range missile Wednesday allowed for testing of several components of the U.S. missile defense system, according to a press release issued (see GSN, Dec. 5, 2007). The Missile Defense Agency called the missile test a “target of opportunity.” The Space-Based Infrared System and the Upgraded Early Warning Radar at Beale Air Force Base in California were used to detect and track the test missile launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.  The sensors sent information to the Ballistic Missile Defense System Command, Control, Battle Management and Communications system, demonstrating the system’s ability to chart a missile’s course more accurately by combining data from multiple detection sources. The Sea-Based X-band Radar also monitored and gathered data on the missile’s flight for later analysis (U.S. Missile Defense Agency release, April 3). Back to top       U.S. General Wants Stronger S. Korean Missile Shield The nominee to lead U.S. forces in South Korea yesterday urged Seoul to add aircraft-borne lasers and other systems to its missile defenses, the Yonhap News Agency reported (see GSN, Jan. 3). “I think as you look across the entire missile defense spectrum, you have to have a layered defense that … works all the way down to Aegis and other ground-based systems to intercept the missiles,” Army Lt. Gen. Walter Sharp said during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing. “And I believe that airborne lasers are a critical part of that ballistic missile enterprise to be able to allow for that effective defense,” said Sharp, who by this summer could replace Gen. Burwell Bell as head of U.S. Forces Korea. Airborne lasers would provide a defense against short-range missiles as an alternative to Patriot air-defense batteries.  The laser option is a “new approach” that “may well become an issue in the coming days,” said one South Korean source. Sharp said South Korea faces a significant threat from missiles that could be fired by its Stalinist neighbor to the north. North Korea is producing missiles “of increasing range, lethality and accuracy, bolstering its current stockpile of 800 missiles for its defense and external sales,” he said.  “The Republic of Korea does not currently possess a ballistic missile defense capability that can fully integrate with U.S. BMD systems. “In the near term, the Republic of Korea must develop a systematic missile defense solution to protect its critical civilian and military command capabilities, critical infrastructure and population centers,” Sharp added. While upgrades of Patriot Advanced Capability 3 batteries are providing increased protection for U.S. installations in South Korea, there are not sufficient systems deployed to match the threat from North Korea, Sharp said (Yonhap News Agency, April 4). Back to top

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